In the aftermath of the single most important piece of world news, just one week into the Easter season it is a poignant echo of the ancient post resurrection story. If you don’t know the text or remember the story, allow me to paint the image.
Thomas, filled with grief following the death of Jesus, could not stand to be in the company of the other friends. Given the remarkable news that Jesus had been seen following that dark Friday, his response was disbelief. Men were executed by the Roman Empire with such frequency, the results were impressive. That Thomas doubted that any one who had been “hung on a tree” could be seen walking and talking three days later places him among the reasonable and rational of his time. If it were me in his place, I can’t say with certainty that I wouldn’t have been demanding to “feel the holes in his hands and feet” also. In fact, it seems to me that disbelief about the reported resurrection of his crucified teacher was a normal reaction. That, of course, has been the continuing challenge of faith for people of all ages. To suspend reason and logic and to allow the experience of the Holy Spirit to speak a witness to our heart is the very essence of the Christian journey.
The parallel to our world news is a collective case of doubt.
Ever since the news reports of the strategic forces operation and announcements of the death of Osama Bin Laden, people clamor and call for evidence. It isn’t enough that the government has reiterated the deliberations that led to President Obama’s authorization of the maneuvers. Around the nation, indeed, even around the globe, the reverberations of doubt continue to raise a call to see pictures. The report of conclusive evidence obtained by military leaders and attested to our Commander in Chief hasn’t proven satisfactory or sufficient.
“Do you not believe, Thomas?”
I can only wonder what emotions drive these calls for pictures. I fear that the basest of all emotions is driving many of these calls. Blood thirsty warmongering is infecting our ability to trust the testimony of our military. That we have paraded the remains of past high ranking enemies for photo opportunities is a shameful argument. I can only say shame on us. Shame on us, that we need to resort to the tactics of the Roman Empire. Shame on us, that we debase ourselves by needing to view the carnage and risk further inciting our enemies. Shame on us that we have sunk to the level of having no trust in our government’s leaders of both the military and executive branch to imply this motive of withholding the pictures is proof of collusion to manipulate future elections.
Let us merely breathe a sigh of relief and pray with all sincerity that with this successful mission accomplished we will begin to see a shift in the minds of extremists of all forms throughout our world, and that the reign of God on earth is increasing within our own time.
