Bible Passage: St. John 20: 24-29
My Lord and My God
Rev. George Mathew
July 3 is an
important day for all the Christians in India. It is because, St. Thomas, the
apostle of Jesus took an initiative to come to India. He took the challenge to
overcome language and cultural barriers and got martyred for his Master at Mylapore.
As we look at the life and faith of St. Thomas, he goes through some high and
low phases in his faith. This condition is similar to our lives. There are
three main aspects of his faith life which are highlighted.
St. Thomas: The
Warrior of Faith
The quote “believe
and stop doubting” by Jesus had branded St. Thomas as “Doubting Thomas”. But when
we critically analyze, we find that among all the disciples, it was Thomas who
had the strongest faith and conviction. This is clearly evident when we read
the text corresponding to the death of Lazarus it is the Apostle Thomas who
says with firm conviction “Let’s go and die with him” (John 11:16), when the
disciples opposed Jesus in going to Jerusalem. We are unable to see this aspect when we brand
Thomas as “Doubting Thomas”. Also the bible teaches us that people like Peter,
Abraham, Moses and Elijah also had their moment of doubt and despair in their faith journey.
St.
Thomas: From Zenith of Faith to Depths of Doubt
On one occasion Jesus
says, “You know where I am going?” Thomas answers back “How do we know where
you are going?” we see doubts creeping in the mind of Thomas. There are two
types of doubts.
1. Creative doubt
2. Destructive doubt
Creative doubt is
always good and should be encouraged. Thomas’s doubt was creative in this case.
Destructive doubt leads one’s self to destruction. Doubting in itself is never
wrong, but it should be creative. In the above read portion the ten disciples
said to Thomas that Jesus had appeared to them, he has risen and he showed His
wounds to them and blessed them. Yet, Thomas didn't believe those words. He was
firm that he would not believe anything unless he himself experienced it. There
is nothing wrong about this matter. But Jesus is seen to rebuke Thomas. At the
same time, as a matter of fact, the other ten also had the same doubt. Even we
have this doubt. What led them to this doubt?
Jesus had trained them three and a half years. But when it came to
practicality all of them failed miserably.
In Army there is a 4 point theory of failure/
retreat
1.
We become so offensive and attack the enemy
2.
If the attack can’t be quelled, we try to become defensive
3.
If unsuccessful after sometimes we tend to become loose and
let things happen its way.
4.
Finally we retreat back
This is the same that
happened to the disciples. When he spoke to the disciples he had warned them “I
am sending you out like lambs into the midst of the wolves (Luke 10:3)” But on the night of Jesus’
capture they went through the above same procedure and had to admit failure. Gospel
witnesses their steps of failure.
Why did they had to
retreat back in the face of the problem
1. They forgot the Word
of God:
Hence it created
doubts in their minds and they retreated. Jesus had already quoted the prophets
and told them about sufferings he has to face. On the journey to Emmaus, Jesus
is seen to inspire the two disciples from the Word of God, from the prophets and indeed opens their mind. Jesus tells them how slow of mind they were. We also
need to practice the Word of God in our lives to erase our doubts. When we read
the story of the rich man and Lazarus, it is to be noted that, Abraham responds
back, “if they listen to Moses and the prophets, neither will they be convinced
even if someone rises from the dead (Luke 16:31)”.
2. They underestimated
the enemy
Jesus advises them to
buy swords. Peter replies back saying that they have two swords. But Jesus was
actually indicating that take your enemy seriously, you are like lambs among
wolves.
St. Thomas teaches us
our vocation is not an easy one. The doubting Thomas is reinstated in faith by
Jesus Christ. Thomas wanted a personal encounter with Jesus and Jesus granted
it. This can be related with three parables: the parable of lost coin, lost son, and
lost sheep. Jesus asks Thomas to look at his wounds, to put his fingers in the
wound. This makes Thomas cry break in faith, “My Lord and My God”. This Jesus
is the one who leads Thomas to faith to make him a faith warrior. Thus we see the submission of Thomas. We have been called by
Christ to have faith in him. We have his wounds and his words to strengthen us
and when we move forward we call out “My Lord and My God”. And this is what
made St. Thomas come to India and be martyred for Christ. He remained faithful
till his glorious rest.