What a week it has been for all of us here in Cork and across Ireland. Who would have ever thought at the start of Easter week that we’d all run out of petrol and diesel in a few short few days. It has affected us all in some shape or form.

I had my Dad’s anniversary Mass in Millstreet last Friday evening and afterwards everyone gathers for the tea, food and chat after at home. It is almost as important as the prayers. But one by one all the extended family had to cancel and to mind what fuel they had in their cars. I think everyone here also has their own stories too from an eventful week.

It was also an eventful week too for all the friends of Jesus in our Gospel today, especially Thomas. He had his doubts and questions. They were real and for him everything he was hearing was not simply adding up. It did not make sense to him. I have always liked Thomas. He reminds me that it is totally ok to have questions and doubts. People sometimes think that priests have it all worked out and know and believe everything with absolute certainty.

Yes most of the time our faith is a hugely strong foundation. But there are times too when priests including myself have our questions and our doubts. Sometimes the flow of a Gospel story does not add up and it’s ok to ask why that is. There are other questions too. But I have always found and I am around a fair while now, that when you reflect on your questions and doubts, your faith actually grows and deepens.

This is exactly what happens to Thomas this today. He has his questions and his doubts. He doesn’t hide them but honestly shares them. He meets Jesus. It is a life changing moment for him.

We might say Thomas was lucky and privileged to have met Jesus personally and we don’t have that luxury. But we too can meet risen Jesus. It may not always be obvious first, but it is often in the smaller and quieter moments that we begin to notice. It could be the smile of someone, or an encouraging word spoken, a word of thanks or a simple gesture of kindness.

Like Thomas we sometimes don’t have it all worked out. And that’s totally ok. But Jesus still walks with us and we quietly notice the difference he makes in our lives.