People who deny the Resurrection of Our Lord mainly because they were not present as witnesses at the time have much in common with the disciples. It is particularly noticeable in St Thomas, who demanded proofs before he would accept the fact of the Resurrection. Fortunately his strong devotion to Jesus and the Gospel message, his yearning to believe, carried him through and meant that he waited, rather than discarding belief. He didn't "miss the boat to heavenly bliss". Sadly, in an age of scepticism that is happening too often.
And when the Lord appeared to St Thomas he said: "Be not faithless, but believing." Jesus said to him, "Thomas, because thou hast seen me thou hast believed; blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed." In those latter words by Jesus there is encouragement in the sympathy, even anguish, we know for those who wish to believe and who in all honesty cannot believe.
The poet and novelist Thomas Hardy longed to believe, and couldn't. Simple everyday events, like a thrush singing its "swan song" of faith in the heavenly Father, moved the poet as he longed for faith. He said of the thrush that he was singing of "Some blessed hope, whereof he knew; and I was unaware".
We grieve for those like the poet who desire to believe but cannot. But we may reflect that God was singing to him through the thrush, just as surely as He sings to us through the love of friend or neighbour, through the forgiveness of those we have hurt or wronged, through the patience of those we have sorely tried, through the steadfast love of husband and wife, of parent and child. It may be through the precious gifts God gives us that we can come to discern the living Christ shining through them in His risen glory and wonder and grace. For all who love God and His Gospel and seek for increasing faith in His risen presence, there are myriad ways in which he comes to those persisting in being found by Him. We see that in the ways He convinced the disciples.
One can recall the impression of a visit to a hospital patient. Being present with Olive, an old saint of the church, was indeed a privilege when we realised that she was including her heavenly Father in the conversation around her "sickbed". We gladly withheld our talk and gave her our attention. It was an experience never to be forgotten. Here was someone with a lifelong happy intimacy with the Risen Lord expressing her deep trust and love to the lover of all souls in a natural, informal way with her best friend, with whom she was in constant contact. It was trusting as between true friends. One sensed the strong presence of her living, loving Lord whom she was indeed reverencing.
In that way, by observing such faith of others, one may well be convinced that the Lord is risen indeed - and be thankful for the best of our pilgrimage. The disciples and the vast throng of believers He has inspired realise that faith begins in an experiment and ends in the perfect experience: life-long companionship with the living God.
W.W.