Today's Wisdom

Those who do not pass from the experience of the cross to the truth of the resurrection condemn themselves to despair! For we cannot encounter God without first crucifying our narrow notions of a god who reflects only our own understanding of omnipotence and power
Pope Francis

Tuesday, June 10, 2008

Thomas' Doubt Leads to Faith

[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."] (John 20: 19-23) This Gospel tells us that the 11 were afraid hiding from the Jews, locked in their fear and not only in that place! The leader is dead, he who was supposed to lead them into the new kingdom. No more Jesus...no more saviour from the Romans occupying their land! There is only pain now. And then, Jesus came and stood in their midst with his pronouncement of peace. Look at this: this is the peace that he had promised them. It makes them full of joy. Moreover, he is sending them as the Father sent him. The meaning of Apostle is “sent” to the world. He breathed on them like God breathed on Adam to give him life (Genesis 2). What life is Christ giving them: The Holy Spirit whom we know is “the Lord giver of life.” (the Nicene Creed) – This is a new life from God. The Resurrection transforms our life into a new life. We will no longer be mortals in our sins, but have the chance of eternal life if we receive the forgiveness of sins that Christ is giving through his Church in the Sacrament of Reconciliation or confession. [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 nailmarks 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, "My Lord and my God!"] (John 20: 24-29) Two notes here:First Thomas wants to believe. He wants to see the wounds of Christ to believe. Experience of faith is not the absence of sorrow and pain but the bearing of pain in faith. From pain and the wounds emerges the faith “My Lord and My God” Second: When John wrote his Gospel in the 90’s, he was responding to the heresy of Docetism which claimed that Christ did not really share our humanity but only appeared as a human. Johnis telling us that Christ truly suffered and died as a human. Thomas’ declaration "My Lord and my God!" echoes the beginning of John’s Gospel “And the Word was God” In it Thomas proclaimed that Christ is God and John reminds us of this reality from the beginning to the end of his book. John is called The Theologian in the Eastern Church. And his book’s symbol is the eagle. Christ is risen. He is truly risen!

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Today's Quote

"Behold I make all things new." (Revelation 21:5)







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