Do Not Doubt

The WORD today reminds me that I should believe in, and not doubt, God. 

Hebrews defines faith as “being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we don’t see.” In the gospel, we initially do not see St Thomas, whose feast we are celebrating today, exhibiting this faith. When the disciples told him they saw the risen Jesus, he did not believe, and even said that he will not believe until he touches the wounded body of Jesus. He is not contented with merely seeing Jesus but wanted to touch him as well. So when Jesus appeared to them and Thomas was with them, he told Thomas to touch him.

If St Thomas did not exhibit faith, why are we celebrating his feast day today?

Well, maybe for us to be reminded what we too, in one way or another, in one circumstance or another, are acting like St Thomas. When we don’t believe God and his plans, when we belittle his love and his power, when we get discouraged by the challenges and evil in this world, we are acting like St Thomas. But I think  more than that, God wants to remind us that he sees the potential in us. He sees what we can become. He sees past our failures and weakness. 

God sees us not for what we are and what we do, but for what we can become if we cooperate with him.

St Thomas may have lacked faith, but Jesus reached out to him in  a personal way, enabling him to say “My Lord, and my God!” – what each one of us say everytime we celebrate mass. His profession of faith after his personal encounter with Jesus is meant to inspire us, that Jesus does not give up easily, and will come to us and will reach out to us in a way we need to. And our encounter with Jesus will enable us to believe, to have faith, and to do great things for him, through him.

It is easy to doubt now. It is easy to worry. Situation does not seem to get better. A lot of people are still getting sick. There is no cure in sight. There seems to be no program from the government. However, God is reminding us not to doubt. Continue to have faith in him. Continue to trust him. He is faithful and he is powerful. He sees everything. Everything is under his control. We should just continue to believe in him. 

Do I have faith in God? What conditions do I set before I believe in God? In what ways has God proven his love and power to me? How can I improve my faith? What is he reminding me today? 

May we be inspired by St Thomas, and be challenged by Jesus words – “Blessed are those who have not seen me and have believed”

Father God,

Thank you for today. Thank you for another day to love. Thank you for St Thomas. Lord, I am sorry for acting like him. sorry for not having faith in you, for wanting signs and manifestations of your love and power in my life. Sorry for letting challenges in life and evil in this world to drown me and discourage me. Thank you for not giving up on me, Lord. I pray that you would always reach out to me. I pray that you would always believe in me. and as you do so, may it continue to inspire me and build my faith, so that I could do great things for and through you. Use me to spread your kingdom and your glory. Amen.

Blessed Day!

In Christ,

-g-

July 03, 2020

Saint Thomas, Apostle - Feast; St. Thomas, Apostle

FIRST READING

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. 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.

ALLELUIA

John 20:29

R. Alleluia, alleluia. 

You believe in me, Thomas, because you have seen me, says the Lord; blessed are those who have not seen, but still believe! 

R. Alleluia, alleluia.

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.”