St Thomas is one of my favourite disciples because he is so direct and has the courage to ask awkward questions. He asked the questions that other people didn’t quite have the nerve for.
There are many reasons why we avoid asking the awkward questions. Maybe we don’t want to be seen as troublemakers, or appear uninformed or unintelligent. Maybe we are scared that there will be no answers, or that they will be too challenging and hard for us to cope with.
Thomas doesn’t seem to have such qualms. When Jesus says something that puzzles him Thomas takes the risk of asking for clarification. His question:
“Thomas said, ‘Lord, we do not know where you are going, so how can we know the way?’”
Allows Jesus to clarify who he is and to deepen the disciples understanding of who he is:
“I am the Way, the Truth and the Life.”
Far from being a distraction or a nuisance Thomas’ questions gives us a deeper insight into who Jesus is. Jesus’ answer leaves us with some questions of our own. Thomas’ example gives us the courage to acknowledge those and to reflect on them, asking Jesus to show us their significance for our lives.
He gives us the courage and maybe even the “permission” to ask who Jesus is for us. It allows us to ask ourselves what Jesus’ words mean for us, and to reflect on how it might shape our lives.
How does your understanding of Jesus, the Way, the Truth and the Life shape the way your life?