| Minute Meditations
St. Thomas the Apostle Poor Thomas! He made one remark and has been branded as "Doubting Thomas" ever since. But if he doubted, he also believed. He made what is certainly the most explicit statement of faith in the New Testament: "My Lord and My God!" (see John 20:24-28) and, in so expressing his faith, gave Christians a prayer that will be said till the end of time. He also occasioned a compliment from Jesus to all later Christians: "Have you come to believe because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and have believed" (John 20:29).
Comment: Thomas shares the lot of Peter the impetuous, James and John, the "sons of thunder," Philip and his foolish request to see the Father—indeed all the apostles in their weakness and lack of understanding. We must not exaggerate these facts, however, for Christ did not pick worthless men. But their human weakness again points up the fact that holiness is a gift of God, not a human creation; it is given to ordinary men and women with weaknesses; it is God who gradually transforms the weaknesses into the image of Christ, the courageous, trusting and loving one. Quote: "...rompted by the Holy Spirit, the Church must walk the same road which Christ walked: a road of poverty and obedience, of service and self-sacrifice to the death.... For thus did all the apostles walk in hope. On behalf of Christ's Body, which is the Church, they supplied what was wanting in the sufferings of Christ by their own trials and sufferings (see Colossians 1:24)" (Vatican II, Decree on the Church's Missionary Activity, 5). Patron Saint of: Architects Construction workers Cooks
Presence I pause for a moment and think of the love and the grace that God showers on me: I am created in the image and likeness of God; I am God's dwelling-place. Freedom It is so easy to get caught up with the trappings of wealth in this life. Consciousness I remind myself that I am in the presence of the Lord. I will take refuge in His loving heart. He is my strength in times of weakness. He is my comforter in times of sorrow. The Word of God Reading 1 eph 2:19-22Brothers and sisters: 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. Through him the whole structure is held together and grows into a temple sacred in the Lord; in him you also are being built together into a dwelling place of God in the Spirit. Responsorial Psalm ps 117:1bc, 2R. (Mark 16:15) Go out to all the world and tell the Good News. Praise the LORD, all you nations; glorify him, all you peoples! R. Go out to all the world and tell the Good News. For steadfast is his kindness for us, and the fidelity of the LORD endures forever. R. Go out to all the world and tell the Good News. Gospel jn 20:24-29Thomas, called Didymus, one of the Twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. So the other disciples said to him, "We have seen the Lord." But Thomas said to them, "Unless I see the mark of the nails in his hands and put my finger into the nailmarks and put my hand into his side, I will not believe." Now a week later his disciples were again inside and Thomas was with them. Jesus came, although the doors were locked, and stood in their midst and said, "Peace be with you." Then he said to Thomas, "Put your finger here and see my hands, and bring your hand and put it into my side, and do not be unbelieving, but believe." Thomas answered and said to him, "My Lord and my God!" Jesus said to him, "Have you come to believe because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and have believed." Conversation What is stirring in me as I pray? Am I consoled, troubled, left cold? I imagine Jesus himself standing or sitting at my side, and share my feelings with him. Conclusion Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be, world without end. Saint Thomas, ApostleUnless I see ... I will not believe. (John 20:25) Try to imagine yourself in Thomas' sandals. How do you feel when Jesus appears? No doubt, you are astounded to see him alive. Certainly, you are awestruck to see him as the risen, glorious Lord. Perhaps you become lost in worship as you look into his eyes and touch his wounds. You are filled with gratitude as you realize that he has accomplished nothing less than the salvation of the world. But if you were Thomas, you might feel like laughing at yourself as well! You've spent three years with Jesus, watching him heal the blind and the lame, drive out demons, and raise the dead. You heard how the tomb was found empty and the stone rolled away and how Mary Magdalene and the others saw Jesus alive. But still you wanted proof. And now here he is, standing right in front of you. It's almost as if he's saying, "Thomas, it really is me! Trust me; I will never abandon you." It may be hard to imagine Thomas as finally being relieved of his doubts and even chuckling over them. Besides, it can be very easy for us to identify with the first part of his story—especially when we ourselves feel stressed or anxious. We may be going through a serious illness, financial problems, or some other crisis, or maybe something horrible is happening to someone we are close to. We may wonder if God is really going to come through and help. We may even blame ourselves for not having enough faith. Whenever this happens, think of Thomas. Let Jesus tell you the same thing he told this wavering apostle: "Look at me and trust! Believe, even when you cannot see." Who knows? He may even tell you to laugh in the face of your problem. Jesus promises that if you take just one small step in handing over everything to God "with thanksgiving," then his peace, which "surpasses all understanding," will come to you (Philippians 4:6, 7). So no matter what you are dealing with, look at the cross, and see the finished work of Jesus. Then, with a heart full of praise, cry out, "My Lord and my God!" "Thank you, Jesus, for being with me at every moment, in good times and bad. I praise you, Lord, for being my Savior!"
Ephesians 2:19-22; Psalm 117:1-2 my2cents: No, you have approached Mount Zion and the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and countless angels in festal gathering, 23 and the assembly of the firstborn enrolled in heaven,* and God the judge of all, and the spirits of the just made perfect, 24 and Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant, and the sprinkled blood that speaks more eloquently* than that of Abel. 25 See that you do not reject the one who speaks. For if they did not escape when they refused the one who warned them on earth, how much more in our case if we turn away from the one who warns from heaven. 26 His voice shook the earth at that time, but now he has promised, "I will once more shake not only earth but heaven."t 27 That phrase, "once more," points to removal of shaken, created things, so that what is unshaken may remain. 28 Therefore, we who are receiving the unshakable kingdom should have gratitude, with which we should offer worship pleasing to God in reverence and awe. 29 For our God is a consuming fire. "
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