Since I was on vacation, I didn’t preach this morning. The gospel reading was John 20:19-31, known to many as the Doubting Thomas passage. There are a ton of ways to preach this one, particularly if you aren’t wedded to the idea that Thomas is an unbelieving jackass. Here are a few thoughts that struck me today.

Thomas wanted what the other disciples had–physical proof.

The other disciples had the proof that Thomas didn’t have, creating an inequality among them. To expect equality from unequal circumstances requires, well, a leap of faith. Less Thomas’ deficiency than Jesus’ incredible expectation.

Such an inequality could be a real moral hazard, not just for Thomas, but for the community.

But isn’t this a story about faith? If we are to read it as such, then we shouldn’t see it as a story of Thomas’ lack of faith.

In fact, none of the disciples expresses the faith glorified in countless sermons this week every year. Thomas is actually the exception that proves the rule.

It seems John’s resurrection story, as the end of a story that begins with a glorious statement about the Word and its presence with God, ends with a statement about passing on the story about the Word. Much like the evangelist himself, supposedly the Apostle, living decades longer than humans are able. Or even better, the Apostle’s community, living out the example themselves what none of the apostles could.

Isn’t it strange that a story about faith centers on a man who supposedly has none? Stranger still, that the other, more faithful disciples, including The Beloved, are locked in a room? Oh, and lest we neglect to notice, lock themselves in that room even after their moment with Jesus, proclaiming the risen Christ from the safety of a locked room?

I normally preach a pro-Thomas sermon this week. I’m more inclined to look at how the story of the Christ Event got past these scared, disbelieving apostles and in just a couple of generations is telling an amazing story of a poor carpenter who died and was raised from the dead.

Damn good story, that one is. Something tells me this story is supposed to be about the story, not the storyteller.