July 3, 2014, Thursday,
13th Week in Ordinary Time
St. Thomas, Apostle
1st Reading: Eph 2:19–22
Gospel: Jn 20:24–29
Thomas, the Twin, one of the Twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. The other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord.”
But he replied, “Until I have seen in his hands the print of the nails, and put my finger in the mark of the nails and my hand in his side, I will not believe.” Eight days later, the disciples were inside again and Thomas was with them. Despite the locked doors Jesus came and stood in their midst and said, “Peace be with you.” Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here and see my hands; stretch out your hand and put it into my side. Resist no longer and be a believer.” Thomas then said, “You are my Lord and my God.” Jesus replied, “You believe because you see me, don’t you? Happy are those who have not seen and believe.”
D@iGITAL-EXPERIENCE
(Daily Gospel in the Assimilated Life Experience)
Few people have the privilege of building faith up in their own terms. But Thomas the Apostle had it his way. In today’s Gospel he said: “Until I have seen in his hands the print of the nails, and put my finger in the mark of the nails and my hand in his side, I will not believe.” His faith must have suffered a fatal fall after the Calvary event. Understandably only a massive sensitization can resuscitate it. Jesus submitted himself to his terms at which Thomas exclaimed: “My Lord and my God!”
Did Thomas really recover his faith? He did, but not the way Jesus wanted it. In fact Jesus rebuked Thomas saying, “Happy are those who have not seen and believe.” Some believe because the rational probative value of evidence before them is simply irresistible. Others believe not because of evidence but because of who is the one testifying. Jesus rebuked Thomas because his faith was not rooted in a strong relationship with him.
As Christians we maneuver in the sea of doubt because the things we believe in about God are veiled in mystery. At the Mass, for example Jesus is truly present and we can see, touch and receive him at Holy Communion. Unfortunately we don’t see and touch him the way we want. We would have preferred that at the words of consecration the host changes not only in substance but also in appearance from bread to human flesh. But then faith would serve no purpose anymore.
But in the last analysis we are better off than Thomas the Apostle because we have lots of opportunities to believe without seeing. Saint Augustine assures us in his Sermons: “Faith is to believe what you do not yet see; the reward for this faith is to see what you believe” – Rev. Fr. Dan Domingo P. delos Angeles, Jr., DM. Email: [email protected]. Website: www.frdan.org.
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