Homily reflection
the most striking thing about today’s Gospel is the fact that jesus, when he comes across Thomas and his stubborn decision not to believe unless he sees and touches for himself…… / Jesus does not reproach him…. Jesus isn’t hurt or upset by Thomas unbelief…. in fact, Jesus tenderly assures Thomas and helps him overcome his doubts and lack of faith……. Jesus, of course, need not be upset….. because HE knows that truth of his own resurrection… anyone who does not believe, simple has not come to realize the truth of the reality…….
Jesus, here, is being like a caring parent… not unlike the father of the prodigal son, who is delighted to welcome his lost son back to right relationship….
a writer once said of this relationship….Every parent is at some time, like the father of the unreturned prodical son…… with no other option but to keep their house ‘open to hope’…….
Jesus’ hope that Thomas would doubt no longer but believe… is also a hope that all who find it hard to trust in the central fact of the bodily resurrection of the Lord, may not be hindered by the fact that they must now trust in the testimony of countless generations of believers… even though they have not themselves seen and touched the risen Lord in the same way as Thomas did….. (in fact, although one would consider it a privilege to be able to have seen and touched the risen Lord, this gospel presents the encounter almost as an unfortunate necessity… Thomas is almost considered less fortunate than we who are given the opportunity to believe simply in faith……
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The early Christians, according to the Acts of the Apostles, were so filled with the Holy Spirit that miracles and wonders were happening wherever
they were. Even those who were not followers of Christ could see these miracles and wonders and commented on them.
But not everyone is going to become a Christian just because of miracles and wonders. Over the centuries, there are accounts of miracles and wonders happening in all the great religions and even in religious believes that are not so great!
Instead, now, after the Resurrection, we are still confronted with this one question: what do you believe about Jesus the Christ?
The Gospel today shows us Thomas, who simply would not believe that Jesus rose from the dead and was now present in a new way in the midst of His
followers.
It is a reminder…. if we set up an argument a certain way, it often ends up being fulfilled like that too……. If I tell myself.. I will not believe…. then the events and circumstances around me all conspire to prove my assumption… and I dismiss anything to the contrary as a coincidence or a random event….. yet, if I start by assuming that these things are correct… then events, circumstances and insights all come together to confirm that indeed this is true…….
Finally, Jesus Himself appears to Thomas and makes him put his hands on and into his wounds. Then Thomas believes.
We are invited to reflect today on our own belief. Why do we believe? If we have doubts about our belief, what will help us dispel those doubts?
What can help us deepen our faith in Jesus as our Savior, as God, and as present with us now?
Our tradition tells us that to understand and believe in Christ, we must read the Scriptures and meditate on them. We must also come to know other
believers and trust in their experiences. Christianity is a religion that preaches Jesus crucified and risen, but always in the context of the community of those who believe in Him.
Today let us ask
doubts and keep looking for the truth of Christ's presence. Most of all, let us rejoice in the Lord who loves us and invites us deeper into these mysteries.
(Quote from ‘Mark Link – Vision 2000 Year C) . This reflection also may have been adapted from other sources, I wrote the original draft a few years ago and updated and expanded it this year, and I cannot recall if I utilised other sources. Apologies for any ommissions)
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