The brighter side of doubt
Conclusion

One final thing about the brighter side of doubt must now be said: once we have passed from doubt to faith, we give to whatever We believe all that we've got and it leads to our well-being.

Thomas' honest doubt led him to say: "My Lord-My God." But he did not stop there. He gave all to himself to to what he believed in. A few years ago, on my visit to Madras, India, my guide took me to grave just outside the city-the grave of Thomas, the original doubter. You see, Thomas founded what is now called the Mar Thomas Church of South India. His grave in Madras is the site of his martyrdom for his faith. Just think of it: among Jesus' twelve disciples, Thomas had gone the farthest from Jerusalem to proclaim the message of the resurrection. This doubter, whose honest doubt was turned to faith, gave all that he had-his resources, his life, his all-to the very One he passionately believed in.

The point therefore is: we are not expected to believe everything. For we can be certain of only a few things. But whatever there is that we believe, if we give it all we've got, like Thomas did, this will lead us to an experience of Paul, who said: "I've finished the course; I've kept the faith." Or the experience of Peter who has his own share of doubts but finished with undying loyalty and a source of wholeness. Let me end this sermon by affirming in my own experience that there surely is a summer side doubt.

About many matters, I have found that it is perfectly appropriate to say quite honestly "I do not know," "I am not quite sure." This kind of uncertainty is not necessarily a barrier to belief in God. It could even become a prod to firm belief, for an honest sense of skepticism is healthier than to any propensity to believe so easily. If I had not faced and felt my own doubts deeply, I should be of little use in the preaching of the Good News. For, you see, few of your questions really surprise me. They have been my questions, too. So as we go through life with our honest doubts, let us be like that man, who, when asked by Jesus "Do you believe?" he says: "Lord, I believe, but help me in my unbelief."*

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