WHERE DID THOMAS GO?
When every one was hiding behind the locked door for the fear of authority, where did St. Thomas go? When the disciples rejoiced seeing upon the risen Lord, where did St. Thomas go?
1. Where did Thomas go while all the other disciples were hiding behind the closed door?
I think Thomas might have gone to be alone and pray.Thomas believed that his call from Jesus was special and unique. He met many rabbis in those days but no one taught the people with authority and power. When Jesus went to His own home town of Nazareth and opened the scroll of the prophet Isaiah, He then with authority read, 'The spirit of the Lord is upon me and he sent me to preach the good news to all and liberation to the poor'. And Jesus before choosing his apostles, went to a deserted place for forty days and forty nights and was with His father, then he received baptism from John the baptist. On the day of baptism, the heavens opened and there came a voice saying this is my beloved son and with whom I am well pleased. After that Jesus began to choose his apostles and when he called them, they left everything behind and followed him immediately. And St. Thomas knew that Jesus was indeed the Messiah sent by God. St. Thomas joined other apostles and confessed saying, "Jesus, to whom shall we go. you have the words of eternal life and you are the only son of God".
I think Thomas might have gone to be alone and pray.Thomas believed that his call from Jesus was special and unique. He met many rabbis in those days but no one taught the people with authority and power. When Jesus went to His own home town of Nazareth and opened the scroll of the prophet Isaiah, He then with authority read, 'The spirit of the Lord is upon me and he sent me to preach the good news to all and liberation to the poor'. And Jesus before choosing his apostles, went to a deserted place for forty days and forty nights and was with His father, then he received baptism from John the baptist. On the day of baptism, the heavens opened and there came a voice saying this is my beloved son and with whom I am well pleased. After that Jesus began to choose his apostles and when he called them, they left everything behind and followed him immediately. And St. Thomas knew that Jesus was indeed the Messiah sent by God. St. Thomas joined other apostles and confessed saying, "Jesus, to whom shall we go. you have the words of eternal life and you are the only son of God".
2. Where did St. Thomas go while all the other disciples were at home for the fear of the authority?
I think he might have gone to visit the people whom Jesus healed. While he was with Jesus for three years, he witnessed Jesus healing the sick, giving sight to the blind. Jesus was different from other rabbis. While the pharisees, the scribes and the teachers of the synagogue were teaching the punishment and fear of God to people, on the contrary, Jesus was teaching about love, kindness and compassion of God and when people came to him for healing, he did not say that their sickness and disabilities were punishment from God and instead, he touched and healed them saying, "your faith has healed you. God in peace". When pharisees criticized and questioned about his preaching and healing on sabbath, Jesus said, Sabbath is for people, and thus he reshaped the religious understanding of the people. And I think when St. Thomas once again visited the people who were healed by the loving kindness of Jesus our Lord, his faith increased and he was sure that as the Jesus promised, he would rise again.
I think he might have gone to visit the people whom Jesus healed. While he was with Jesus for three years, he witnessed Jesus healing the sick, giving sight to the blind. Jesus was different from other rabbis. While the pharisees, the scribes and the teachers of the synagogue were teaching the punishment and fear of God to people, on the contrary, Jesus was teaching about love, kindness and compassion of God and when people came to him for healing, he did not say that their sickness and disabilities were punishment from God and instead, he touched and healed them saying, "your faith has healed you. God in peace". When pharisees criticized and questioned about his preaching and healing on sabbath, Jesus said, Sabbath is for people, and thus he reshaped the religious understanding of the people. And I think when St. Thomas once again visited the people who were healed by the loving kindness of Jesus our Lord, his faith increased and he was sure that as the Jesus promised, he would rise again.
3. And why did St. Thomas believe when the other disciples said, "we have seen the Lord and he is indeed risen?"
I think St. Thomas wanted to test the others and said, 'unless I put my finger in his wounds and my hand in his side, I will not believe' and then When the Lord Jesus appeared to the disciples again, there came the ultimate expression of faith from St. Thomas. Yes, St. Thomas looked at Jesus and said, "My Lord and My God". He confessed that Jesus is not only the Lord but He is God himself. Jesus is the Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. He was, he is and he will be. And Everything moves and has life through Him, with Him and in Him.
I think St. Thomas wanted to test the others and said, 'unless I put my finger in his wounds and my hand in his side, I will not believe' and then When the Lord Jesus appeared to the disciples again, there came the ultimate expression of faith from St. Thomas. Yes, St. Thomas looked at Jesus and said, "My Lord and My God". He confessed that Jesus is not only the Lord but He is God himself. Jesus is the Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. He was, he is and he will be. And Everything moves and has life through Him, with Him and in Him.
Today we are called to confess our faith saying, "My Lord and My God". If we profess our faith in Christ, then we are asked to go everywhere to preach the good news to all. And we are asked to tell the people that Christ is indeed risen and those who believe in Him will never die but have life-everlasting. Amen.
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