Lectionary: 593
Reading 1
Ephesians 2:19-22
Brothers 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
Psalm 117:1bc, 2
R. (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
John 20:24-29
Thomas, 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.”
REFLECTION
SOURCE: One Bread One Body
THEME: CONVERTING THE STRONG AND INTELLIGENT
"You became a believer." –John 20:29
The conversion of Thomas may have been one of Jesus' greatest miracles – not because Thomas was so weak but because he was so strong. Weak people are almost forced to conclude that they need help – even God's help, while strong people are severely tempted to rely on themselves. In our weakness, God's power can reach perfection (2 Cor 12:9). In our strength, God's power may seem unnecessary.
Thomas was probably a strong person. He was absent when the risen Jesus came to the other apostles, who were locked in a room because of fear (Jn 20:24, 19). This means Thomas was not locked up. Also, when Jesus went to Bethany to raise Lazarus from the dead, Thomas boldly encouraged the other apostles: "Let us go along, to die with Him" (Jn 11:16). Thomas was probably more courageous, free, and fearless than the other apostles.
Thomas' conversion was a great miracle – not because Thomas was so simple-minded but because he was so intelligent. Simple-minded people find it hard to keep up the pretense that they know what they're doing. Intelligent people may conclude that what they understand is sufficient. Thus, much of God's plan is "hidden from the learned and the clever" (Lk 10:21).
Thomas was probably an intelligent man. He had enough sense to ask the insightful question which elicited Jesus' claim to be "the Way, and the Truth, and the Life" (Jn 14:6). Even when Thomas spoke of probing Jesus' wounds (Jn 20:25), he was likely advocating what we call the "scientific method" of collecting data.
Jesus converted Thomas despite Thomas' proclivity to fall into temptations to self-reliance and intellectual pride. When Jesus converted Thomas, He showed He can convert anyone. There is hope for all to be saved (1 Tm 2:4).
PRAYER: Lord God, help me to trust in You with all my heart and not rely on my own intelligence (see Prv 3:5).
PROMISE: "In Him you are being built into this temple." –Eph 2:22
PRAISE: "My Lord and my God!" (Jn 20:28)
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