Breaking the Word

St.Thomas the Apostle, Wednesday – 3^rd July 2024 — Gospel: Jn 20, 24-29

Secured and Uncertain Witness

Today we celebrate the Apostle, Saint Thomas the Twin. Fulton J. Sheen characterized him looking on the darker side of things: When the news came to our Lord Jesus about the death of Lazarus, Thomas wanted to go and to die with him. Later on, when our Lord said that He would return again to the Father and prepare a place for his apostles, Thomas’ miserable answer was that he knew not where the Lord was going, nor did he himself know the way. His refusal to trust the testimony of ten competent companions, who had seen the Risen Christ with their own eyes, proved how skeptical was the gloomy man. Nevertheless, Pope Benedict XVI sees other dimensions of Thomas’ actions in the Gospel: his desire to stand by Jesus and share with Christ the supreme trial of death; his request for understanding in dialogue with Jesus; his conviction that after his death and resurrection Jesus is recognized by his wounds rather than by his face; his profound acknowledgement of Jesus’ divinity. Benedict concludes that “the Apostle Thomas’ case is important to us for at least three reasons: first, because it comforts us in our insecurity; second, because it shows us that every doubt can lead to an outcome brighter than any uncertainty; and third, because the words that Jesus addressed to him remind us of the true meaning of mature faith and encourage us to persevere, despite the difficulty, along our journey of adhesion to him.” (Benedict XVI, Sept 27,2006).

13^th Week in Ord. Time, Tuesday – 2^nd July 2024 – Amos 3,1-8; 4,11-12; Mt 8, 23-27

Neglect of Privileged Status

In the first reading, Amos continues his severe warnings to the people of Israel. He condemns them for not paying attention to the marvelous deeds God has done for the chosen people. He begins by recalling how God has chosen and blessed the nation. Over all these years God had shown his people a love which he had not given to any other people: “You only have I known of all the families of the earth…”  Because of the abundance of God’s love and favours showered on them, their wrongdoings are considered all the more serious. They have taken advantage of their privileged position as a right and did not respond in love and service. Amos, then, declares that God has warned the chosen people to be faithful to the covenant that God established with them. Israel is shockingly reminded of the long-forgotten responsibilities her privileges entailed. Since they have not heeded the warnings, the Kingdom of Israel will fall within a generation and all the people will be exiled. God is allowing this to happen, not because God is spiteful, but because the Israelites have refused to listen to God’s word due to their stubbornness of heart.