I WILL NOT BELIEVE…

Ephesians 2:19-22

19 So then you are no longer strangers and sojourners, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, 20 built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, 21 in whom the whole structure is joined together and grows into a holy temple in the Lord; 22 in whom you also are built into it for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit.

John 20:24-29

24 Now Thomas, one of the twelve, called the Twin, was not with them when Jesus came. 25 So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord.” But he said to them, “Unless I see in his hands the print of the nails, and place my finger in the mark of the nails, and place my hand in his side, I will not believe.” 26 Eight days later, his disciples were again in the house, and Thomas was with them. The doors were shut, but Jesus came and stood among them, and said, “Peace be with you.”
27 Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here, and see my hands; and put out your hand, and place it in my side; do not be faithless, but believing.” 28 Thomas answered him, “My Lord and my God!”29 Jesus said to him, “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet believe.”

 
MEDITATION

St PAULS EPISTLE lays out the metaphysical structure of the body of Christ to locate our place and standing in salvation history. Our belief in Christ Jesus saving grace to save us is not self-evident in the sense that we have arrived at this conclusion as individuals. Our faith in the Son of God was founded on the faith, works and lives of the prophets and Apostles of which Christ is the foundation.

St JOHN’S GOSPEL captured a moment in history when God revealed Himself through His Son who supernaturally conquered death! We recall the prophetic words of Christ when he received the news of Lazarus’ death,”…for your sake I am glad that I was not there so that you may believe!” Jn 11:14-15 We also note that Thomas was the one who made the strange suggestion that they go and die with Lazarus!? Jn 11:16 At face value Thomas appeared to be rather brave, but the opposite is true when we adjudge his absence at the cross as well as the occasions when our Lord appeared to the rest of the apostles. Jn 20:24; 21:12

Thomas is the prototypical Christian believer who has the outward appearance of bravery, but on the inside dangerous conflicting battles are raging wherein the coward hide! We should all have a measure of healthy skepticism that moves us to seek, discover and come to know truth. Thomas’ bravery comes to the fore when he mustered the courage to present himself in the Upper Room and fearlessly asked the tough questions without fear or favor! Note that our Lord firstly showered him with the gift of inner peace and presented objective physical evidence that it is He! We live during a time when questions that attempt to search for the truth and expose lies are scorned upon and objected against.To not believe, is only healthy if we are open to search and recognize the Truth which will bring inner peace upon our discovery! We can be glad that Thomas raised his questions, so you and I may believe.

LET US PRAY: Psalms 117:1-2

1 Praise the LORD, all nations! Extol him, all peoples! 2 For great is his steadfast love toward us; and the faithfulness of the LORD endures for ever. Praise the LORD!

Author. Henry R SYLVESTER Note: The daily scripture readings are taken from the Roman Missal which the Catholic Church use in the daily Celebration of the Holy Eucharist throughout the world.Some weekly readings may differ because of the celebration of local feast days