Owning Up to Our Doubts

For 5/1/2011
All Scriptures from The Message
The Lectionary scriptures now move beyond the resurrection to the events that transformed Jesus’ followers into true disciples. Today’s Gospel scripture places a focus on “Doubting Thomas” which is indeed an important lesson about faith and doubt. When our faith intersects with the real world questions have to arise if we are serious about seeking God’s presence in times of trial. But there are a number of other ideas that the story about Thomas raises.. First let us look at a story only found in John’s Gospel as the disciples gather after Jesus' crucifixion:

John 20: 19-20 Later on that day, the disciples had gathered together, but, fearful of the Jews, had locked all the doors in the house. Jesus entered, stood among them, and said, "Peace to you." Then he showed them his hands and side.
20-21The disciples, seeing the Master with their own eyes, were exuberant. Jesus repeated his greeting: "Peace to you. Just as the Father sent me, I send you."
22-23Then he took a deep breath and breathed into them. "Receive the Holy Spirit," he said. "If you forgive someone's sins, they're gone for good. If you don't forgive sins, what are you going to do with them?"

· What would you have been afraid of if you were among the disciples that evening in Jerusalem? Were their fears justified? How do you feel about the way in which they were handling their fear, would you have acted differently?

Before the crucifixion Jesus makes a promise to them about bringing peace:

John 14: 25-27"I'm telling you these things while I'm still living with you. The Friend, the Holy Spirit whom the Father will send at my request, will make everything plain to you. He will remind you of all the things I have told you. I'm leaving you well and whole. That's my parting gift to you. Peace. I don't leave you the way you're used to being left—feeling abandoned, bereft. So don't be upset. Don't be distraught.

· How does Jesus describe the peace he will bring them and what role does the Holy Spirit have in bringing Jesus’ peace? What words does he use to describe the peace that will come to them?
· What does this say to us about the impact/benefit we should expect from a faith life in the real world of big and little fears? Will our faith necessarily make whatever threatens us go away? · Can you think of a time when your faith brought peace in a time of fear? Do you think that the Spirit had a role in bring about your peace?
· How does this story about the coming of the Spirit compare with the commonly remembered story from Acts 2:1-4, what differences and similarities do you see?

When the Feast of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. Without warning there was a sound like a strong wind, gale force—no one could tell where it came from. It filled the whole building. Then, like a wildfire, the Holy Spirit spread through their ranks, and they started speaking in a number of different languages as the Spirit prompted them.

· When did you first sense the presence of the Spirit? What were the circumstances? What was the role of the disciples in the coming of the Spirit? What is our role in making the Spirit real in our lives? Prayer? Faith? Openness?
· Jesus spoke to the disciples about their responsibilities now that the Spirit was present with them.  What were they?  Look at the Lord’s Prayer for similar words in the form of a prayer he taught the disciples.

“‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.

Now back to the Upper Room:

24-25But Thomas, sometimes called the Twin, one of the Twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. The other disciples told him, "We saw the Master."
But he said, "Unless I see the nail holes in his hands, put my finger in the nail holes, and stick my hand in his side, I won't believe it."
26Eight days later, his disciples were again in the room. This time Thomas was with them. Jesus came through the locked doors, stood among them, and said, "Peace to you."
27Then he focused his attention on Thomas. "Take your finger and examine my hands. Take your hand and stick it in my side. Don't be unbelieving. Believe."
28Thomas said, "My Master! My God!"
29Jesus said, "So, you believe because you've seen with your own eyes. Even better blessings are in store for those who believe without seeing."

· What do you think about Thomas, how would you describe him and the nature of his questions? Should he be criticized for needing proof?
· Does having doubts put our faith in question? How do you deal with the doubts that you might have? Doubts are expressed in many places in Scripture, many in the Psalms, as in the following from Psalm 10:

God, are you avoiding me? Where are you when I need you?

· What are some healthy ways to deal with our doubts? Could one be accepting the fact that we will have them? (Why else do they call it faith as opposed to certainty?) Will sharing our doubts with others help us deal with them?
· Why do you think that Thomas doubted his fellow disciple’s testimony about Jesus? What might it say about his state of mind at what he perceived to be a major loss in his life? · What is Jesus’ response to Thomas’ doubts? What does it say to us about God’s response to us in times of doubt? Does God’s love for us vary with the level of doubt that we carry?
· What does Jesus tell us about doubt and blessings? What does he suggest we substitute for certainty (seeing)?

Closing Litany
God has made us an Easter people!
We have found grace in the wilderness God has made us an Easter people!
We shall recount the deeds of God. God has made us and Easter people!
We shall be raised to new life with Christ. God has made us an Easter people!
We move forward in faith, no longer afraid. God has made us and Easter people!

Next Week’s Lectionary Scriptures: Luke 24:13-35, Acts 2:14a, 36-42, Psalm 116:1-4, 17-19, 1Peter 1:17-23