The story may be apocryphal, but legend has it . . .

The story may be apocryphal, but legend has it that Congressman William Duncan Vandiver, who served in the House of Representatives from 1897 to 1903, once said in a speech, “I come from a state that raises corn, cotton, cockleburs, and Democrats; and frothy eloquence neither convinces nor satisfies me.  I am from Missouri.  You have got to show me!”

 Obviously, the disciple Thomas wasn’t from Missouri; but my guess is that he would have felt right at home there, since he had the same kind of “show me” attitude.  He was a realist and a pragmatist, who never shied away from saying what was on his mind.  There was that time, for instance, when Jesus informed the disciples that he would be leaving them soon, but not to worry, because they knew the way he was going.

 The other disciples all nodded in agreement—except for Thomas!  He broke the silence by stating that he didn’t have the slightest idea where Jesus was heading, so how on earth was he supposed to know the way?  “I am the way,” responded Jesus; and while Thomas let it go at that, you can’t help feeling that he found the answer less than satisfactory, and would have preferred something more concrete.

 Then, of course, there was that occasion following Easter, when the rest of the disciples kept trying to convince Thomas that they had actually met the Risen Christ.  Thomas, however, was skeptical, and speaking like a true Missourian, told the others that he’d need to see it for himself.  Unless he was personally allowed to inspect the nail marks and place his hand where the soldier had driven the spear, all of this resurrection talk represented little more than wishful thinking.

 But eight days later, the very wish Thomas had expressed was granted.  The Risen Christ appeared, offering him the opportunity not only to see and hear, but to touch as well; and even good, old doubting Thomas could not hold out against evidence as compelling as that.  For the first time in a long time, he was at a complete loss for words.  “My Lord and my God!” was all he could manage.

 Of course, down through the centuries, various preachers have taken Thomas to task for his lack of faith.  But I have always heard good news in this story.  What it tells me is that the Risen Christ is still willing to come to us, even when we are filled with doubt, even when we struggle to make sense of it all, even when we aren’t quite ready to make that leap!