Encouragement for Enquiry

“The Incredulity of St. Thomas” by Michelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio, 1602


Caravaggio was a 16th/17th century Italian early Baroque painter. (You may have seen a documentary on TV a couple of nights ago about him.)

The above painting of his depicts the doubting disciple Thomas, examining Christ’s crucifixion wound, during Christ’s second post-resurrection appearance (see John 20:24-29). It was a remarkable and shocking piece at the time, and remains so, for a number of reasons.

(There is an excellent article here concerning it.)

I find great appeal in it, in no small part due to where I am at the moment. It is a wonderful picture of God coming to meet the one struggling with doubt, satisfying them to the depth of their enquiry, and to the benefit of others also.

The feature which strikes me most, is that not only has Christ appeared here to appease Thomas’s doubts, but he is actively involved in revealing the truth of himself to Thomas. This is represented by the drawing back of his robe with one hand, whilst taking Thomas’s arm with the other and guiding the grubby finger into the wound.

I am in a somewhat bedraggled state myself, not only in having realised the futility of (what I have come to realise as) my autonomous search for truth, but more generally (in my desire to have integrity) realising that my whole being – my actions and desires as well as thoughts – requires a dependence on an external and ultimate reference point/ under an external and ultimate authority. I am further bedraggled in my struggle both for and against such a thing, therein accentuating the necessity.

In realising the impossibility of the contrary (that is, that I may autonomously reach truth, and more generally, a true/correct state of being), it may be that I have glimpsed something of true truth (as opposed to merely believing). And though it may further seem contrary to what I have found, I have since come to increase in appreciation for the significance and tremendous value that is placed in the individual’s ability to choose and work toward a goal.

I find that I am perhaps like Thomas here, having now perceived what appears to be Christ, I am not only to seek to examine further, but to also seek his strength and guidance in such a task, as well as his specific self-disclosure to meet the goal of the enquiry, such that I may truly come to realise “the way, the truth, and the life”, and may similarly exclaim, “My Lord and my God!”