“‘Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.’” (John 20:29).
I have been reflecting on the story of Saint Thomas, who refused to believe in the Resurrection of Christ until he placed his hands into the Sacred and Glorious wounds of God.
“Then He said to Thomas, ‘Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe.’ Thomas said to Him, ‘My Lord and my God!’ Then Jesus told him, ‘Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.’” (John 20:27-29).
For all of my life I have read that particular story and considered Saint Thomas a great doubter. I have considered him a man who failed in faith. Everything that he had seen during Christ’s life and everything that he had witnessed and then right there, now in that moment of proof – in that very moment – he basically failed all the tests. After all, I would consider to myself, what was the point of following God Himself around if at the end of the day a person literally failed to believe in miracles when they presented themselves?
And I judged Saint Thomas so much. I judged him with those words of God…
And then the other day I read a segment of “Furrow” written by Saint Josemaria at 684, “‘This is my Body ...’ and the immolation of Jesus took place, hidden under the appearances of the bread. He is now there, with his Flesh and with his Blood, with his Soul and with his Divinity. He is the same as on the day that Thomas placed his fingers in His glorious Wounds. And yet, on so many occasions, you saunter by, giving not even a hint of a greeting out of simple good manners that you would give to any person you knew when you met him. You have much less faith than Thomas!”
And I have been reflecting on my lack of faith… You see, God loves me so much – He loves you too – that He remains with me in the Most Blessed Eucharist. And He waits there in the Tabernacle at all times of the day and night. And He waits with infinite patience for me to acknowledge Him and to greet to Him. And He waits there for me to return His love… “If anyone love me, he will keep my word; and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our abode with him” (John 14:23).
And I have been reflecting on that today because it occurs to me that there is a lot of love hidden beneath very humble appearances. There is the infinite love of eternal God hidden within the bread and wine inside that tiny darkened little box behind the altar inside the church.
And when I think about that today, I consider the great love of God for me, and it seems the most wonderous of all the miracles of all the world!
For with prayer, I stand on Holy Ground where everything is clear. Here. At the Foot of the Cross.
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