3 April 2016 - seen and unseen

[ Today's Readings ]

“Unless I see the mark of the nails in his hands
and put my finger into the nailmarks
and put my hand into his side, I will not believe.”

Do we recognize in ourselves the stubbornness of Thomas? We begrudge others the special favors they receive from God all the time. Any time things look easy for someone, any time it seems like they have more joy than we do in their faith, and especially if they receive miracles, we become jealous. But this is a roadblock. Rather than receiving what you have for us, LORD, we insist on receiving what you have for others.

Yet even this roadblock doesn't stop you. You want us all to believe in you, Jesus.  You want it so much that you will do what is necessary to reveal yourself to us. We could see the specificity of the demands of Thomas as putting you to the test. It seems like, if anything, it would only alienate you further, LORD. But you recognize in this request something sincere. It is not merely asking for what the others have received but for a level of encounter which Thomas really needs. And because he needs it, you give it.

Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here and see my hands,
and bring your hand and put it into my side,
and do not be unbelieving, but believe.”

Help us to only ask you for the good things you have for us. Don't let us begrudge others the favors you bestow on them.  All of these things are designed to achieve one thing. They are designed to help us recognize who you are beneath the surface. They point us from things we can see to things we can't. We may have to start with seeing to believe. But you want us to reach a place where we can not see but believe.

Jesus said to him, “Have you come to believe because you have seen me?
Blessed are those who have not seen and have believed.”

Only this level of sight allows us to see the truth of who you are, anyway. Only this shows you to be the Son of God concealed in flesh. Only this site lets us see what happens behind the scenes at mass.

Then I turned to see whose voice it was that spoke to me,
and when I turned, I saw seven gold lampstands
and in the midst of the lampstands one like a son of man,
wearing an ankle-length robe, with a gold sash around his chest.

[ Side note: today is a six candle solemnity and the Paschal candle should be lit so it is a good time to notice this ]

When we recognize your presence in the Church you have power to move and change lives. 

Thus they even carried the sick out into the streets
and laid them on cots and mats
so that when Peter came by,
at least his shadow might fall on one or another of them.

You are still present in your body in this way if we have the eyes to see and the faith to believe. Help us to believe! Cure our stubbornness. If we need to see, show us. 

By the LORD has this been done;
it is wonderful in our eyes.

But lead us beyond this to a faith which does not need to see, which insists on no earthly qualifiers, a faith, in other words, which is unshakable.

He touched me with his right hand and said, “Do not be afraid.
I am the first and the last, the one who lives.
Once I was dead, but now I am alive forever and ever.
I hold the keys to death and the netherworld.