The second Sunday of Easter is traditionally called ‘Low’ Sunday, in contrast to the ‘high’ festival of Easter Sunday. It marks the end of the Octave (8 days) of Easter, but is important in its own right, according to a story recorded in St John’s gospel.

St John tells us that, 8 days after Easter, the disciples gathered together again, only this time, unlike when the women came with news of the empty tomb, St Thomas - also known as Doubting Thomas - was with them. They gathered behind closed doors, and all of a sudden Jesus was there among them, saying "Peace be with you."

Jesus clearly understood Thomas’ doubts, and invited Thomas to put his finger in the nail holes in his hands and put his hand in Jesus’ side, where the sword had pieced him. Then Thomas believed.

Doubt for a Christian is normal and valid, as doubt and faith are 2 sides of the same coin. We are not required to be certain, only to believe. The doubters among us are often those who want to reflect more deeply on what faith means and demands.

Faith doesn’t have the luxury of total proof, but it looks like that was what Thomas was after. Thomas’ problem was that he was looking for certainty, when all he needed was faith. Rather, says Christ, we should aim to be like those who have not seen and still believe, whom we are told are the more blessed.

The picture is part of a stained glass window in St Teresa’s Church, Beaconsfield in the UK, a memorial to an RAF airman named Thomas who died during WW2. For more information see https://loandbeholdbible.com/2023/08/08/st-thomas-doubts-christ-john-2019-29/