Today’s Gospel (John 20:19-29)
On the evening of that first day of the week, when the doors were locked, where the disciples were, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in their midst and said to them, "Peace be with you.” When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side. The disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord. (Jesus) said to them again, "Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you.” And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, "Receive the holy Spirit. Whose sins you forgive are forgiven them, and whose sins you retain are retained.” Thomas, called Didymus, one of the Twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. So the other disciples said to him, "We have seen the Lord." But he said to them, "Unless I see the mark of the nails in his hands and put my finger into the nail marks and put my hand into his side, I will not believe.” Now a week later his disciples were again inside and Thomas was with them. Jesus came, although the doors were locked, and stood in their midst and said, "Peace be with you.” Then he said to Thomas, "Put your finger here and see my hands, and bring your hand and put it into my side, and do not be unbelieving, but believe.” Thomas answered and said to him, "!” Jesus said to him, "Have you come to believe because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and have believed.”
"My Lord and my God!"
When Thomas answered, "My Lord and my God!", he was affirming the Divine nature of the Lord Jesus. For while the word "Lord" implied Jesus as "Master" and "Teacher," the word "God" implied Yahweh. In the person of Jesus, Thomas perceived the human and Divine natures.
Today's reading from the Gospel of John concludes by telling us that Jesus said, "Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed." (Jn. 20:29) These powerful words of Jesus were not meant for the little group that was present in the house. It was a blessing that was intended to surpass the days of the first disciples. It was addressed to all Christians of all time, including the faithful of today, including you and me.
Thomas, the “doubting apostle” makes the great profession of faith, “My Lord and my God.” Here Thomas utters the greatest confession of belief in the Lord who rose from the dead. This declaration by the “doubting apostle” in today’s gospel is very significant for two reasons. (1) It is the foundation of our Christian faith. Our faith is based on the divinity of Jesus as proved by his miracles, especially by the supreme miracle of his resurrection from the dead. Thomas’ profession of faith is the strongest evidence we have of the resurrection of Jesus. (2) Thomas’ faith culminated in his self-surrender to Jesus, his heroic missionary expedition to India in A.D. 52, his fearless preaching, and the powerful testimony given by his martyrdom in A.D. 72.
“I will not believe unless I see.” This “seeing” is what others demand of us. They ask that we reflect Jesus, the Risen Lord, in our lives. The integrity of our lives is a fundamental witness to others, who want to see Jesus alive and active and working in our lives.
On the evening of that first day of the week, when the doors were locked, where the disciples were, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in their midst and said to them, "Peace be with you.” When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side. The disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord. (Jesus) said to them again, "Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you.” And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, "Receive the holy Spirit. Whose sins you forgive are forgiven them, and whose sins you retain are retained.” Thomas, called Didymus, one of the Twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. So the other disciples said to him, "We have seen the Lord." But he said to them, "Unless I see the mark of the nails in his hands and put my finger into the nail marks and put my hand into his side, I will not believe.” Now a week later his disciples were again inside and Thomas was with them. Jesus came, although the doors were locked, and stood in their midst and said, "Peace be with you.” Then he said to Thomas, "Put your finger here and see my hands, and bring your hand and put it into my side, and do not be unbelieving, but believe.” Thomas answered and said to him, "!” Jesus said to him, "Have you come to believe because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and have believed.”
"My Lord and my God!"
When Thomas answered, "My Lord and my God!", he was affirming the Divine nature of the Lord Jesus. For while the word "Lord" implied Jesus as "Master" and "Teacher," the word "God" implied Yahweh. In the person of Jesus, Thomas perceived the human and Divine natures.
Today's reading from the Gospel of John concludes by telling us that Jesus said, "Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed." (Jn. 20:29) These powerful words of Jesus were not meant for the little group that was present in the house. It was a blessing that was intended to surpass the days of the first disciples. It was addressed to all Christians of all time, including the faithful of today, including you and me.
Thomas, the “doubting apostle” makes the great profession of faith, “My Lord and my God.” Here Thomas utters the greatest confession of belief in the Lord who rose from the dead. This declaration by the “doubting apostle” in today’s gospel is very significant for two reasons. (1) It is the foundation of our Christian faith. Our faith is based on the divinity of Jesus as proved by his miracles, especially by the supreme miracle of his resurrection from the dead. Thomas’ profession of faith is the strongest evidence we have of the resurrection of Jesus. (2) Thomas’ faith culminated in his self-surrender to Jesus, his heroic missionary expedition to India in A.D. 52, his fearless preaching, and the powerful testimony given by his martyrdom in A.D. 72.
“I will not believe unless I see.” This “seeing” is what others demand of us. They ask that we reflect Jesus, the Risen Lord, in our lives. The integrity of our lives is a fundamental witness to others, who want to see Jesus alive and active and working in our lives.
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