Memory of the Saints and the Prophets

Memorial of the apostle Thomas. He confessed Jesus as his Lord and, according to tradition, witnessed him all the way to ill India.

Reading of the Word of God

Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia

You are a chosen race,
a royal priesthood, a holy nation,
a people acquired by God
to proclaim his marvellous works.

Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia

John 20,24-29

Thomas, called the Twin, who was one of the Twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. So the other disciples said to him, 'We have seen the Lord,' but he answered, 'Unless I can see the holes that the nails made in his hands and can put my finger into the holes they made, and unless I can put my hand into his side, I refuse to believe.' Eight days later the disciples were in the house again and Thomas was with them. The doors were closed, but Jesus came in and stood among them. 'Peace be with you,' he said. Then he spoke to Thomas, 'Put your finger here; look, here are my hands. Give me your hand; put it into my side. Do not be unbelieving any more but believe.' Thomas replied, 'My Lord and my God!' Jesus said to him: You believe because you can see me. Blessed are those who have not seen and yet believe.

 

Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia

You will be holy,
because I am holy, thus says the Lord.

Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia

Today we celebrate the feast of Saint Thomas, called Didymus (twin). John's Gospel speaks of him several times in connection with some important moments of Jesus' life. When Jesus wanted to go to Lazarus who was sick, and there was a great danger for the master's life, Thomas, on behalf of all the disciples said: "Let us also go, that we may die with him" (Jn 11:16). He was a very self-confident man, sure of his feelings and convictions, as it is clear on Easter evening. He responded to the other apostles who said they had seen the Lord on Easter evening, with the sentence that has by now become the emblem of incredulity: "Unless I see the mark of the nails in his hands, and put my finger in the mark of the nails and my hand in his side, I will not believe." Thinking well about this attitude we are all close to Thomas'. We are self-confident, sure of our feelings and convictions. Thomas needs to meet the Lord again, to see him and even to touch hum. And indeed, Jesus returns among his disciples and invites him to touch his wounds. In front of the wounded body, Thomas exclaims, "My Lord and my God." Iin the same way, we are called to have Thomas' faith in front of the wounds of this world, in front of the sorrow of every human being expressed by those wounds. Jesus, turning to him, and thinking of all those who would follow, says, "Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have come to believe." It is the last blessing of the Gospel. It is the blessing also for us who are called to believe without seeing, but to touch the wounds of the Lord in the bodies of the poor.