Thomas replied, "My Lord and my God!" 29 Jesus said to him, "Did you believe because you saw me? Blessed are those who believed without having seen!"

  

John 20:24-29. Wednesday of the 13th Week of the TC, July 3, 2024. Saint Thomas, Apostle.

Gospel 24 Thomas, called Didymus, who was one of the twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. 25 The other disciples then told him, "We have seen the Lord!" But Thomas said to them, "Unless I see the prints of the nails in his hands, unless I put my finger in the prints of the nails and put my hand into his side, I will not believe." 26 Eight days later, the disciples were together again at home, and Thomas was with them. When the doors were closed, Jesus entered, stood among them and said: "Peace be with you." 27 Then he said to Thomas, "Put your finger here and look at my hands. Stretch out your hand and place it in my side. And do not be unbelieving, but faithful." 28 Thomas replied, "My Lord and my God!" 29 Jesus said to him, "Did you believe because you saw me? Blessed are those who believed without having seen!" “The other disciples later told him: ‘We have seen the Lord!’. But Thomas said to them, ‘Unless I see the nail marks in your hands, unless I put my finger in the nail marks and put my hand in your side, I will not believe.’” Man, even at the height of his intelligence, owes the principle of doubt. Even though he is well-founded in intellectual content, well versed in the sciences and open to new things, even so, and for this very reason, doubt accompanies him. Its context is marked by the most diverse ideas, countless different interests and an innumerable number of objectives. In a reality predominantly marked by personal satisfaction, it is difficult to find anyone sure of the truth, which requires openness, investigation and charm. — Word of Salvation. Thomas offers us the condition to reach the truth. He presents himself to us as someone who, in fact, wanted the truth, and when he found it, he gave himself absolutely, becoming her disciple forever. How was this possible? No one can discover the truth without the help of the Spirit of Truth. In such a confusing world, it is impossible for anyone to reach the truth clearly. Without the Holy Spirit, man feels like he is groping. The Spirit was given to all the apostles who were going through the same thing that Thomas went through. The others saw the Lord eight days earlier and were already completely renewed. Thomas had his experience with the Resurrected. Jesus criticizes him for his doubt, showing him the importance of faith, something so lacking in thousands of people. Faith elevates intelligence, broadens horizons, gives meaning to life and courage to man. Faith is a gift from God, it comes through the action of the Spirit of the Lord. Through the Spirit, Thomas is able to see the Truth: Jesus Christ is our God and Lord. Thomas came out of an intellective cocoon and opened his intelligence to the gift of God. Once filled with the Spirit, he perceived, so close by, what previously seemed nonexistent. He was found by the TRUTH. Now, he can truly profess that there is only understanding of truth where man lets go of the madness of thinking that his intelligence is everything and places it at the disposal of the Spirit of God.