‘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

There is no priest in my home parish in Somerset, nor is there one in the neighbouring parish, nor, it seems, is there one in the next parish. To be honest, there is no good reason why there should be. Attendances are tiny, among most people there is a sense of complete indifference to the church.

It doesn’t have to be that way.

The times for ordinary people are more difficult than they have been at any time since the Second World War. Working families are being forced to resort to food banks, old people are sitting in their homes cold and hungry, the country is filled with industrial unrest and there is a deep sense of anger.

What would Jesus have looked for from his people? Wouldn’t he have expected the church to have done something to show that it actually believed in what Jesus taught? Wouldn’t he have had some harsh words for people living in vast houses when so many have nowhere to live? Wouldn’t Jesus have looked for evidence that the church was actually Christian?

The church could have filled the headlines, it could have declared that it had realised it was not living as Jesus expected and that it was going to care for the poor as Jesus did. It could have had the indifferent people asking themselves whether these Christians maybe did have something to say. Why didn’t it do so?

The story of Thomas is read on this Sunday after Easter each year. Thomas has often been seen in a negative way by Christians, but the so-called ‘doubting Thomas’ seems an appropriate saint for the present times. If anyone can advise the church on how to avoid terminal decline, perhaps Thomas is the man who can do it. The church needs people like Thomas who asks serious questions about faith.

The Gospel reading for today from Saint John Chapter 20 tells the story of Jesus appearing to the frightened disciples who have locked themselves in a room and are in fear of their lives. Thomas is not with them when Jesus appears.

There is no explanation given by the writer as to where Thomas might have been. When the rest of the group of Jesus’ followers are too terrified to even step out into the street, why is Thomas out moving around the city? Does he act according to the way that he sees things If Thomas thinks it safe to be outside, he seems happy to go. Thomas seems a man who is aware of the situation.

Thomas hears the story of Jesus’ appearance and in Verse 25 of Saint John Chapter 20, he expresses his doubt about the story, ‘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.’

Is this not Thomas showing the sort of attitude that most people today would hold? Is this not Thomas being questioning in the way that people today would be?

Thomas has heard the disciples’ story that Jesus is alive, but he is not going to believe simply because someone says something.

Is it doubt for Thomas to ask for reasonable evidence? Is Thomas not applying the logic that Jesus himself applied when we read the story of the healing miracles and Jesus telling those whom he has healed to go and show themselves to the priests?

Thomas’ question is the sort of question most people would now ask. Thomas is looking for evidence that he should believe what the disciples say. It is not enough to tell stories unless there is something to back them up.

Thomas would be an appropriate person to ask the questions needed today. Listening to the church, he might say, ‘well you claim to be Christians, now show us the proof.’

If the church really believes in Jesus, then it has the straightforward option of selling what it has and giving the money to the poor, it has the option of grabbing the headlines and having people thinking that here are people to take seriously.

On the Sunday after that first Easter morning, the church had no money, no buildings, no assets, but faith in Jesus. Twenty centuries later, there is money, building and assets, but not much sign that the church seems willing to follow Jesus.