THE BENEFIT OF DOUBT !

by Marilyn Thomas

  

For it takes a Thomas to fully understand another,

be it ever so, a thousand years after !

Spake Mary,

We have Seen Him, Yes we Have,

Our Eyes have Seen the Lord !

There’s Nothing you can say in Defense,

For He was Sent by God !

Spake Mathew,

He Walked Right through that Door,

Evidence don’t say You need More.

He’s Alive ! He’s Alive ! Know this You must,

No Fierce Jew, shall Stand against Us !

But Thomas Declared Boldly,

“I wilt NOT Believe.

His Pierced Palms till Touched,

I Refuse to be Deceived!

For it is not what Men say,

that I Call to Question ;

But to Deem all I Ask,

is a Mere Impression

Of the Side and the Palms,

Would Suffice I say,

O Help my Unbelief,

Dear Lord, I Pray !”

Spake Simon,

Speak He did, with that Tranquil Voice,

Leaving us nothing but a Hobson’s Choice,

To Believe as He spoke All that was Due,

When He said Calmly “Peace be with You”.

Spake Philip ,

There’s More than just a Mere Transmission,

For He came to Furnish a New Commission,

Said He :

Though Workers are many, the Chosen are Few,

As the Father has Sent Me, so Send I You !

Spake John ,

Forgive if You must Anybody’s Sin,

Forgiven They Shalt be from Within !

Shalt you Decide to Forgive them Not,

Their Sins He would Refuse to Blot !

But Thomas Declared Boldly,

“I wilt NOT Believe.

His Pierced Palms till Touched,

I Refuse to be Deceived!

For it is not what Men say,

that I Call to Question ;

But to Deem all I Ask,

is a Mere Impression

Of the Side and the Palms,

Would Suffice I say,

O Help my Unbelief,

Dear Lord, I Pray !”

Spake Peter ,

He Looked into Our Eyes and Watched

Fear that Left our Hearts but Notched,

Said,

Why Art Thou Troubled ? Why so Confused ?

Why are These Doubts, leaving thy Soul so Bruised ?

Why is Thine Heart, in Understanding thus Slow ?

Must the Rooster Awaken, to a Third Time Crow ?

Spake Andrew ,

With That Jesus Breathed on Us to Commit,

Saying Receive Thee now,The Holy Spirit !

He Will be with You,Till the very Bitter End,

Never will Lost Souls Tarry Lonely to Fend !

But Thomas Declared Boldly,

“I wilt NOT Believe.

His Pierced Palms till Touched,

I Refuse to be Deceived!

For it is not what Men say,

that I Call to Question ;

But to Deem all I Ask,

is a Mere Impression

Of the Side and the Palms,

Would Suffice I say,

O Help my Unbelief,

Dear Lord, I Pray !”

Tarried Doubt with a Week not Past,

The Doors that Day were Locked on Fast,

As Jesus’ Presence was Felt right Through

As He Smiled and Said “Peace be with You” !

Turned He to a Doubting Thomas now,

Knowing Well how Belief he’ll Disavow.

Jesus Came Near and Called him by Name,

‘Twas Time to Change the Rules of the Game !

Jesus spake,

Thomas ! Thomas ! Lend Me your Ear !  

It is I. It is I. I AM Here !

Did You not Taste, the Bread, the Wine,

The day We Sat round to Sup ?

Did You not Taste, My Body and Blood,

When You Dipped it in My Cup ?

Did You not Hear, Me Speak to Him,

Whilst my Mother, She Wept in Grief ?

Did You not Hear, that Soon in Time,

I’d be in Paradise with a Thief ?

Did You not Watch, as I Hung on the Tree,

All I could Think of was You ?

Did You not Watch, as I Breathed my Last,

The Temple Curtain was Torn in Two ?

Did You not Feel, an Ache in your Soul,

When the Heavens by the Cross was Clawed ?

Did You not Feel, the Centurion’s Awe,

Affirm “This was the Son of God” ?

Did You not Hear, the Angels who Stopped

The Women Weeping Instead ?

Did You not Hear, that They were but Seeking,

The Living amongst the Dead ?

Did You not Know, that I would Rise,

Not Reeking henceforth of Myrhh ?

Did You not Know, I Died for You,

For You, a Thousand Times Over ?

Did I not Tell You, that If you Believed,

You would See the Glory of God ?

Did I not Tell You, I paid the Pound of Flesh,

That You’re no longer a Guilty Sod ?

Come ! See my Nail - Pierced Hands,

Come Place on it Thy Finger ; Feel !

Come, See my Nail - Pierced Feet and Side,

And Thy Doubts with These Marks Conceal !

Because You Commit Thine Heart to Eye,

Thou Nod-est to this Image and Cleave !

But Blessed are Those who Have Not Seen,

Yet Doubtless are First to Believe !

The Disciples had Gathered Round the Two,

As Silence, she the Stone Walls Caressed.

As they Waited for the Culpable One to Speak,

Thomas Put his Hand on his Breast !

Stepped out of a Shadow of Shame,

That had Covered his Downcast Face

Though Head hung Low, He now Basked ,

In a Warm Ray of Amazing Grace !

Though Unbeknownst Thus Far,

Ere His Faith, O Surely Flawed :

Thomas, now Declared Boldly,  

“My Lord and My God” !

- Marilyn T.

(Based on Texts from John 20 : 18 - 29 and Luke 24 : 33 - 40)