Jesus said to Thomas, “Have you come to believe because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and have believedâ€.
After reading today’s Gospel, we can ask this question: Why do some people have a strong faith and others a weak faith? In a way this is almost like asking, why do some people have strong physical health and others do not?
Consider just two possible reasons.
Some people have poor health because their parents did. They inherited a delicate body. On the other hand, some people have poor health because they don’t take care of themselves.
What is true of physical health is also true of spiritual health.
Some people have a weak faith because their parents had a weak faith. They inherit it, so to speak. If parents are lukewarm in their faith, this usually affects their children. On the other hand, our faith may be weak because we neglect it.
This brings us to a second question. Regardless of the reason for our weak faith, what can we do to strengthen it?
First of all, we need to keep in mind that faith is a gift. Having said this, however, it is up to us to dispose ourselves to receive the gift and increase in faith. Disposing ourselves for the gift of faith or an increase in faith is not unlike keeping physically fit. If we don’t eat well or exercise regularly, our body tends to grow weak or sickly. On the other hand, if we eat intelligently and exercise regularly, our body tends to grow stronger and healthier.
Our faith is somewhat like that too. It responds to nourishment and exercise. For example, when we receive the Eucharist prayerfully and live our lives according to the Gospel, our faith tends to grow stronger. Just as we embark on a program of physical exercise to build up our physical health, so we can embark upon a spiritual program to build up our spiritual health.
Our spiritual program begins with living the Gospel – putting into practice the teachings of Jesus.
Let us close with these words of Albert Schweitzer, the great missionary:
Do you want to believe in Jesus?
Do you really want to believe in him?
Then you must do something for him. In this age of doubt there is no other way.
If for his sake you give someone something to eat, or drink, or wear which Jesus promised to bless as though it were done to him, then you will see that you really did it for him.
Then he will reveal himself to you, as one who is alive.