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."
REFLECTION:
"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 was one of the twelve. Known as the Twin, he was the only one not present when Jesus appeared to the apostles. He was absent. Where was he? We are not told. But makes me ponder, “Was Thomas grieving, taking care of family, overwhelmed with disbelief and disappointment?
He did not believe the accounts of the apostles and boldly said, “ Unless I see the mark of the nails in his hands and put my finger into the nail marks and put my hand into his side, I will not believe.”
St Pope Gregory the Great analyzes this account of the doubting Thomas emphasizing that God does not give up on us. “Do you really believe that it was by chance that this chosen disciple was absent, then came and heard, heard and doubted, doubted and touched, touched and believed? It was not by chance but in God’s providence. In a marvelous way God’s mercy arranged that the disbelieving disciple, in touching the wounds of his master’s body, should heal our wounds of disbelief.”
As St Thomas, our faith can be challenged because what we see and believe are different things. God cannot be seen by us, but Thomas saw a human being, whom he acknowledged as God.
At Mass we say, “ My Lord and my God” when we see the Eucharist — the Body and Blood, Soul and Divinity of God—at the moment of the Consecration, the moment of the most marvelous of Miracles. HOLY, HOLY, HOLY, LORD!!
How much dignity, grace, and love does God pour out on His priests, their souls! He has given the priests the ability to perform the daily Miracle with His hands as they do with their priestly hands.
Let us practice what we believe. In good works, let us bring God to others and practice what we believe. Great joy for us all, blessed are we who have not seen and have believed.
PAPA prays for priests to be their very best in the service of God and His people. Please join in prayer.
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