"The Incredulity of St. Thomas" Caravaggio, 1602

This past week my friend, Jim, once again invited me to speak with his class of high school seniors at a Christian school on the south side of town. These students are great kids and if you ask me, their voices are prophetic… if you dare to listen carefully enough. In my hour with them I spent half the time describing New Monasticism as an alternative expression of church and then I spent the second half of class experiencing Lectio Divina with them. Together, we quietly and carefully read through John 20: 19-29 and I found their resulting responses seriously profound.

“No one ever messes with our routines like this… can you teach our Bible class too?”

Nearly every student out of the twenty or so in the room had a similar comment. Most of them said something to the effect that they seldom hear the permission or are invited into a quiet space in which they can confront the reality of the scriptures together with the realities of their lives– especially the conflicts and disorienting dilemmas.
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I’ve always been drawn to the brief story of Thomas “The Doubter” and the risen Christ (John 20:24-29). So one afternoon recently, among thousands of beautiful pieces in a religious art shop, my eyes finally fell on a small bronze rendition of the Apostle Thomas reaching his hand to the wound in Jesus’ side. Actually I had to rummage for it in a basket marked 40% off, so maybe Doubting Thomas isn’t the most popular gift idea. It became a gift to me from my friend Sam, though—I was redeeming a birthday certificate. Thomas is now parked on my desk and I’ve been reflecting on Jesus’ invitation to touch his wounds, and believe.

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