St. Thomas

Today, we gather to give thanks to God for the gift of faith and ask God to increase our faith.  The gift of faith is not something that we deserve or earn, but rather it is a cooperation of our will with God's grace.  Faith is a gift, to help us believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the anointed one, the one and only beloved Son of God.  For Thomas, in order to believe that Jesus is risen, he had to see the evidence firsthand. “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.” When Jesus appeared the second time, he used those same words for Thomas.  Jesus 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 exclaimed: "My Lord and My God.” and Jesus said to him: “Have you come to believe because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and have believed.”

Isn't it interesting that no matter how much the disciples tried to convince Thomas that Jesus is risen, it was not very effective.  They told him: “We have seen the Lord.” He is risen, he is alive.  But those efforts have fallen on deaf ears.  And in the moment of doubt for Thomas, Jesus comes to the rescue. He appeared to Thomas and allows Thomas to see, and helped him to believe.  

How often in our life, when we tell others about Jesus, and perhaps some believe, but some don't.  But we cannot completely depend on ourselves.  Like the Apostles, we must depend on the Holy Spirit to help people to encounter Jesus.  Just as the apostles who witnessed, and then they invited Thomas back with them to the upper room, and Jesus reveals to Thomas his risen glory.

I'm reminded of the story of St. Paul, before his conversion experience on the road to Damascus. Many of the early disciples felt helpless because of Paul's attempt to destroy Christianity.  Under Paul's authority, Christians were persecuted and imprisoned.  There was no way to soften Paul's hardness of heart.  On the road to Damascus, Jesus himself appeared to Paul. And he asked Paul: “Why do you persecute me?” Paul asked: “Who are you, sir?” And the voice responded: “I am Jesus, the one whom you are persecuting.”

As wonderful it is to witness the faith for others, we also need to depend upon the Lord to help us, especially in cases when people's hearts are hardened, and there's no way to soften their heart.  We trust that the Lord will do so, and he will reveal himself when the time if fitting for each individual like he did for St. Thomas.

Let us pray for all, whose hearts are hardened, that the Lord will work his grace in their lives, and soften their hearts.