It's All About Jesus

~~~ Feast of Saint Thomas, Apostle ~~~

~~~Ephesians 2:19-22 ~~~ Psalm 117 ~~~  John 20:24-29 ~~~

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.”

Saint Thomas often gets labeled here as 'doubting Thomas'.

The spotlight and focus belongs on Jesus in this scene.

Jesus could have taken the attitude that the

others could tell Thomas about his previous 

visit to them in the upper room.

The others could tell him how Jesus 

appeared to them passing through the locked doors.

This story has never been about Thomas.

This story has always been about Jesus.

Substitute your name for the name of Thomas in this story.

This story tells you exactly what Jesus 

would do to help you have greater faith.

We relate with Thomas because he represents us.

We are always looking for proof...

Proof that we are loved...

Proof that Jesus cares about us.

Today we are given the proof we are looking for.

God loved us first that is why there is nothing 

that he would not do to draw us closer to his heart.

Saint Thomas, be a model for us to believe

that Jesus meets us where we are.

Jesus comes to us even though 

we cannot see him as Thomas saw him.

Whether or not we see Jesus 

does not limit the reality of his presence.

May you continue to grow in faith 

as you accept the fact that Jesus comes to you.

Saint Thomas, pray for us.

~~~Peace~~~

The Mystery of Doubt

~~~ Saint Thomas, Apostle ~~~

~~~ Ephesians 2:19-22 ~~~ Psalm 117 ~~~ John 20:24-29 ~~~

“My Lord and my God!”

Unfortunately Saint Thomas is usually remembered
 for voicing his doubts concerning the Resurrection of Jesus.
Sorry Saint Thomas, here we go again...

Thomas, in fact, was longing for a deeper understanding
of what he was being told.

We all experience times of doubt in our life.
The real challenge is how do we handle our doubts.
Do we let them paralyze us?
Do we allow them to change our beliefs?
Do we use our doubts to search for deeper meaning?

Thomas knew who Jesus was,
we can tell by the words he used to greet Jesus.

We can choose to let our times of doubt hold us hostage
or we can use them as a catalyst to look more closely...to dig deeper.
So many times discoveries have been made in spite of tremendous doubt.

We tend to think of doubt as negative or even a sin,
but we can use our doubt for our own good.

Thomas did want to see to believe, but he was not in a state of despair.
Thomas never lost his faith while in the upper room.
He wanted to believe with just as much passion as the others.
Many of them had had personal experiences with the risen Lord.
They were sharing with one another what they had experienced.
Had they not seen Jesus in his risen state they
might have been just as skeptical.

Thomas wanted to believe with his whole heart.
Thomas wanted to have the personal
experience of witnessing the Risen Lord...
Was that so wrong? I think not.

Jesus accepts Thomas with his doubts.
Jesus shows himself to Thomas.
Jesus reminds us with his next few words of something very important.

Blessed are those who have not seen and have believed.

Today Jesus wants us to use whatever doubts
 we have about our faith to go deeper.

The Holy Spirit gives us the gift of wisdom for just such a reason;
to help us go deeper...to look beyond.
We must look beyond what is visible
 to 'see' the deeper meaning of what it means to be a believer.

We believe not because we have seen...
we believe because we have been given the gift of faith.
Thomas had the gift of faith...he wanted more.

One does not need to jump off the edge of a cliff
 to satisfy their doubt of the distance of the fall.

Doubt can stimulate you to persevere...to keep going...to build confidence.
Doubt is never making that phone call to an estranged loved one...
Doubt is not trusting God or yourself in times of trials...
Doubt is conceding before ever beginning.

Jesus meets us in our times of doubt.
Jesus says...I am with you...
I am present in everyone you meet along the way.

When you find yourself caught in the web of doubt
remember Jesus is there to show you the way.
We are blessed to have a God that truly understands all of our doubts.
Your doubts just may be the key to more faith.

Don't be afraid of doubt,
the Holy Spirit gives wisdom and understanding
sent from our heavenly Father.

~~~Peace~~~