Doubt can sometimes be a very good thing. If we believed every advertisement, every swindler and snake oil salesman, and scam artist, we would be broke. If we believed every new age guru, self-help expert, alien abductee, we’d be drawn away from the truth of Christ. If we believed everything we heard, every exaggerating politician or family member, then our mind would be filled with so many contradictory ideas, we wouldn’t be able to function. In an era of fake news, Artificial Intelligence created deep-fakes, and internet scams, doubt can be a very good thing.
Our justice system requires us to doubt a person’s guilt; we are to presume innocence unless it can be disproven beyond a reasonable doubt. Scripture even tells us to be on guard against false prophets, wolves in sheep’s clothing, and those who only tell us what we want to hear.
On the other hand, Scripture condemns the sort of doubt that undermines our faith in God.
The letter of James says, “the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind”. When St. Peter began to sink after walking toward Jesus on the water, the Lord says, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt” St. Paul writes to the Romans, “But whoever has doubts is condemned if he eats, because the eating is not from faith. For whatever does not proceed from faith is sin.”
Doubt which preserves us from being duped and swindled and taken advantage of—that’s the good sort of doubt; and then there is the sinful doubt which keeps us from putting our faith in God, that’s the bad kind of doubt.
But notice, in his alleged doubt, Thomas possesses an openness to the truth. “If I can see his wounds, I will believe.”
The catechism differentiates between voluntary and involuntary doubt. One is sinful, one is not. Catechism says, Voluntary doubt about the faith disregards or refuses to hold as true what God has revealed and the Church proposes for belief. Involuntary doubt refers to hesitation in believing, difficulty in overcoming objections connected with the faith, or also anxiety aroused by its obscurity. If deliberately cultivated, doubt can lead to spiritual blindness (CCC 2088).
Voluntary doubt about matters of faith is truly dangerous. It is a violation of the first commandment which “requires us to nourish and protect our faith with prudence and vigilance, and to reject everything that is opposed to it” (CCC 2088). It is a sin against faith. In the face of involuntary doubt, we, like Apostle Thomas, need to seek the Truth, to be open to the Truth, and when Truth is made known, we are to change our life accordingly.
And St. Thomas did that, to a heroic degree. After Pentecost, he marched across the known earth, preaching the Good News to the Persians and Medes, until he reached India, where he evangelized and was eventually martyred in 72 A.D. by those who refused to believe.
May we who have come to believe through the testimony of the apostles, through the intercession of St. Thomas, come to that blessedness promised by our Lord, for the glory of God and the salvation of souls.
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For the Church, that like St. Thomas, we may boldly proclaim our faith in the risen Christ. Let us pray to the Lord.
For those struggling with doubt, that through the example of St. Thomas, they may find renewed faith and trust in God. Let us pray to the Lord.
For missionaries around the world, inspired by St. Thomas's journey to India, that they may courageously share the Gospel. Let us pray to the Lord.
For architects and builders, under the patronage of St. Thomas, that their work may glorify God and serve humanity. Let us pray to the Lord.
For unity among Christians, that we may heal divisions and work together to build up the Body of Christ. Let us pray to the Lord.
For our community, that we may grow in faith and be willing to touch the wounds of Christ in those who suffer. Let us pray to the Lord.
For the sick, the impoverished, the lonely, those suffering from mental illness, those most in need, and those near death: may God, through the loving mercy of the Precious Blood of Jesus, be close to them in their trials.
And that all those redeemed by the Precious Blood of Jesus may come to the glory of heaven, especially X for whom this mass is offered.
Gracious Father, hear our prayers, through the intercession of St. Thomas the Apostle, grant us what we truly need to strengthen our faith, deepen our trust, and open our eyes to Your presence among us. Make us your servants to the ends of the earth, through Christ our Lord.
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