Reflection: My Lord and my God...Let us also go to die with Him

When Jesus appeared in the midst of the disciples, Thomas was not with them. When they saw Thomas later, they told him that they had seen the Lord. Thomas doubted and said, "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." John 20:25  

I recall a beautiful homily my pastor gave about Thomas. He said not to focus on his disbelief. He said that Thomas went from hearing to disbelief and from disbelief to touching and from touching to believing.

When we hear Jesus, even when we do not believe, He touches us and we come to believe. An encounter with Jesus always changes us.

A week later, the disciples were in the locked room again and Thomas was with them. Jesus appeared in their midst and said, "Peace be with you." 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." Thomas answered Him, My Lord and my God." John 20:26-28

HEAR, UNBELIEF, TOUCH, BELIEF

When we hear Jesus, even when we do not believe, He touches us and we come to believe. An encounter with Jesus always changes us.

During the homily at Mass this morning, the priest said that Thomas is remembered as the one who doubted. He said that we should not remember him in this way. He said to read the story of Lazarus. Jesus went to Bethany, a very dangerous place for Him to go because it was near to the place where so many wanted to kill Him. Jesus was speaking to the disciples and He said:

So then Jesus said to them clearly. "Lazarus has died. And I am glad for you that I was not there, that you may believe. Let us go to him." So Thomas, called Didymus said to his fellow disciples. "Let us also go to die with Him." John 11:14-16

Jesus waited for Lazarus to die because he was going to raise him from the dead. Jesus did this so that they would believe in Him. When He told the disciples this, it was Thomas who understood and believed. Immediately, Thomas said to the disciples, "Let us also go to die with Him."

Let us remember Thomas as a saint and martyr. He doubted but came to believe and he witnessed to Jesus as his Lord and his God. Let us never judge someone who has made a mistake and only remember them for that mistake. God is so much bigger than one mistake. Let us remember Thomas and his words:

"My Lord and My God."

"Let us also go to die with Him."

Blessed are those who have not seen but still believe.  John 20:29