Breaking the Word

St.Thomas the Apostle, Thursday – 3^rd July 2025 — Eph 2,19-22; Jn 20, 24-29

Longing with Patience

Thomas, the Apostle, came to India some two decades after his encounter with the Risen Jesus. Tradition holds that after evangelizing in Syria and Persia, he arrived in Kerala, India around AD 52. He established seven churches over the course of two decades. Around AD 72, he was martyred near Madras-Mylapore, where Santhome Basilica in his name has been erected over his mortal remains. Stories are told of how he performed miracles before members of the Brahmin caste to demonstrate the truth of the Gospel he preached. He worked to bring the people from idolatry to the worship of Jesus, the Messiah and Saviour.

Each encounter with the Risen Jesus has been very unique and has personal notes with an inclusion of time and space. Jesus could have easily appeared to Thomas on Easter Sunday, after having appeared to other apostles, when Thomas alone was missing. Instead, Jesus knew that it was best for Thomas to wait. Thomas’ patience and faith were tested the whole week: Whether he would believe the other apostles and the women that Jesus appeared to them and had risen from the dead? The longing in his heart to see his Lord was built up day after day. And when Jesus did appear, Thomas was ready for his great act of faith: “My Lord and My God!” The narrative story of Thomas teaches us that God knows the time and the place. He knows when we are ready and when we are not. God, who is patient, gentle, and kind, takes his own time to disclose. When God seems to be absent in our lives, we need to be like Thomas and allow the longing for God to grow within, so that when God appears we may welcome him like Thomas.

13^th Week in Ord. Time, Wednesday – 2^nd July 2025 – Genesis 21,5.8-20; Mt 8,28-34

Existence, Extinction, and Estrangement

Demon possession was understood to be a fact of life in and around Israel and in the ancient world. Nobody questioned the existence of demons. Demons were known to alter personalities and behaviours, as well as causing those oppressed to behave in self-destructive and violent ways. In today’s Gospel, the demons have recognized Jesus and have raised two questions against him. Jesus’ encounter with demons and its questioning of Jesus reveals many things. First, the demons called Jesus, the Son of God. Demons are fallen angels, those who joined Satan in his rebellion against God. Jesus, as God’s eternal Son, would have known these things since they were first created as angels. Therefore, they recognized Jesus as one with power and authority over all things. They questioned him to confirm Jesus’ identity as being God’s Son. Second, the demons recognized that Jesus will ultimately bring judgement on them in the form of torment. They understood Jesus to be the judge and the enforcer of the judgment. They knew they would be found guilty and tormented. Third, the demons knew that the time had not yet come for their final judgment. Since they did not understand the purpose of Jesus’ mission on earth at this moment, they revolved against him. Finally, it is Jesus, who will win over demons and all types of evil spirits. In today’s context, disbelief in the spiritual world is a more potent weapon and deliberate strategy used by the demons to estrange human beings from God.