GOD’S WORD FOR THE DAY (based on Catholic Liturgical Readings)
DATE: FRIDAY, 3RD JULY 2017
FEAST OF ST. THOMAS, APOSTLE
FIRST READING: Ephesians 2:19-22
PSALM: Psalm 117:1-2
GOSPEL: John 20:24-29
THEME: DOUBT NO LONGER BUT BELIEVE
A priest lifts up what appears to be a “white bread” during Mass and with audacity declares, “Behold the Lamb of God; behold him who takes away the sins of the world. Blessed are those called to the supper of the Lamb.” At that instant, the “Thomases” in the congregation begin to shrug with discomfort and murmur within their hearts, “Unless I see the mark of the nails in his hands, and put my finger in the mark of the nails and my hand in his side, I will not believe” (Jn 20:25).
When it comes to matters of faith, we are all “Thomases” in one area or the other. There are certain articles of the Christian faith that are mind-boggling and our “scientific minds” cry out for evidence. Thomas, in our Gospel text, sought for tangible evidence to ascertain the veracity of the claim that Jesus had truly risen from the dead. From that perspective, we can say that Thomas was a seeker. After eight days of waiting, he got the evidence he had been longing for when the Lord revealed himself again to the community of faith gathered. Thomas, with a renewed faith, affirmed the resurrection and divinity of Christ in these words: “My Lord and my God.”
What can we learn from the experience of Thomas in moments when we are plagued with doubts?
1. Wait upon the Lord. A time of waiting upon the Lord purifies our hearts and minds and prepares us for the “Kairos” – i.e. the Lord’s appointed time of revelation. In the case of Thomas, he had to wait for eight days. It is not stated, in our Gospel text, what he did during those eight days. However, it is highly plausible that he spent those days of waiting in prayer.
2. Wait within the community of faith. Thomas had a doubt about the resurrection of Christ but did not abandon the community of faith. The fact that you have doubts about one or the other article of faith does not mean you should walk out of the Church. In fact, it was right within the community of faith that the Lord revealed himself to him and his faith was renewed.
3. Express your renewed faith. Thomas’ expression of faith, “My Lord and my God”, was a declaration of complete trust in Jesus. According to tradition and the history of the Church, the faith of Thomas took him as far as India proclaiming the Gospel of Jesus Christ there. Later on in life, he would die as a martyr. In the same way, when the Lord renews our faith, we ought to express it in words and actions.
As we celebrate the feast of St. Thomas, the apostle, let us pray that our faith in Jesus may bring light to a world that is steeped in doubt and faithlessness.
PRAYER: Lord Jesus, may my faith in you never flicker and die. As I wait on you daily, deepen it and let its light dispel the darkness of sin and the night of unbelief. Amen
Andrews Obeng, svd
DIVINE WORD MISSIONARIES
BIBLICAL PASTORAL MINISTRY
(Ghana Province)
“May the darkness of sin and the night of unbelief vanish before the light of the Word and the Spirit of grace. And may the heart of Jesus live in the hearts of all people” (St. Arnold Janssen).