Dean John writes…

‘My Lord and my God!’ Our celebrations of Easter continue with thoughts of Doubting Thomas. The life – and world-transforming difference made by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead is also illustrated as the world mourns and gives thanks for Pope Francis, following his death on Easter Monday.

‘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.’ So said Thomas to his fellow disciples after they told him that they had seen their risen Lord on the evening of the day of resurrection.

As Sunday’s gospel reading from St. John will remind us, the following week Thomas was with the disciples when the risen Christ appeared among them. Christ challenged his doubt, presenting his wounds. ‘Put your finger here and see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it in my side. Do not doubt but believe.’ And so Thomas did come to believe, answering, ‘My Lord and my God!’ To which Christ pointed out that those who do not see and yet come to believe are blessed.

The life and ministry of the Church two thousand years on bears witness to the fact that inordinate numbers of people continue to come to faith in the risen Christ, without seeing his risen body with the wounds that emphasise the cost to him of his redeeming love. Ripon Cathedral was far from being the only church around the world which was packed several times over for Easter celebrations. Our reflections on Pope Francis, on his remarkable life of faith and humble service, also show how Christ’s spirit is at work in his followers today. Still, Christ’s risen life is an experienced reality in this world – with his kingdom of justice and peace, of forgiveness and love already seen by eyes of faith to be breaking into the world.

Pope Francis, like all mature Christians, understood fully that doubt is part of the journey of faith. Facing doubts can strengthen faith. It certainly did for Thomas – ‘My Lord and my God!’ So it is that in faith we pray for the soul of Francis, commending him and all the faithful departed to the care of Almighty God.

As we continue to celebrate Easter, we give thanks for Thomas and for Pope Francis. In the hope of the resurrection and the world-transforming power of Christ’s gospel, we pray for our brothers and sisters in the Roman Catholic Church and all who mourn Francis. And we pray for grace for those now engaged in discerning God’s chosen leaders for both the Roman Catholic Church and the Church of England and world-wide Anglican Communion.

With continued Easter good wishes

Dean John