July 3, 2007 Feast of Saint Thomas, Apostle

  2007년 7월 3일 화요일 성 토마스 사도 축일

 

 제1독서

에페소서 . 2,19-22
형제 여러분 19 여러분은 더 이상 외국인도 아니고 이방인도 아닙니다. 성도들과 함께 한 시민이며 하느님의 한 가족입니다. 20 여러분은 사도들과 예언자들의 기초 위에 세워진 건물이고, 그리스도 예수님께서는 바로 모퉁잇돌이십니다.
21 그리스도 안에서 전체가 잘 결합된 이 건물이 주님 안에서 거룩한 성전으로 자라납니다. 22 여러분도 그리스도 안에서 성령을 통하여 하느님의 거처로 함께 지어지고 있습니다.

 

 복음

요한 20,24-29
24 열두 제자 가운데 하나로서 ‘쌍둥이’라고 불리는 토마스는 예수님께서 오셨을 때에 그들과 함께 있지 않았다.
25 그래서 다른 제자들이 그에게 “우리는 주님을 뵈었소.” 하고 말하였다. 그러나 토마스는 그들에게, “나는 그분의 손에 있는 못 자국을 직접 보고 그 못 자국에 내 손가락을 넣어 보고 또 그분 옆구리에 내 손을 넣어 보지 않고는 결코 믿지 못하겠소.” 하고 말하였다.
26 여드레 뒤에 제자들이 다시 집 안에 모여 있었는데 토마스도 그들과 함께 있었다. 문이 다 잠겨 있었는데도 예수님께서 오시어 가운데에 서시며, “평화가 너희와 함께!” 하고 말씀하셨다.
27 그러고 나서 토마스에게 이르셨다. “네 손가락을 여기 대 보고 내 손을 보아라. 네 손을 뻗어 내 옆구리에 넣어 보아라. 그리고 의심을 버리고 믿어라.”
28 토마스가 예수님께 대답하였다. “저의 주님, 저의 하느님!” 29 그러자 예수님께서 토마스에게 말씀하셨다. “너는 나를 보고서야 믿느냐? 보지 않고도 믿는 사람은 행복하다.”

 

 

 

 July 3, 2007

 Feast of Saint Thomas, Apostle

  

 Reading 1
Eph 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
Ps 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
Jn 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.”

 

 

 Commentary

 

 We are intimate and close to God, brought so near by Jesus and those who came after him, prophets, apostles, other disciples. And we are built up into one household of God rising on the foundations they first laid. We are the dwelling place for God in the Spirit-do we keep that in mind? This is not a description of us individually but as a people, a church, the whole people of God. Can anyone tell?

Thomas, like the other apostles, betrayed Jesus. He is absent (some think because as a twin he was hiding under that alter-identity) when the Risen Lord comes and gifts them all with peace, with the power of the Spirit and sends them into the world to forgive and hold bound those that need it. And he refuses to believe any of them, articulating his own crude criteria for belief. And so he stifles the Spirit and stops the Good News from getting into the world. Jesus comes after him, holding him bound to his words and blessing all those who will follow (like us) who will believe the words of others who tell us of resurrection life.

 

 

 The readings today focus on two major themes: our likeness and commonalities with each other and faith in the unseen. The gospel story of “Doubting Thomas” is one that we have heard over and again although I would like to take a little different twist on what it means to believe without seeing.

As I read the opening reading, I was struck with the emphasis on all of us as global citizens – brothers and sisters – “fellow citizens . . . and members of the household of God.” It reminded me of how much Jesus and our beliefs in Him as followers keep us united. Sometimes we forget how similar we are, even if we practice that Christian belief differently. Too often, we spend our time and energies focusing on the differences instead of the similarities. Having recently returned from two-weeks of training with the Army Reserves, I was concerned that I would not have opportunity to worship on Sunday. In the midst of an intense training exercise, I knew the chances of finding a Catholic service were limited. The Chaplain supporting the largest unit in the exercise was there and very supportive of all the soldiers. He assured us that there was a non-denominational Christian service in both the morning and the evening. He had even brought his guitar and carefully wrote out the words to the songs on butcher-block paper. It was clear to me looking at the faces of the soldiers partaking in the service, that our similarities coupled with our need for Christ in our lives was a very powerful force. Our differences seemed minimal – our faith was binding. There is a quote from Romans (1:11-12) that states “I long to see you so that . . . you and I may be mutually encouraged by each other’s faith.” I believe that is our charge from the first reading to encourage each other in living a faith-filled life. To be “built together into a dwelling place of God in the Spirit.”

Once we recognize that we are in this together, as the second reading states, we are responsible for spreading that good news. It does not require preaching. We just have to live our lives so it is obvious to all around that we are in the path of the Lord. Easier said then done but at least we can try everyday. Each day is a new opportunity to live in the face of the Lord – to be open to the Grace we are given. It is by Grace that we are saved. Obviously, when people comment that someone “got what they deserved,” it is short sighted. If we all got what we deserved we would not dwell in the house of the Lord in eternity. It is by Grace alone – no matter how we live – that we will enter into that dwelling.

“Blessed are those who have not seen and have believed.” . . . I will propose that it is impossible not to see. My evidence is all around you. I have spent the last day wandering through my yards catching up on watering and seeing what my flowers did when I was gone. I had to stop at every grouping, tell them how beautiful they were, and then to say, “Thank you, God, thank you God, thank you, God.” How can I have any doubts when I look at this world? I only have to look at the faces of my grandchildren, to know there is a God who loves us and holds us in His arms always. As the song goes, Have you seen Jesus, my Lord – he’s right here in plain view. . .

 

 by
Nancy Shirley
School of Nursing

 

 

 "Unless I see in his hands the prints of the nails, I will not believe"

What gives us unshakeable hope and confidence in the face of death and defeat? The apostles abandoned Jesus in his hour of trial and lost hope when Jesus was handed over to the Romans for execution. They saw the cross as defeat rather than victory. They were slow to believe the reports of the resurrection until the Risen Lord appeared to them and reassured them of his presence and love. The  last apostle to meet the resurrected Lord was the first to go with him to Jerusalem at Passover time.  The apostle Thomas was a natural pessimist. When Jesus proposed that they visit Lazarus after receiving news of his illness, Thomas said to the disciples: "Let us also go, that we may die with him" (John 11:16). While Thomas deeply loved the Lord, he lacked the courage to stand with Jesus in his passion and crucifixion. After Jesus' death, Thomas made the mistake of withdrawing from the other apostles. He sought loneliness rather than fellowship in his time of adversity. He doubted the women who saw the resurrected Jesus and he doubted his own fellow apostles. When Thomas finally had the courage to rejoin the other apostles, the Lord Jesus made his presence known to him and reassured him that he had indeed overcome death and risen again. When Thomas recognized his Master, he believed and exclaimed that Jesus was truly Lord and truly God!  Through the gift of faith we, too, proclaim that Jesus is our personal Lord and our God.  He died and rose that we, too, might have new life in him. The Lord offers each of us new life in his Holy Spirit that we may know him personally and walk in this new way of life through the power of his resurrection. Do you believe in God's word and the power of the Holy Spirit?

"Lord Jesus Christ, through your victory over sin and death you have overcome all the powers of darkness. Help me to draw near to you and to trust in your life-giving word.  Fill me with your Holy Spirit and strengthen my faith in your promises and my hope in the power of your resurrection."

Psalm 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!

 

 

PASSIONATE

'Thomas (the name means 'Twin') was absent when Jesus came.' John 20:24

Look at how Jesus dealt with Thomas. Jesus told Thomas He was glad Lazarus was dead so Thomas and the other apostles might come to believe (Jn 11:15). Jesus told Thomas He was 'the Way, and the Truth, and the Life' (Jn 14:6). Thomas still did not understand. Finally, the risen Jesus humiliated Himself before Thomas and said: ' 'Take your finger and examine My hands. Put your hand into My side. Do not persist in your unbelief, but believe!' Thomas said in response, 'My Lord and my God!' ' (Jn 20:27-28)

How Jesus persisted in leading Thomas to the supreme act of faith, acknowledging Jesus as Lord and God! You are Thomas' spiritual twin (Jn 20:24). You have been strangers and aliens to the Lord's love (Eph 2:19).

Just as with Thomas, the Lord is pursuing you gently, relentlessly pursuing you in love. Let the Hound of heaven catch you. Instead of coldness and alienation, respond as in the days of your youth (Hos 2:17). Exclaim 'my Lord and my God!' Throw yourself at Jesus' feet. Don't worry about what others will say. Respond to 'passioned' love with passionate love.

Praise: 'My Lord and my God!' (Jn 20:28)
Prayer: Jesus, You abandoned Your life for me. I abandon my life to You.
Promise: 'You form a building which rises on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus Himself as the Capstone.' Eph 2:20 

 

 

 We should be grateful for “Doubting Thomas.”   His doubts strengthen our faith.   He demand to touch the wounds of Jesus give us certitude of the Lord’s resurrection.   Imagine the scene when Jesus appears after Thomas had said he would not believed unless he touched the wounds.   Thomas is overwhelmed, falls on his knees, and proclaims “My Lord and My God.” 

Because of the certainty of faith, Thomas the Doubter became Thomas the faithful apostle who carried the name of Jesus to faraway countries.   Ancient tradition says that he went as far as India; an ancient rite of the Church (in union with Rome) calls itself “Thomas Christians.” 
We say that we have faith.   Are we willing to spend our time and talents for the risen Lord as Thomas did?  Let us pray that we shall be filled with the same faith and zeal of Thomas to spread the truth and love of the Lord to every person.