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| The Incredulity of St. Thomas, Caravaggio |
Today's Gospel relates the scene when St. Thomas doubts that Christ has truly risen from the dead (John 20:24-29). There are two primary passages I'd like to focus on. The first is John 20:28 when Thomas has placed his hands into the wounds of Christ and exclaims, "My Lord and my God!" According to the The Ignatius Catholic Study Bible New Testament commentary (Kindle Locations 12210-12211), this is the "climactic confession of faith in John's Gospel." The Catechism explains that "in the encounter with the risen Jesus, this title becomes adoration: 'My Lord and my God!' It thus takes on a connotation of love and affection that remains proper to the Christian tradition: 'It is the Lord!'" (CCC, 448). For this reason, these words are often used by Catholics as an ejaculatory prayer or aspiration "especially as an act of faith in the real presence of Christ in the Blessed Eucharist." (Navarre Bible Commentary). I have several friends who silently proclaim these words upon the consecration during the Mass.
Those Who Have Not Seen
Jesus responds to Thomas by saying, "Blessed are those who have not seen and yet believe.” (John 20:29). Christ is talking about us! He is acknowledging our faith in true presence in the Eucharist and in His message revealed through divine revelation. Furthermore, Christ's statement "refers to us, provided we live in accordance with the faith, for only he truly believes who practices what the believes" (In Evangelia Homiliae, 26, 9). In other words we have to walk the walk. Sacred Scripture, "carries with it sufficient guarantees of credibility" and when we accept that teaching, each of us "offers the full submission of his intellect and will to God who reveals, willingly assenting to the revelation given" (Dei Verbum, 5).
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