Feast of Saint Thomas, Apostle
Lectionary: 593
Lectionary: 593
Brothers and
sisters:
You are no longer strangers and sojourners,
but you are fellow citizens with the holy ones
and members of the household of God,
built upon the foundation of the Apostles and prophets,
with Christ Jesus himself as the capstone.
Through him the whole structure is held together
and grows into a temple sacred in the Lord;
in him you also are being built together
into a dwelling place of God in the Spirit.
You are no longer strangers and sojourners,
but you are fellow citizens with the holy ones
and members of the household of God,
built upon the foundation of the Apostles and prophets,
with Christ Jesus himself as the capstone.
Through him the whole structure is held together
and grows into a temple sacred in the Lord;
in him you also are being built together
into a dwelling place of God in the Spirit.
Responsorial PsalmPS 117:1BC, 2
R. (Mark 16:15) Go out to all the world and tell the Good
News.
Praise the LORD, all you nations;
glorify him, all you peoples!
R. Go out to all the world and tell the Good News.
For steadfast is his kindness for us,
and the fidelity of the LORD endures forever.
R. Go out to all the world and tell the Good News.
Praise the LORD, all you nations;
glorify him, all you peoples!
R. Go out to all the world and tell the Good News.
For steadfast is his kindness for us,
and the fidelity of the LORD endures forever.
R. Go out to all the world and tell the Good News.
AlleluiaJN 20:29
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
You believe in me, Thomas, because you have seen me, says the Lord;
blessed are those who have not seen, but still believe!
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
You believe in me, Thomas, because you have seen me, says the Lord;
blessed are those who have not seen, but still believe!
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
GospelJN 20:24-29
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 Thomas 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.”
was not with them when Jesus came.
So the other disciples said to him, “We have seen the Lord.”
But Thomas 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.”
Meditation: "Do
not be faithless, but believing"
What can give us unshakeable hope and confidence in the face of
failure, defeat, and death? The apostles had abandoned Jesus in his hour of
trial when he was betrayed in the Garden of Gethsemani by Judas and arrested by
the Jewish authorities. Their fear turned to despair when Pontius Pilate, the
Roman governor, sentenced Jesus to death by crucifixion for his claim to be the
King of the Jews. In that hour of darkness on "Good Friday" the apostles
saw Jesus' death as defeat rather than victory.
From death and despair to joy and victory
On Sunday morning when they heard the reports from the women who saw the empty tomb, they were slow to believe that Jesus had risen as he prophesied to them previously. Their despair turn to joy when the Risen Lord at last appeared to them and showed them the scars of his victory - his pierced hands, feet, and side. Jesus had indeed triumphed over the enemies which held the human race in slavery to sin, Satan, and death.
On Sunday morning when they heard the reports from the women who saw the empty tomb, they were slow to believe that Jesus had risen as he prophesied to them previously. Their despair turn to joy when the Risen Lord at last appeared to them and showed them the scars of his victory - his pierced hands, feet, and side. Jesus had indeed triumphed over the enemies which held the human race in slavery to sin, Satan, and death.
The last apostle to meet the resurrected Lord was the
first to go with him to Jerusalem at Passover time. The apostle Thomas was a
natural pessimist. When Jesus proposed that they visit Lazarus after receiving
news of his illness, Thomas said to the disciples: "Let us also
go, that we may die with him" (John 11:16). While Thomas deeply
loved the Lord, he lacked the courage to stand with Jesus in his passion and
crucifixion. After Jesus' death, Thomas made the mistake of withdrawing from
the other apostles. He sought loneliness rather than fellowship in his time of
sorrow and adversity. He doubted the women who saw the resurrected Jesus and he
doubted his own fellow apostles who also testified that Jesus had risen.
When Thomas finally had the courage to rejoin the other apostles
eight days later, the Lord Jesus made his presence known to him and reassured
him that he had indeed overcome death and risen again. When Thomas recognized
his Master, he believed and exclaimed that Jesus was truly Lord and truly God!
Through faith we meet the Risen Lord
Through the gift of faith we, too, are able to recognize the presence of the risen Lord in our personal lives. The Holy Spirit reveals the Lord Jesus to us and helps us to grow in knowledge and understanding of God and his ways. Through the gift of faith we are able to proclaim that Jesus is our personal Lord and our God. He died and rose that we, too, might have new life in him. The Lord offers each of us new life in his Holy Spirit that we may know him personally and walk in this new way of life through the power of his resurrection. Do you believe in God's word and in the power of the Holy Spirit?
Through the gift of faith we, too, are able to recognize the presence of the risen Lord in our personal lives. The Holy Spirit reveals the Lord Jesus to us and helps us to grow in knowledge and understanding of God and his ways. Through the gift of faith we are able to proclaim that Jesus is our personal Lord and our God. He died and rose that we, too, might have new life in him. The Lord offers each of us new life in his Holy Spirit that we may know him personally and walk in this new way of life through the power of his resurrection. Do you believe in God's word and in the power of the Holy Spirit?
"Lord Jesus Christ, through your victory over sin and death
you have overcome all the powers of darkness. Help me to draw near to you and
to trust in your life-giving word. Fill me with your Holy Spirit and strengthen
my faith in your promises and my hope in the power of your resurrection."
FEAST OF THOMAS, APOSTLE
FRIDAY, JULY 3, JOHN 20:24-29
(Ephesians 2:19-22; Psalm 117)
FRIDAY, JULY 3, JOHN 20:24-29
(Ephesians 2:19-22; Psalm 117)
KEY VERSE: Thomas answered and said to him, `My Lord and my God!' (v 28).
TO KNOW: After the crucifixion, Jesus' disciples gathered in the upper room behind locked doors, in fear that they too would be killed. Although Thomas was present at the raising of Lazarus, and even stated his willingness to go to Jerusalem and there "die with the Lord" (Jn 11:16), Thomas, was absent when the Risen Christ appeared to them. He refused to believe the testimony of the disciples that Jesus had risen without visible proof. A week later, Thomas was with the disciples when suddenly Christ appeared to them again with a greeting of peace (Hebrew, Shalom). Jesus showed Thomas the wounds of his crucifixion and asked him not to persist in disbelief. At this, Thomas became convinced of the truth of the Resurrection and exclaimed: "My Lord and My God" (20:28), thus making a public profession of faith in the Divinity of Christ. Jesus then offered a beatitude for all future generations: "Blessed are those who have not seen and have believed" (v 29).
TO LOVE: Do I have faith in Christ when I am fearful and doubtful?
TO SERVE: My Lord and my God, help me to believe even when I see no evidence for my belief.
Friday 3 July 2015
St Thomas
the Apostle. DAY OF PENANCE.
Ephesians
2:19-22. Go out to all the world and tell the Good News—Ps 116(117). John
20:24-29.
There is
a famous depiction of today’s gospel scene by the painter Caravaggio.
In it,
Caravaggio has Thomas’ finger touching Christ’s pierced side. There is a look
of amazement on the face of Thomas and he encounters his Risen Lord in the
flesh. While the focus is often on Thomas’ doubt, there is something extremely
human in this desire to encounter Jesus physically. It is hard to have a
relationship with a non-physical being; we are designed to relate to each other
in a bodily not disembodied way.
In the
Incarnation, God took on the fullness of our humanity. Jesus knew the human experience
of being embodied, the desires and frustrations that come with having a body
that ages, gets tired, needs food and feels pain. He also experienced the
beauty and cruelty of the human touch.
MINUTE MEDITATIONS
|
Carry His Love
|
Slow down as you make the Sign of the Cross. Intentionally purify
your mind and your heart, and ask God to strengthen you to carry his love to
the world.
July
3
St. Thomas the Apostle
St. Thomas the Apostle
Poor Thomas! He made one remark and has been branded as “Doubting
Thomas” ever since. But if he doubted, he also believed. He made what is
certainly the most explicit statement of faith in the New Testament: “My Lord
and My God!” (see John 20:24-28) and, in so expressing his faith, gave
Christians a prayer that will be said till the end of time. He also occasioned
a compliment from Jesus to all later Christians: “Have you come to believe
because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and have
believed” (John 20:29).
Thomas
should be equally well known for his courage. Perhaps what he said was
impetuous—since he ran, like the rest, at the showdown—but he can scarcely have
been insincere when he expressed his willingness to die with Jesus. The occasion
was when Jesus proposed to go to Bethany after Lazarus had died. Since Bethany
was near Jerusalem, this meant walking into the very midst of his enemies and
to almost certain death. Realizing this, Thomas said to the other apostles,
“Let us also go to die with him” (John 11:16b).
Comment:
Thomas shares the lot of Peter the impetuous, James and John, the “sons of thunder,” Philip and his foolish request to see the Father—indeed all the apostles in their weakness and lack of understanding. We must not exaggerate these facts, however, for Christ did not pick worthless men. But their human weakness again points up the fact that holiness is a gift of God, not a human creation; it is given to ordinary men and women with weaknesses; it is God who gradually transforms the weaknesses into the image of Christ, the courageous, trusting and loving one.
Thomas shares the lot of Peter the impetuous, James and John, the “sons of thunder,” Philip and his foolish request to see the Father—indeed all the apostles in their weakness and lack of understanding. We must not exaggerate these facts, however, for Christ did not pick worthless men. But their human weakness again points up the fact that holiness is a gift of God, not a human creation; it is given to ordinary men and women with weaknesses; it is God who gradually transforms the weaknesses into the image of Christ, the courageous, trusting and loving one.
Quote:
“...[P]rompted by the Holy Spirit, the Church must walk the same road which Christ walked: a road of poverty and obedience, of service and self-sacrifice to the death.... For thus did all the apostles walk in hope. On behalf of Christ's Body, which is the Church, they supplied what was wanting in the sufferings of Christ by their own trials and sufferings (see Colossians 1:24)” (Vatican II, Decree on the Church’s Missionary Activity, 5).
“...[P]rompted by the Holy Spirit, the Church must walk the same road which Christ walked: a road of poverty and obedience, of service and self-sacrifice to the death.... For thus did all the apostles walk in hope. On behalf of Christ's Body, which is the Church, they supplied what was wanting in the sufferings of Christ by their own trials and sufferings (see Colossians 1:24)” (Vatican II, Decree on the Church’s Missionary Activity, 5).
Patron Saint of:
Architects
Construction workers
Cooks
Architects
Construction workers
Cooks
LECTIO DIVINA:
ST. THOMAS, AP - JN. 20,24-29
Lectio:
Friday, July 3, 2015
Ordinary Time
1)
OPENING PRAYER
Father,
you call your children
to walk in the light of Christ.
Free us from darkness
and keep us in the radiance of your truth.
We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
you call your children
to walk in the light of Christ.
Free us from darkness
and keep us in the radiance of your truth.
We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
2)
GOSPEL READING - JOHN 20,24-29
Thomas, called the Twin, who was 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 answered, 'Unless I can see the holes that the nails made in his hands
and can put my finger into the holes they made, and unless I can put my hand
into his side, I refuse to believe.'
Eight days later the disciples were in the house again and
Thomas was with them. The doors were closed, but Jesus came in and stood among
them. 'Peace be with you,' he said. Then he spoke to Thomas, 'Put your finger
here; look, here are my hands. Give me your hand; put it into my side. Do not
be unbelieving any more but believe.'
Thomas replied, 'My Lord and my God!' Jesus said to him: You
believe because you can see me. Blessed are those who have not seen and yet
believe.
3)
REFLECTION
• Today is the Feast of Saint Thomas and the Gospel speaks to us
about the encounter of Jesus with Thomas, the apostle who wanted to see in
order to believe. For this reason many call him Thomas the
incredulous. In reality the message of this Gospel is very
diverse. It is much more profound and actual.
• John 20, 24-25: The doubt of Thomas. Thomas, one of the twelve
was not present when Jesus appeared to the disciples the week before. He
did not believe in the witness of the others who said: “We have seen the
Lord”. He gives some conditions: “Unless I can see the holes that the
nails made in his hands and can put my finger into the holes they made, and unless
I can put my hand into his side, I refuse to believe”. Thomas is very
demanding. In order to believe he wants to see! He does not want a
miracle in order to believe. No! He wants to see the signs on the hands,
on the feet and on the side! He does not believe in the glorious Jesus,
separated from the human Jesus who suffered on the Cross. When John
writes, at the end of the first century, there were some persons who did not
accept the coming of the Son of God in the flesh (2 Jn 7; 1 Jn 4, 2-3). They
were the Gnostics who despised matter and the body. John presents this concern
of Thomas to criticize the Gnostics: “To see in order to believe”. The doubt of
Thomas also makes us see the difficulty of believing in the Resurrection!
• John 20, 26-27: Do not be unbelieving but believe. The
text says “six days later”. That means that Thomas was capable of maintaining
his opinion during a whole week against the witness of the other Apostles.
Stubborn! Thank God, for us! Thus, six days later, during the community
meeting, they once again had the profound experience of the presence of the
risen Lord in their midst. The closed doors could not prevent the
presence of Jesus in the midst of those who believe in him. Today, it is also
like this. When we are meeting, even when we are meeting with the doors
closed, Jesus is in our midst. And up until today, the first word of
Jesus is and will always be: “Peace be with you!” What impresses is the
kindness of Jesus. He does not criticize, nor does he judge the unbelief
of Thomas, but he accepts the challenge and says: “Thomas, put your finger in
the hole of my hands!” Jesus confirms the conviction of Thomas and of the
communities, that is, the glorious Risen One is the tortured crucified One! The
Jesus who is in the community is not a glorious Jesus who has nothing in common
with our life. He is the same Jesus who lived on this earth and on his body he
has the signs of his Passion. The signs of the Passion are found today in the
sufferings of people, in hunger, in the signs of torture, of injustice. And
Jesus becomes present in our midst in the persons who react, who struggle for
life and who do not allow themselves to be disheartened. Thomas believes in
this Christ and so do we!
• John 20, 28-29: Blessed are those who have not seen and yet
believe. Together with him we say: “My Lord and my God!” This gift of Thomas is
the ideal attitude of faith. And Jesus completes with a final message: “You
believe because you can see me. Blessed are those who have not seen and yet
believe!” With this phrase, Jesus declares blessed all of us who find
ourselves in the same condition: without having seen, we believe that Jesus,
who is in our midst, is the same One who died crucified!
The mandate: “As the Father sent me so I am sending you!” From
this Jesus, who was crucified and rose from the dead, we receive the mission,
the same one which he has received from the Father (Jn 20, 21). Here, in
the second apparition, Jesus repeats: “Peace be with you!” This
repetition stresses the importance of Peace. To construct peace forms
part of the mission. Peace means much more than the absence of war. It
means to construct a harmonious human living together in which persons can be
themselves, having everything necessary to live, living happily together in
peace. This was the mission of Jesus and also our own mission.
Jesus breathed and said: “Receive the Holy Spirit” (Jn 20, 22). And with
the help of the Holy Spirit we will be capable to fulfil the mission which he
has entrusted to us. Then Jesus communicates the power to forgive sins: “If you
forgive anyone’s sins, they are forgiven; if you retain anyone’s sins, they are
retained!” The central point of the mission of peace is reconciliation,
in the effort of trying to overcome barriers which separate us. This power of
reconciling and of forgiving is given to the community (Jn 20, 23); Mt18,
18). In the Gospel of Matthew, this power is also given to Peter (Mt 16,
19). Here we can perceive that a community without pardon and without reconciliation
is not a Christian community. In one word, our mission is that of “forming
community” according to the example of the community of the Father, of the Son
and the Holy Spirit.
4)
PERSONAL QUESTIONS
• In society today the divergence and the tensions of race,
social class, religion, gender and culture are enormous and they continue to
grow every day. How can the mission of reconciliation be carried out
today?
• In your community and in your family is there some mustard
seed, the sign of a reconciled society?
5)
CONCLUDING PRAYER
Praise Yahweh, all nations,
extol him, all peoples,
for his faithful love is strong
and his constancy never-ending. (Ps 117)
extol him, all peoples,
for his faithful love is strong
and his constancy never-ending. (Ps 117)
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