Tag: john20:24-29

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One Minute Reflection – 3 July – ‘Saintly doubt of the disciple!’

Posted on by AnaStpaul

One Minute Reflection – 3 July – Feast of Saint Thomas, Apostle of Christ, Readings:  Ephesians 2: 19-22, Psalms 117: 1bc, 2, John 20: 24-29

Thomas answered, and said to him: ‘My Lord, and my God.’ … John 20:28

john-20-28-my-lord-and-my-god-feat-of-st-thomas-3-july-2019 and 3 july 2020

REFLECTION – “Thomas said to the Twelve: “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!” (Jn 20:25).   The name ‘Thomas’ means ‘abyss’, for by his doubt he gained an even deeper understanding and became firmer in his faith.  …  It was not by chance but by divine decree, that Thomas was absent and unable to believe what he heard. A splendid decree!   Saintly doubt of the disciple!
“Unless I see in his hands,” he said (Jn 20:25).   He wished to see raised up, the fallen tent of David, of which Amos had said:  “On that day I will raise up the fallen tent of David;  I will repair the breaches of its walls” (cf. Am 9:11).   ‘David’ stands for the divinity;   the ‘tent’, Christ’s own body in which the divinity was contained as in a tent, fallen, crushed in death and the Passion.   The breaches in the walls stand for the wounds of his hands, feet and side.   These are the wounds that the Lord would rebuild in his Resurrection.   It was of them that Thomas said:  “Unless I put my finger into the nailmarks and put my hand into his side, I will not believe!”
The Lord, understanding, did not want to leave His honest disciple, who was to become a vessel of election, in doubt.   And so, He removed the smoke of doubt from his mind, in an act of kindness, just as He removed the blindness of infidelity from Paul.   “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”   Then Thomas said to Him:  “My Lord and my God!” (Jn 20:27-28)” … St Anthony of Padua (1195-1231) Doctor of the Churchthe name thomas means abyss for by his doubt he gained an even deeper understanding - st anthony of padua 3 july 2020

PRAYER – Almighty Father,as we honour Thomas the Apostle, let us always experience the help of his prayers. May we have eternal life by believing in Jesus, whom Thomas acknowledged as Lord, for He lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever. Amenst-thomas-pray-for-us-2 3 july 2019 and 2020

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One Minute Reflection – 3 July – “Happy are those who have not seen and yet believe!”.

Posted on by AnaStpaul

One Minute Reflection – 3 July – Feast of St Thomas Apostle, Gospel John 20:24–29

Thomas answered him, “My Lord and my God!”…John 20:28john 20 28 my lord and my god feat of st thomas 3 july 2019.jpg

REFLECTION – “Put your finger into the marks of the nails”.   You looked for Me when I wasn’t there, now take advantage of it.   I understand your desire despite your silence. Before you tell Me them I already know your thoughts.   I heard you speak and, even though unseen, I was beside you, beside your doubts.   Without revealing Myself I made you wait, so as better to consider your eagerness.   “Put your finger into the marks of the nails.   Put your hand into my side, do not be unbelieving any longer, but believe.”
Then Thomas touched Him and all his mistrust fell away.   Full of genuine faith and all the love owing to God, he cried out:  “My Lord and my God!”   And the Lord said to him – “You believe because you have seen me;  happy are those who have not seen and yet believe!”   Thomas took the news of the Resurrection to those who had not seen.   Draw the whole earth to believe, not by its own sight but at your word.   Go through peoples and cities far away.   Teach them to carry the cross rather than weapons on their shoulders.   Only proclaim me – they will believe and worship.   They will demand no other proof.   Tell them they are called by grace and, with your own eyes, behold their faith.   Truly, blessed are those who did not see and yet believed!
This is the army the Lord raises, these are the children of the baptismal font, the works of grace, the fruit of the Spirit.   They have followed Christ without having seen Him, they sought Him and believed.   They recognised Him with the eyes of faith not those of the body.   They have not put their finger into the mark of the nails but they have bound themselves to His cross and embraced His sufferings.   They have not seen the Lord’s side but, by grace, they have become members of His body and have made His words their own:  “Happy are those who have not seen and yet believe!”… Basil of Seleucia (Died c 468) Bishop – Sermon for the Resurrection, 1-4this is the army the lord raises - basil of seleucia feast of st thomas 3 july 2019.jpg

PRAYER – Almighty Father,as we honour Thomas the Apostle, let us always experience the help of his prayers. May we have eternal life by believing in Jesus,
whom Thomas acknowledged as Lord, for He lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever. Amenst thomas pray for us 2.jpg