What a message!
Posted on 07/02/2020 10:16:02 PM PDT by Salvation
-- Blessed Giles of Assisi
|
The Angel of the Lord declared to Mary:
Behold the handmaid of the Lord: Be it done unto me according to Thy word.
And the Word was made Flesh: And dwelt among us.
Amen. "Hail, full of grace, the Lord is with you" (Lk 1:28) "Blessed are you among women, |
Bring your hand and put it into my side. (John 20:27)
Amazing. Jesus had already appeared to the other apostles, to Mary Magdalene, and to two disciples traveling on the road to Emmaus. He had shown himself to be alive over and over again, but Thomas wasn’t having it. He wouldn’t believe unless he could see Jesus just as they had—and touch him, too!
And what did Jesus do? He yielded to Thomas’ demands and appeared again. Not only that, but he was willing to let Thomas probe and examine his body so that he could finally believe.
Typically, when we think about this story, we focus on Thomas’ doubts or weak faith. But today, let’s focus instead on Jesus’ response. Just as he had done in the Incarnation, just as he had done during his “hidden years” as a carpenter, and just as he had done when he washed his disciples’ feet and allowed himself to be crucified, here again Jesus humbled himself and gave himself over to the hands of men. He cared more about meeting Thomas’ need than he cared about how reasonable or appropriate Thomas’ demand was.
And the result of such humility? Thomas was so moved that he made the greatest and most personal proclamation about Jesus in all the Gospels: “My Lord and my God!” (John 20:28).
Jesus will always help us to know him better. He probably won’t appear physically, as he did for Thomas, but he will “show up” in countless other ways. In our prayer, in his word, in the love of a friend, in the whispers of our conscience—in these and many other ways, Jesus humbly comes to us. And of course, the humblest way of all is when he places himself in our hands in the gift of the Eucharist.
Wherever he traveled as an apostle, Thomas probably told the story of how Jesus let him touch him. Let him tell you the same thing today: “Jesus is standing before you right now. He is inviting you to reach out and touch him. Let him show you that he truly is your Lord and your God.”
“Thank you, Jesus, for humbling yourself so much just to save me.”
Ephesians 2:19-22
Psalm 117:1-2
Daily Marriage Tip for July 3, 2020:
We often take the ones we love for granted on small things. Be courteous! Always say ‘please’, ‘thank you’ to your spouse, even for small things… like making dinner or taking out the garbage. Give the one you love the same common courtesy you give to a stranger.
Thomas, whose name means “twin,” showed signs of a pronounced independence. It stands to reason that a twin might be especially insistent on differentiating himself from his twin as he matures. When Thomas told the other apostles that he did not believe the apostles’ claim that Jesus had risen (Jn 20:25), Thomas wrongfully chose to be independent of the apostles, Mary Magdalene, and others who had met the risen Christ. When Thomas talked about putting his fingers and hands into Jesus’ wounds (Jn 20:25), he was displaying an independence which was extreme to the point of possibly being sinful. Thomas was saying that he would have to see, probe, and inspect Jesus’ risen body himself before he would believe in Jesus’ Resurrection.
It is no coincidence that in the USA the celebration of the feast of St. Thomas always is on the day preceding the birthday of our country, “Independence Day.” When our citizens are independent from sin and totally dependent on God, we are truly “one nation under God.” When we decide to be independent from God, our independence becomes sinful, leading to destruction and damnation. May the USA repent as did Thomas and proclaim Jesus as Lord and God (Jn 20:28). Otherwise, we will perish in our independence.
Prayer: Father, help me unlearn what the world has mistaught me about independence. Send the Holy Spirit to teach me that true independence is grounded in total dependence on You.
Promise: “This means that you are strangers and aliens no longer. No, you are fellow citizens of the saints and members of the household of God.” —Eph 2:19
Praise: St. Thomas “said to his fellow disciples, ‘Let us go along, to die with him’ ” (Jn 11:16). St. Thomas is most often associated with doubting, but in the end he proved his courage and fidelity to Jesus.
What a message!
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.