Gospel: John 20:24-29
Thomas, the Twin, one of the Twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. The other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord.” But he replied, “Until I have seen in his hands the print of the nails, and put my finger in the mark of the nails and my hand in his side, I will not believe.”
Eight days later, the disciples were again inside the house and Thomas was with them. Although the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood in their midst and said, “Peace be with you!” Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here, and see my hands; stretch out your hand, and put it into my side. Do not continue in your unbelief, but believe!”

Reflections
“You are my Lord and my God.”
This gospel passage demonstrates an ‘unparalleled expression of faith’ that began with disbelief and doubt (Bredan Byrne). We have here another in- stance revealing Jesus identity. Two things are made clear in this gospel reading: one explicitly declares that Jesus is God and the other implicitly admits that God is love.
Thomas confesses that Jesus is God. But before this personal pronouncement (the use of “my”), Thomas named the conditions that might lead him to believe, namely: he wanted to see the print of the nails, and put his fingers in the marks and in Jesus’ side. Is it merely the sight and touch of the marks on Jesus’ hands, or the sight of Jesus himself, that moved him to believe? It could probably be the profound realization of the power and greatness of God’s love embodied in Jesus; it could be the experience of such love at that very moment of touching the mark of nails and the side of Jesus, a love that is able to send Jesus for the whole world and that is able to accept and face a gruesome death on the cross. The touch on the marks of nails and side of Jesus is an experience of the pure and unconditional love of God.

© Copyright Bible Diary 2019