Word to the Wise
Thursday, July 3, 2008 - St. Thomas the Apostle
[Ephesians 2:19-22 and John 20:24-29]"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, "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."
In keeping with the highly dramatic character of the Gospel of John, the character, Thomas, provides the reader with a person who is not only very "real" in his acting but who serves a symbolic purpose as well. He represents not only the doubt that existed in the original group about the resurrection of the Lord, but also the challenge to the community that is in existence at the time the Gospel of John was written - a community that was seeing the last of the apostles die, the last physical witnesses of Jesus! Thomas' failure is twofold. First, he refused to accept the word of the other disciples. Second, he demanded a "sign" from Jesus before he would believe! It is the second of these that earn him a reprimand from the Lord. To his credit, Thomas does not press his demand but makes the ultimate act of faith, "My Lord and my God!" Jesus' response is addressed to those who would come later. They would not have the privilege of meeting Jesus "in the flesh" and yet they would believe on the strength of those who carried on the witness through the power of the Spirit which Jesus promised. We are in the latter category. Our faith is the gift of the Spirit and we accept the word of those who have followed the apostles in the role of teachers and preachers. We realize that Jesus challenges us to believe without receiving "signs and wonders." (One might wonder why the church expects miracles as testimony to the holiness of a proposed saint?) Like all good drama, we are drawn into the characters and action, and with Thomas we are brought face to face with our own doubts and disbeliefs. I hope you "enjoy" the play! AMEN