’Doubting Thomas’ gets bad press. But in today’s post-truth world, full of fake news and disinformation, there is much we can learn from him”, says Rev. Peter Crumpler.

Thomas said, “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.” (John 20:25).

I began to wonder about Doubting Thomas as the “fact-checker” of his day.

Think about Thomas

Thomas has a history of speaking out. In John 14:2-7, Jesus tells his disciples: “If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. You know the way to the place where I am going.”

Thomas asks the question on others’ minds… “Lord, we don’t know where you are going, so how can we know the way?”

Thomas showed a healthy skepticism. He was willing to ask questions. And needed to be convinced by the evidence.

These are three useful characteristics of anyone seeking to navigate today’s post-truth environment, where people’s emotions or pre-determined beliefs can skew their view of the facts.

And let’s remember it was his experience of putting his hands in the wounds of Christ that transformed him.

Thomas in a world of disinformation today (Rev. Peter Crumpler)

“So in today’s world of disinformation, where conspiracy theories, fake news and false narratives can be across the world with a few strokes of a keyboard, what can we learn from Thomas?”

• Don’t follow the group-think

Just because everyone on your social media timeline or in your friendship group believes something is true, it doesn’t mean that it is. You should still do your own research, check out the sources of the information and reach your own conclusions.

• Don’t be afraid to ask questions

Questioning is good – and much of Jesus’s teaching in the gospels arose from questions he was asked. Thomas asked questions and opened up new avenues of conversation and dialogue. Our faith can bear the weight of questioning and challenge, and we can be confident in it.

• Be willing to speak about your doubts and reservations

Like Thomas, be the one to put the discomfort into words. People raising concerns, such as whistle-blowers acting on their conscience, can open up dark situations to the light of the truth.

Thomas has something else to teach us

Thomas was changed because of firsthand experience—literally.

Experiencing the wounds of Christ was the key to his belief and transformation!

We are called to transformation in the same way Thomas was!

We need to confront our own disbelief that Jesus is alive today in everyone… especially those at the outer fringes.

The challenge is to get our hands dirty and touch his wounds today

Pope Francis offers further insight

“How can I find the wounds of Jesus today? I cannot see them as Thomas saw them.

I find them in doing works of mercy, in giving to the body — to the body and to the soul, but I stress the body — of your injured brethren, for they are hungry, thirsty, naked, humiliated, slaves, in prison, in hospital.

These are the wounds of Jesus in our day”.

He invites us

“We must come out of ourselves, we must take human routes if we are to discover that Jesus’ wounds are still visible today on the bodies of all our brothers and sisters who are hungry, thirsty, naked, humiliated or slaves, in prison and hospital. By touching and caressing these wounds “we can adore God alive in our midst”.

Vincent DePaul experienced the wounds of Christ in his day… and was transformed! 

Will we?

Originally posted on Vincentian Mindwalk