This Sunday, the Second Sunday of Easter, we will hear the story of Thomas, who unfortunately seems to be forever associated with doubting. He is the original “Doubting Thoms.”
It is all too easy to fault Thomas for doubting as if doubt is some form of sin or failure of faith or belief. I don’t think that is fair. Certainly, if we are being honest with ourselves, Thomas is in a large company of faithful believers. I know I have had my share of doubt in my journey. My guess is that you have, too. Times doubt comes as lack of clarity. I ask God to show me a path or guide my feet and nothing is clear, or I doubt the way God seems to be showing me.
In the face of doubt, when things aren’t clear, it seems to me our choice is to trust and act faithfully. Trust puts faith into action even when there is doubt, even when the way is not clear.
I was reminded recently of what John Kavanaugh, a Jesuit Theologian and Ethicist, said of a meeting he had with Mother Teresa back in the 1970s in Calcutta, India. Kavanaugh had gone to Calcutta to serve the poorest of the poor, those suffering beyond anything experienced in the States. He was also trying to understand his calling—what was his vocation. He was trying to find out how best he could spend the rest of his life.
When he met Mother Teresa, he asked her to pray for him. Mother Teresa asked him what he wanted her to pray for and Kavanaugh, consumed by the doubts of and wonder of his future and his calling asked that she pray for clarity: “Pray that I have clarity.”
Much to Kavanaugh’s surprise, Mother Teresa said, “No, I will not pray that you have clarity. Clarity is the last thing you are clinging to and must let go of.” Kavanaugh is said to have responded: “But you seem to have great clarity, the kind of clarity that I am seeking for my life and work.” In response to that, Kavanaugh reports that Mother Teresa laughed and said: “I have never had clarity; what I have always had is trust. So I will pray that you trust God.”
Doubt comes to all of us regardless of the strength of our faith. We are not always able to see clearly or have the assurance of the physical presence of the Risen Lord but let us pray that even in our doubts we have trust–trust that puts our faith into action and moves us along in hope
