Day 152

2 Samuel 1:1-2:7, John 20:10-31, Proverbs 13:20-14:4

The incredulity of Saint Thomas - Caravaggio

In the famous picture above, Thomas is painted a bit evil – how could he have doubted God. I kind of sympathise with Thomas though, the times when we just aren’t sure. When you are faced by the power of the Holy Spirit, when you are faced by the shear awesomeness of the risen Lord, sometimes we can be overwhelmed, our minds just struggle to take it all in. There are also the times when our human nature kicks in, when you wonder whether that was the power of Christ working within you are whether all was just well in the first place!

Even though we might be able relate to Thomas, that does not mean that it is the best model to follow. Then there are times when we need to try our very best to put every ounce of that human nature on one side and trust in God, for all we are worth and for all he is worth. Mary comes face to face with a pair of angels, sent by God to reassure and comfort her in a time when she would be in shock and grief.

In the depths of pain and despair we need to reach out to Christ, the only one who can defeat death. If you are in that place, close your eyes and place your hands in his sides, feel the holes in his hands. Like Thomas, we need to take a moment out, remember what led to the holes, remember the nails going through the hands, remember the death that followed and remember the resurrection. All the power of sin and death could not hold him, and whatever it is we face, that can not hold him either.

Whatever it is you are staring in the face, reach out and take hold of the nail scarred hand of Christ.