December 21, 2004
Thomas
Interesting that today Thomas is the only one among the been-there, done-that saints who makes the Advent cycle. With this blue season’s messages of hope as thick and rich as plum pudding, it’s refreshing to insert the Sultan of Doubt for a day of reflection just in time.
To his credit, Thomas was the only one with enough chutzpah to break out of that upper room and go look for a new job, the place crawling with all those nervous, trigger-happy Romans. All the rest, save Judas who’d got his reward another way, seemed to be cowering behind the razzle-dazzle future of it all.
I suppose there’s not much risk in a hope sealed tight against fear and uncertainty. But then, there’s little opportunity for grace to leak in, as well.