Friday, August 31, 2007

Doubt is our constant companion

In the last week, the news that Mother Teresa had doubts has rather taken over the religious news.

Some folks are crowing, for they see doubt as disbelief. They are not the same, not ever.

Doubt is the constant companion of faith. Susan Brooks
Thistlethwaite said it in a commentary posted in "On Faith" (http://newsweek.washingtonpost.com/onfaith) and she's absolutely right.

But even in the middle of the greatest doubts, the experience of faith can keep one going. Most of us don't have dark nights of the soul to compare with that of John of the Cross or Teresa of Calcutta, but we do have them. And we also have the moments of faith, strong enough to keep us moving through the times of doubt.

And for both the faith and the doubt, thanks be to God! They are part of what makes us authentically human, made in the image and likeness of God, who doubted too, when he was hung on a cross.