They Rejoice in Seeing the Lord
Gospel: John 20:19-31
Fr. Jijo Kandamkulathy CMF
Claretian Publications
The doubt of Thomas in today’s gospel is proverbial. However, a closer reading of the gospels depict that all disciples, doubted, not only the poor Thomas. But why John focuses on Thomas? John is writing to the third generation Christians, people who have not seen the Lord Jesus. Many of them do not even know any of the apostles. They find it hard to believe; they are struggling in the midst of many doubts; they would like to see, touch, and verify if the Lord is truly risen.
To them, Mark, Luke, and Matthew respond by saying that all the apostles had hesitations. The answer of John is different: he takes Thomas as a symbol of the difficulty that every Christian who comes to believe. It is hard to know the reason why he chose this apostle; perhaps, because he had more difficulty or took more time than others to have faith.
What John wants to teach the Christians of his communities (and us) is that the Risen One has a life that escapes our senses; a life that cannot be touched with bare hands or seen with the eyes. It can only be achieved through faith. This also applies to the apostles, who also have made a unique experience of the Risen Lord.
The end of the passage presents the reason why John wrote his book. His gospel is a sign for people to believe in the person of Christ. John calls miracles, signs. Jesus did not perform them to impress whoever was there. He even had words of condemnation against anyone who did not believe unless he saw miracles (Jn 4:48). The signs are not pieces of evidence, but revelations about the person, nature, and mission of Jesus. Whoever reads his book and understands these signs clearly confronts the person of Jesus and is invited to make a choice. The Gospel is the ultimate proof.
But where can one listen to this gospel? Where does this word echo? Is it possible to repeat today the apostles’ experience on Easter day and “eight days later”? How? We definitely have noticed that both apparitions take place on Sunday. The Lord presents himself with the same words: “Peace be with you.” The disciples are gathered in the house. The meeting to which John alludes is clearly that which happens on the day of the Lord. It’s the one in which every eighth day, the whole community is called for the celebration of the Eucharist. When all believers are gathered together, there appears the Risen One. He, by the mouth of the celebrant, greets the disciples and wishes, as on the evening of Easter, and eight days later: “Peace be with you.”
Disciples, who like Thomas, deserts the meetings of the community, cannot make the experience of the Risen Lord because he makes himself present where the community is gathered. Contrary to what one sees depicted in the paintings of the artists, not even Thomas has put his hands into the wounds of the Lord. From the text, it does not appear that he has touched the Risen One. He also gets to pronounce his profession of faith after hearing the voice of the Risen One, along with his brothers and sisters of the community. And the ability to make this experience is offered to Christians of all times… every eight days.
Abridged from Fr. Armellini SCJ.
©Claretian Missionaries
Cum Approbatione Ecclesiastica 2023
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