It's OK to be Like Thomas

Readings for Sunday May 1st, 2011

Summary of the Gospel by YM Central



Ever heard something so unbelievable that you couldn’t just take it on faith, you had to have proof? Maybe it was a sports score, or a friend getting a great job, or someone finally getting a date! Have you ever had anyone tell you that a deceased loved-one was alive again? Well, if you did, you’d probably want some proof, wouldn’t you? You would have difficulty believing that to be true for one simple fact: We have never experienced a dead person coming back to life again. This brings us to our Sunday Gospel reading.
As we read and pray over this passage, we must understand it in light of the fact that the disciples had just recently seen Christ's death and apparent defeat on the Cross. Just when they thought they were with someone special, He was taken from their midst in brutal fashion. The people in Jesus’ time didn’t just see crucifixion as an instrument of death, rather, they saw it as complete rejection by God: Only a sinner would die in such a horrible fashion. This brings us to Easter. We can only imagine the reactions the disciples had in seeing the risen Lord: No doubt they cheered and rejoiced as never before seen.
This passage shows us the reality of the Resurrection: Jesus actually talked with His disciples, and was physically touched by them. The Resurrection was real, and it radically transformed the lives of each disciple, to the point that they were willing to die for Christ. Of course, there was one Apostle who was absent the first time Jesus appeared to the disciples: St. Thomas the Apostle. We’d like to know what St. Thomas was doing, but we are not given that information.
He wasn’t there, and Jesus used his absence to teach us something important about faith. Jesus talks about the importance of believing without seeing, and how blessed we are for believing, even though we don’t physically see Jesus. Unfortunately, because St. Thomas didn’t believe at first, he is often referred to as the ‘Doubting Thomas’ because he wouldn’t believe the testimony of the other disciples. St. Thomas’ reaction is perfectly legitimate.
He had no reason to believe in the Resurrection. (And don’t forget, the Church refers to St. Thomas not as ‘doubter’ but as ‘Martyr’.) Indeed, St. Thomas’ life ended in death for Jesus. The bottom line to this entire Gospel is St. Thomas' declaration about Jesus’ identity: My Lord and My God! This statement is ultimately meant for each one of us to make, as we look on Christ in love and faith and say to the world that He is truly alive and in love with each of us. May we have the grace to live as St. Thomas did, giving our live completely for Christ each day, responding with complete faith and trust in the Resurrected Christ.



Reading 1 Acts 2:42-47

They devoted themselves to the teaching of the apostles and to the communal life, to the breaking of bread and to the prayers. Awe came upon everyone, and many wonders and signs were done through the apostles. All who believed were together and had all things in common; they would sell their property and possessions and divide them among all according to each one’s need. Every day they devoted themselves to meeting together in the temple area and to breaking bread in their homes. They ate their meals with exultation and sincerity of heart, praising God and enjoying favor with all the people. And every day the Lord added to their number those who were being saved.

Reading 2 1 Peter 1:3-9

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who in his great mercy gave us a new birth to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you who by the power of God are safeguarded through faith, to a salvation that is ready to be revealed in the final time. In this you rejoice, although now for a little while you may have to suffer through various trials, so that the genuineness of your faith, more precious than gold that is perishable even though tested by fire, may prove to be for praise, glory, and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. Although you have not seen him you love him; even though you do not see him now yet believe in him, you rejoice with an indescribable and glorious joy, as you attain the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls.




Gospel John 20:19-31


19*† On the evening of that first day of the week, when the doors were locked, where the disciples† were, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in their midst and said to them, “Peace be with you.”20*† When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side. The disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord. 21*† [Jesus] said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you.” 22*† And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the holy Spirit. 23*† Whose sins you forgive are forgiven them, and whose sins you retain are retained.” 24 Thomas, called Didymus, one of the Twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. 25* So the other disciples said to him, “We have seen the Lord.” But he said to them, “Unless I see the mark of the nails in his hands and put my finger into the nail marks and put my hand into his side, I will not believe.” 26* Now a
week later his disciples were again inside and Thomas was with them. Jesus came, although the doors were locked, and stood in their midst and said, “Peace be with you.” 27 Then he 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.” 28*† Thomas answered and said to him, “My Lord and my God!” 29*† Jesus said to him, “Have you come to believe because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and have believed.” 30*† Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of [his] disciples that are not written in this book. 31* But these are written that you may [come to] believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that through this belief you may have life in his name.


Questions for Discussion:

1. What does St. John teach us in this passage about the physical characteristics of Jesus' resurrected body? List as many properties as you can.

2. Given the cruelty of Jesus' death, describe the reactions and joy of the disciples as Jesus showed Himself to them.

3. How is your faith similar and/or different to St. Thomas, who doubted the Resurrection?

4. What would convince you to believe that someone really came back from the dead?
A death certificate
Eyewitnesses
Firsthand knowledge of the person before and after
Pictures in the National Inquirer


5. Who does Thomas remind you of in this story?
A science teacher
An agnostic
An honest person who wanted to believe
A friend of mine
Myself


6. When you have struggles and doubts in your faith, what have you found helpful?
Going to the Bible
Talking it over with my priest
Sharing my struggles with my family and friends
Letting my family and friends share their struggles
Going ahead on faith
Spending time alone with God
Being encouraged by the faith of others

7. If you could ask Jesus one "Hard question” about your spiritual life, what would it be?
How do I deal with doubt or guilt?
What's wrong when I don't always feel like a Christian?
Where is God when I'm hurting?
Why can’t I seem to get closer to you?

8. How can you describe your spiritual life right now?
Full of doubt
Full of fake
Half-and-half
Increasing in doubt
Increasing its faith