Gospel
Jn 20:19-31
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 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!” Jesus said to him, “Have you come to believe because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and have believed.”
Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of his disciples that are not written in this book.
But these are written that you may come to believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that through this belief you may have life in his name.
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Homily
Quite recently a pediatrician was speaking to me about a patient who claimed to be in hell and who was manifesting some very strange behaviour. This pediatrician was doing morning rounds with interns when the behaviour began and as she said to me all the interns and other doctors disappeared and left her alone. Talking to a fellow priest about the disbelief that many have in the reality of demonic possession, we agreed that many do not believe in the reality of demonic possession until of course they have had a firsthand experience of behaviour which they cannot explain scientifically and then they begin to change their minds. We can refer to them as doubting Thomases.
I thought of that conversation as I began to reflect on the Gospel story given to us for our meditation, the story we so often refer to as that of doubting Thomas. According to the story Thomas, one of the twelve is not with the other disciples when Jesus makes his first post resurrection visit to them as a group and commissions them to continue the work given to him by the Father. “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you.” Thomas is not with them at that moment so when he returns they all very excitedly say 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.”
Because of this answer Thomas has been labeled the doubter. In truth though, Thomas seeks security before he commits himself for all his life to a person and a cause. He wants to be certain that it is indeed the Lord who is alive. He tells the other disciples, “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.” Thomas will not commit himself to an impostor. He will not commit himself to someone seeking his own fame and aggrandizement. He will commit himself to no other but the person who gave everything, including his life for him.
Eight days later, Jesus appears again and this time Thomas is with them. Jesus invites Thomas to look at the wounds, to touch them and Thomas is convinced. This is truly the Lord. He does not hold back. He commits himself to Jesus and to the cause. He exclaims; “My Lord and my God!” The commitment is total. Jesus is no longer simply the Lord. He is Thomas’ Lord. Thomas gives an allegiance from which he will not deviate, and with this allegiance to Jesus comes the total dedication to the cause of Jesus, The Kingdom of God.
Here in T&T, elections are in the offing. Many people will commit themselves to leaders and their causes. I wonder whether or not the same commitment is given to Jesus, and whether the same energy is put into our allegiance to the cause of Jesus, The Kingdom of God.
Not only here in T&T but throughout the world the commitment of Christians must be the commitment of Thomas. As for him, Jesus must not simply be the Lord. Jesus must be “our Lord” As for Thomas, our allegiance to Jesus must lead to the total dedication to the cause of Jesus, the Kingdom of God.
Prayer
All powerful and ever-loving God Thomas the apostle of your son Jesus gave us an example which we must all follow. He was determined not to follow an impostor and gave his allegiance to Jesus after determining that it was indeed the Lord. In this world in which power and fame seem to be the forces driving the desire for leadership, many impostors seek to have our allegiance. Help us to recognize the true leaders in our midst, those for whom our good is more important than their own fame and fortune. Above all help us to commit ourselves to your Son Jesus and to make his cause, the ultimate cause for which we will give our very selves. We ask this through the intercession of Mary our mother, and your son Jesus, the true leader. Amen.
