Blessed Are Those Who Have Not Seen And Have Believed

July 3, 2007

Feast of Saint Thomas, Apostle

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. Ephesians 2:20

Go out to all the world and tell the Good News. Psalm 117

Piety

Jesus, you reacted in a new and different fashion tonight. Help us to do the same when we are confronted by new issues and situations in life. You healed the wounded eyesight of Thomas and us. Will you help to cure all other infirmities that ail us in the early morning, afternoon hours tomorrow, and the evening and in every waking moment that follows. Amen.

Study

http://www.usccb.org/nab/070307.shtml

Pope St. Gregory the Great, in his Homily 2:16, had this to say about St. Thomas:

Isn’t what God does wondrous? God mercifully planned it so that the doubting disciple, by touching the Master’s bodily wounds should heal the wound of disbelief in us. The disbelief of Thomas was more profitable for our faith that the faith of all the disbelieving disciples.

When Jesus was confronted with the doubts of Thomas, he reacted in a very inhuman way. He could have reacted in anger. “What? You were there when they crucified me on Calvary. You saw them hammer nails through my wrists and feet. You heard me cry in pain when the sword was thrust into my side. You heard my last dying words on the cross. What more do you need, Thomas?”

Yet we have another reminder that Jesus was like us but not like us. He did not tell Thomas and the others “I told you so” after the resurrection. Although he had performed so many signs in their presence they did not believe in him. Instead, he led them and him to a place where the apostles and Thomas could believe.

When Jesus started out in his ministry, he prayed the beatitudes. Today, Jesus gives us the ending for that great prayer. Blessed are those who have not seen and have believed.

Action

We are unified with the very human reaction of the disciples when Thomas announces his doubts. What emotions do you need to overcome in order to believe and act out of faith?

Greed?

Envy?

Anger?

Laziness?

Comfort?

Disbelief?

Love of others?

Set these aside so you can go to do the work the Lord proclaiming the Good News.