Holy Wisdom Church
In the tradition of the desert fathers and mothers, younger monks would go to an Abba, possibly their spiritual father, and ask: Abba give me a word, that I may be saved.” One of those stories that has stayed with me through the years involves the Egyptian, Abba Macarius. The word he gave to a brother who came to him was: “’Go to the cemetery and abuse the dead.’ The brother went there, abused them and threw stones at them; then he returned and told the old man about it. The latter said to him, ‘Didn’t they say anything to you?’ He replied ‘No.’ The old man said, ‘Go back tomorrow and praise them.’ So the brother went away and praised them, calling them, ‘Apostles, saints and righteous men.’ He returned to the old man and said to him, ‘I have complimented them.’ And the old man said to him, ‘Did they not answer you?’ The brother said no. The old man said to him, ‘You know how you insulted them and they did not reply, and how you praised them and they did not speak; so you too if you wish to be saved must do the same and become a dead man. Like the dead, take no account of either the scorn of men or their praises, and you can be saved.’” [1]
Now, the main message in the gospel we read on Thomas Sunday is about believing in the risen Lord even if we have not seen him ourselves. Jesus’ words to Thomas are addressed to us as well: “Be not unbelieving!” And while not losing sight of this teaching, I believe Jesus is also modeling for us something else. The exchange between Jesus and Thomas is very revealing of the approach Jesus takes in his ministry.
Thomas is, to put it mildly, a little cheeky when he says, “Unless I see the scars of the nails in his hands and put my finger on those scars and my hand in his side, I will not believe.” I can just see him standing there with his arms tightly folded across his chest as he makes this demand, almost like a little kid. And what is Jesus’ response? He comes to Thomas and tells him to do just what he demanded: touch the scars. This is how Jesus shows us the mind of God. He meets us where we are. No scolding for the attitude. No push back, questioning the temerity of Thomas to ask such a question in such a fashion. No condescension, “you dare question me?” His objective is to foster faith, to encourage those who are doubtful, to draw us closer to the love that God offers to all of us.
The story of Abba Macarius is drawn from the attitude of Jesus on display not only in this instance toward Thomas but throughout the Gospels. However, Jesus shows us that there is more to it than just being able to refrain from responding in kind when provoked. As we heard in the matins readings Holy Wednesday this year, Ronald Rolheiser explains that Jesus doesn’t just absorb the sin of the world and our sins, but transforms them in his loving response. This is why Jesus’ death does more than take on the role of a scapegoat by taking away sins. Rolheiser says it beautifully:
Jesus took away the sin of the world
by taking in hatred and giving back love;
by taking in anger and giving out graciousness;
by taking in envy and giving back blessing;
by taking in bitterness and giving out warmth;
by taking in pettiness and giving back compassion;
by taking in chaos and giving back peace; and
by taking in sin and giving back forgiveness. [2]
So Thomas’ faith is revived, resurrected if you will. And we are also invited to share in that faith. A faith in Jesus and his message, a message of love and transformation, a message we can all carry from this temple into the life of the world.
Christ is Risen!
