CLEARING THE DOUBTS OF THOMAS
First Reading: Acts 5: 12-16
Second Reading: Apocalypse 1: 9-13 and 17-19
Gospel Reading: John 20: 19-31
*First reading is from the Acts of the Apostles. Various miracles worked by St. Peter and other Apostles through the power of the risen Lord are narrated. Many people experienced the presence of the risen Lord in a very powerful way through the ministry of the Apostles. As a result, a large number of people were added to the community of believers and the early Church grew in strength.
*Second reading is from the book of the Apocalypse. The risen Lord encourages Apostle John in a vision and reveals Himself as the Alpha and the Omega- the beginning and the end of everything - and the one who lives for ever. John is instructed to write messages to the seven Churches so that it will enlighten the Church until the end of times.
Blessed are those who have not seen and yet believe Today's Gospel reading is from St. John. The risen Lord appears to the disciples when they were together in a room. He gently and lovingly guides the unbelieving Thomas to faith and convinces him that He is indeed risen from the dead. Thomas readily admits his lack of faith and makes an act of faith in the Lord Jesus. The risen Lord commends the future believers by uttering: "Blessed are those who have not seen and yet believe." All of us have doubts and fears especially about life after death. We could learn from the example of Thomas. What a refreshing honesty he has! He does not pretend that everything is just OK. Through his questioning and unbelieving attitude, Thomas becomes a key link between the age of the Apostles who saw the risen Lord with their own eyes and all those future disciples who will never see Jesus physically and yet believe in Him. The risen Lord invites us to draw close to Him in faith and to look at the same wounds of His, which the Apostles Thomas saw with physical eyes. The risen Lord helps us to make contact with Him and with one another. By experiencing His loving touch, He sends us forth to touch others who do not yet believe in Him. People will come to faith in the risen Lord only when they can see Him and touch Him in His followers. Doubts can lead us to deeper faith and conviction. May the risen Lord bless you with His peace.
"There lies more faith in honest doubt, believe me, than in half the creeds." - Lord Tennyson
"It is by doubting that we come to investigate and by investigating that we recognize the truth." - P. Abelard
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