One thing’s for sure about the life of faith: it’s not a one-size-fits-all proposition. Just as each one of us is a uniquely created child of God, so too are our faith journeys unique. Yes, we share the same basic fabric of faith—one Lord, one baptism—and we are all part of the Body of Christ, but the cut and style of our faith vary greatly. And that’s perfectly fine because Jesus meets folks where they are.
This week’s gospel reading makes that abundantly clear. Instead of looking at this snapshot from John’s gospel as merely Thomas’ encounter with the risen Christ, maybe we need to explore it from our Lord’s perspective of relationship, of reaching out and clothing us in his love and with his own name and identity.
Think about it: The disciples are devastated after the crucifixion. They’re terrified on so many levels: they have lost their beloved teacher, they may be implicated as his followers, his body is missing, and their lives are changed forever in the span of a few days. Things are bleak, yet Jesus comes. He brings peace. He brings the breath of the Spirit. He commissions them for service, equipping them to witness. And he loves them.
Thomas, one of the twelve, is not there to see Jesus the first time he visits. No matter. Jesus comes again and meets Thomas at his own point of need. It’s custom-tailored ministry with a blessing for all future disciples stitched right in. That’s how our Lord works. No one it left out. There’s a place for all of us. That’s the beauty of life in Christ.