Lectio Divina – 26

Fr Martin Kallunkal

Reading
“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’” (Jn 20:24-29).

Reflection
Thomas is one of the few disciples whose character traits are evident in the Scripture. He is quite straightforward, enormously courageous, intellectually honest and perfectly loyal. Nevertheless, his regard for Jesus is neither mythical nor mystical. He refused to believe the testimony that Jesus was risen. His logical mind wanted evidence. Perhaps, Thomas was not only following the dictates of his rationality but also the directives given by Jesus who had clearly said that: “And if anyone says to you then, ‘Look, here is the Christ’ or, ‘Look, he is there,’ do not believe it” (Mk 13:21). Thomas took Jesus’s words to his heart and thus, refused to believe the hearsay. Yet, he knew how to belong to a community of believers even when he was unconvinced of their belief. Thomas wanted to test the matter directly with Jesus Himself. He spoke about the lance-thrust and holes on Jesus’ hands, precisely because the details of the crucifixion had vividly imprinted in his mind. He was, indeed, a close follower of Christ until his end on the cross. In order to believe on, Thomas now needs evidential knowledge coming not even from sight but from touch. Jesus graciously offered the test which Thomas had declared in the presence of other disciples and surprisingly, Jesus suggested it in the exact words that Thomas had used. Upon seeing Jesus and hearing what he said, Thomas was totally astonished. Thomas did not touch and test Jesus’ body. He accepted Jesus as his Lord and God. Jesus’ words, “Do not be unbelieving any more but believe,” does not imply that Thomas was an unbeliever previously and that later he was invited to be a believer. The words of Jesus refer to the process-nature of belief. Thomas has been in the process of believing; he was only waiting for evidence. When Jesus addresses Himself to Thomas, the process of believing is interrupted and the irresistible light of clarity breaks open. Until now Thomas was seeking for some factual evidence so that he could believe in them. But, when the total fact came in search of Thomas, he abandoned all logical procedures at once and began to act upon the fact in front of him. Indeed, as someone rightly said: “Faith is not belief in fact. It is something that enables one to act upon the fact.” The transforming fact of faith is not precisely the event of resurrection but the person of the risen Christ.

Prayer
Lord, we know that the doors of the room where the disciples gathered were all closed, and that you still came in. You broke, open not only the doors of the room, but also, and more importantly, the doors of Thomas’ heart. Lord, my heart is also closed from within, and I find myself incapable of opening it for you. I have locked the doors on every side with reason and reasonable doubts which I passionately borrowed from many. There are too many locks, Lord, but not enough keys. Come to my life, Lord! Open the doors of my heart with your master key of loving gaze.

Contemplation
Suspend all mental acts of constructing and verifying various images of Christ. Feel the pain of missing Him even in the midst of your best spiritual efforts. Wait for the divine dawn.

Action
Create inclusive communities where those who
are still in a process of believing. Also, learn to belong even if the beliefs are unconvincing.