"The eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had ordered them. When they all saw him, they worshiped, but they doubted." – Matthew 28:16-17
Do you ever have doubts, even about a sure thing? There are few things that we really know for certain that will happen in life. Even in certainty, doubt can still creep in.
This weekend the church celebrates the Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity. We read in Matthew's last few verses, that Jesus gives His disciples the great commission to baptize all in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, and that He would be with them always. It's an affirming passage, but there's one phrase that jumps out in verse 17. We read, "When they all saw him, they worshiped, but they doubted." But they doubted. After all they had witnessed°the miracles, the healings the dying and rising°how could they still doubt?
Actually, the Greek word that is used in this verse can also be translated as "some doubted". This wording is found in many other translations of the bible other than the New American Bible translation that we use for our readings at Mass. But even if only some doubted, and not all, that still begs the question "why"? And what does that mean for us today?
Maybe the doubt of some of the disciples was a recognition that we experience doubt in our faith lives, particularly when we face some trial or adversity. None of us are perfect, including the disciples and the saints that have all gone before us. We are sinners, and Satan likes to work on us to cast doubt, worry despair, and division. To combat this doubt we must be fervent in prayer, devoted in worship, and persistent in our faith. Jesus allayed the disciples doubt by reminding them that He would be with them always, even in their times of doubt, trial and suffering. It's that faith that He IS with us always that keeps us going. When doubt begins to creep into your life, say to Jesus as the father did in Mark, chapter 9, "I do believe, help me in my unbelief!"
Today's Reflection by...
Bishop Gregory Parkes
Did you know...
Most Reverend Gregory L. Parkes is the fifth Bishop of St. Petersburg. Prior to his appointment to the Diocese of St. Petersburg, Bishop Parkes served as the fifth Bishop of the Diocese of Pensacola-Tallahassee from 2012-2016. He was ordained to the priesthood for the Diocese of Orlando on June 26, 1999. Before answering the call to the priesthood, Bishop Parkes worked for several years in Tampa's banking industry.
