Can the Gospel be any more physical than as it got to Thomas in today’s Gospel Reading? I think not. It is almost hard for me to read because of how physical it is.
‘Unless I see the mark of the nails in his hands, and put my finger in the mark of the nails and my hand in his side, I will not believe.’
What a statement. Thomas clearly was not persuaded by his fellow disciples. Nor was he persuaded by all the predictions Jesus himself must have shared with Thomas while Jesus lived.
He needed the Gospel to be presented to him in a far my physical way than I would even like it to be presented to me.
But of course, there is a point in him wanting it to be so. Because it enables Jesus to come with the following statement. A statement that is encouraging to all of us who did not live at the time of Jesus Christ:
‘Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have come to believe.’
In our sacraments – baptism and communion – we believe that our Lord Jesus Christ is somehow present among us. Not in the same way that he was present for Thomas in today’s Reading. But still.
I am happy that we have baptism and communion. Those are important rituals for us to feel connected to faith. Yet Biblical Readings as the one for today is important as well. Because it tells me how I am blessed if I muster just a little faith. No more. No less.
I read an article the other day that I found rather disturbing. A survey made in 8 countries made it clear that in those countries between 45 and 20 percent – depending on the country – of the people asked said, that denial of holocaust was – if not common – than at least a thing people had encountered in their daily life.
This year we celebrate the 80th anniversary for the liberation of the concentration camps. And to me the result of the mentioned survey is quite disturbing.
With physical proofs growing old. With almost no survivors still alive. Apparently one of histories most gruesome acts can be – if not forgotten – then still doubted.
In the survey between 50 and 10 percent – again depending on the country – of the people asked said that they believed that the number of people killed in concentration camps had been exaggerated. Another disturbing fact.
It might be lack of education in history. At least the survey ends with the uplifting fact that in all the eight countries where the survey was made, more than 90 percent found it important to educate in holocaust.
But I believe that another truth is a part of it as well. With physical proofs wearing out, it gets harder and harder to believe that humanity was able to do what it did.
Just as it was hard for Thomas to believe in the resurrection of Jesus with no physical proof.
As time goes by – as physical proofs vanish – it truly seems that we are left with a task only getting more and more troublesome. A task of remembering regarding history. A task of believing regarding faith.
As we celebrate the 80th anniversary of the end of the Second World War and as we are confronted with today’s Biblical Readings, I believe it is in order to think a little about what might help us in keep on remembering and keep on believing.
First, I believe it is important to maintain celebrations of various historical dates as a part of our culture: Remembrance Day for instance, but also days like Constitution Day and the like.
Such daysregarding history. Regarding faith, the maintenance of holidays seems to be of importance.
Second, we should acknowledge the need for us to maintain a link to our past if we want for ourselves a good present and future.
In today’s Biblical Reading we are reminded of this. Many times, we are. For instance, also in the iconic fantasy series, Game of Thrones, where the king who is elected in the end is not the most powerful. The king they elect is in fact a disabled person who through some kind of magic has the gift of knowing all that have ever happened.
When we encounter literature like this, we should acknowledge our need of maintaining what otherwise might get lost.
Third, I believe all of us should try to be better at believing in things that time removes us from. Something that we could do by asking ourselves who among us is best at doing just that.
Could there be someone among us better than the rest of us in believing despite of time? Could there be someone among us not in need of physical proofs? Someone who encounter the world in an openminded attitude and with curiosity. Someone whom we all can lean upon when things get out of hands.
Well, we do have someone just like that. We have children.
In the Bible we are told that it is as children we shall enter the Kingdom of God. Something that has to do with what I have been talking about today.
Because children would not ask like Thomas. Children would not doubt. They will as they get older – just like the rest of us – but being young has the benefit that one possesses a lot of trust. Trust in things unseen.
Children have all kind of wonderous believes: Santa, Easter Bunny, Tooth Fairy, Monsters in every dark places as well, but still: To children it is a lot easier succumbing to faith than it is for adults.
Why all of us as we age develop a kind of skepticism towards everything probably has several answers, but it is a part of us. Even a part of what we in the Bible can regard as an original sin.
To begin with, Adam and Eve, lived happily in the garden of Eden – as children. But doubt became a part of them as they grew in wisdom after eating of the forbidden fruit – as they got older.
Therefore, and let this be the end of my sermon, let us sometimes learn from the children. Let us sometimes dare to believe what is no more.
And not only because of faith, but because all that is physical due to time eventually will vanish. But we need to remember. We need to accept that which is no more. We need to believe in the word.
We probably always will have days where we will ask of God as Thomas, but let us also have days, where faith simply is. Without doubt. Without hindrances.
For that we pray. Amen.