THE UNBELIEVING THOMAS
First Reading: Acts 2: 42-47
Second Reading: 1 Peter 1: 3-9
Gospel Reading: John 20: 19-21
* First reading is from the Acts of the Apostles. A glimpse of the life of the early Christian community is given. After experiencing the presence of the risen Lord in a very powerful and convincing way, the Christian community lives like people one in heart and mind. Their life attracts many non-believers to the faith and brings healing to the wounded and the broken-hearted. The community's faith in the risen Lord leads to a joyful fellowship in them. It brings unity of mind and heart. Hence the first Christian community shows the depth of their faith by the fruits of fellowship and love.
* Second reading is from the first letter of St. Peter. The Apostle Peter praises and glorifies the loving God for His great mercy in giving us a new birth in Jesus Christ. He thanks the merciful God for the blessings of faith, love and joy in the Lord. He instructs us that "hope helps us to bear patiently the trials of this life."
Blessed are those who have not seen and yet believed Today's Gospel reading is from St. John. A detailed account of the way the risen Lord meets the unbelieving Thomas is given. Thomas was one of the twelve and he was with Jesus during His public life. Thomas was a witness to the rejection, sufferings and cruel crucifixion and shameful death of Jesus on the cross. Like most of the other disciples, Thomas too looses hope after the death of Jesus and goes away disheartened. But when he comes back on Easter Sunday, the other disciples tell him about the most exciting events of that morning. Specifically, they mention that Jesus appeared to Peter and other disciples. In his disappointment and confusion, Thomas tells them that "unless I see in His hands the print of the nails and place my fingers in the mark of the nails and place my hands in His side, I will not believe." That evening, the risen Lord appears to Thomas and confronts him in the presence of other disciples. Jesus shows His hands and legs and His wounded side and asks Thomas to be believing. Realizing his folly, Thomas immediately expresses his regret by saying, "My Lord and my God." The story of Thomas is for all those people who were not present when the risen Lord appeared - that includes all of us- on Easter Sunday and did not see the Lord physically. Hence, Thomas became a key link between the age of the Apostles who saw the risen Lord with their own eyes and all the future disciples who will never see Jesus in this life and yet believe in Him.
"To believe with certainty we must begin with doubting." - St. Stanislaus
"It is by doubting that we come to investigate and by investigating that we recognize the truth." - P. Abelard
"It may be that Thomas' critical mind compelled Jesus to explain the teachings more deeply to him than to the other credulous disciples." - G.A. Tyrell
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