Gospel Reading for July 03, 2025 – John 20: 24-29
ETERNAL
Thomas, called Didymus, one of the Twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. So the other disciples said to him, “We have seen the Lord.” But Thomas said to them, “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.” 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.” 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.” Thomas answered and said to him, “My Lord and my God!” Jesus said to him, “Have you come to believe because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and have believed.”
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As we celebrate today the feast of St. Thomas, the Apostle, the gospel reading reminds us of what FAITH really is/means. As is often said, it is belief in things unseen, which is possible because man is made not only of flesh but spirit too. Man’s being made in the image and likeness of God pertains to the spirit of man and not the flesh of man. It is no wonder that man, whether Christian, non-Christian or even a pagan, has this desire to worship a greater/divine being. There is that hankering in us to be spiritually connected to someone most powerful, who we believe will help us in times of distress. The Israelites made the golden calf and worshipped it. Even our aetas living around Mount Pinatubo have a deep spiritual connection to the mountain, believing it is a god or a place inhabited by powerful spirits, to whom they offer prayers to prevent eruptions. This is also common in tribes which have not been penetrated by Christianity. It is almost a universal phenomenon for peoples around the world to seek something beyond the material world, to find meaning in life, and this is expressed in so many forms, in so many religions.
Thanks be to Jesus, that hankering was satisfied when he introduced to us, God, his Father. His suffering, death and resurrection fortified the spiritual connection between us and God and stamped it ETERNAL.
Come to think of it – the hankerings we have, come from both flesh and spirit, but it is usually the hankerings of the flesh that will bring us down and make us vulnerable to the devil, and the hankerings of the spirit that will raise us up and bring us closer to God.
We thank you Lord, for all those who helped plant and cultivate our Faith in you!
