In the world we live in, it’s common to hear the phrase “seeing is believing.” It’s a sentiment that reflects a deep-seated human desire for tangible proof, for concrete evidence that can be seen, touched, and examined. Sunday’s Gospel challenges this mindset. It invites us to a different kind of knowing, a different kind of seeing. It calls us to foster a faith beyond sight.
Faith is a profound trust in what we cannot see. It’s a deep-seated conviction that even though we cannot see God with our physical eyes, He is there. He is real. He is working in our lives. He is worthy of our trust. This kind of faith is not blind. Rather, it’s about recognizing that there is a deeper reality, a higher truth that transcends what we can see with our physical eyes.
This kind of faith is beautifully illustrated in the story of Thomas in John’s Gospel. Thomas, one of the disciples, wasn’t there when Jesus first appeared to the other disciples after His resurrection. He didn’t see Jesus with his own eyes. So, when the other disciples told him that they had seen the Lord, he refused to believe. He demanded physical proof. He wanted to see the nail marks in Jesus’ hands and put his hand into Jesus’ side.
When Jesus appeared to Thomas a week later, He invited him to touch His wounds, Thomas didn’t need to touch them. He didn’t need physical proof anymore. He simply responded in faith, declaring, “My Lord and my God.” Thomas’ story reminds us that faith is not about seeing and then believing, it’s about believing and then seeing. It’s about trusting in God’s Word, in His promises, and in His presence, even when we cannot see them with our eyes.
But how do we cultivate this kind of faith? How do we learn to trust in what we cannot see?
First, we need to immerse ourselves in God’s Word. The Bible is God’s revealed truth. It’s His love letter if you will to us. It’s the story of His relentless pursuit of us, His creation. By reading and meditating on God’s word, we come to know Him more deeply. We come to understand His character, His promises, and His ways. As we grow in our knowledge of God, our faith in Him grows as well.
Second, we need to cultivate a life of prayer. As a Member of the Commission on Ministries in the diocese, this is something I remind candidates for Holy Orders. Prayer is not just about asking God for things. It’s about communing with Him. It’s about expressing our love for Him, thanking Him for His blessings, confessing our sins, and pouring out our hearts to Him. Prayer is a powerful way to nurture our relationship with God and to grow in our faith.
Third, Faith is not meant to be a solitary journey. We need the encouragement, support, and accountability of other believers. We need to hear their stories of faith, to learn from their experiences, and to be challenged by their insights. Being part of a community of believers is a vital part of fostering faith beyond sight.
Last, we need to live out our faith. Faith is about allowing our faith to shape our thoughts, our words, and our actions. It’s about aligning our lives with God’s Word and His will. As we strive to live out our faith, we find that our faith becomes more real, more tangible, and more deeply rooted in our hearts.
As we navigate the path of faith, we are called to seek Christ not just in the world around us, but also within our own hearts.
Title: Thomas Touches Christ’s Side; Date: 20th century; Artist: Béla Iványi-Grünwald; Building: Hungarian National Gallery; Object/Function: Painting; City/Town: Budapest; Country: Hungary; Scripture: John 20:19-31. Permalink: https://diglib.library.vanderbilt.edu/act-imagelink.pl?RC=56120 (Use this link to refer back to this image.)
