WEDNESDAY OF THE THIRTEENTH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME - FEAST OF SAINT THOMAS - John 20:24-29 - THE WORD OF GOD FOR EVERYONE

"You have come to believe because you have seen me. Blessed are those who have not seen and have believed" (Jn 20:29)

READING OF THE DAY

A reading from the letter to he Ephesians

EPH 2:19-22

Brothers and sisters:

You are no longer strangers and sojourners,

but you are fellow citizens with the holy ones

and members of the household of God,

built upon the foundation of the Apostles and prophets,

with Christ Jesus himself as the capstone.

Through him the whole structure is held together

and grows into a temple sacred in the Lord;

in him you also are being built together

into a dwelling place of God in the Spirit.

GOSPEL OF THE DAY

From the Gospel according to John

JN 20:24-29

Thomas, called Didymus, one of the Twelve,

was not with them when Jesus came.

So the other disciples said to him, “We have seen the Lord.”

But Thomas said to them,

“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.”

Now a week later his disciples were again inside

and Thomas was with them.

Jesus came, although the doors were locked,

and stood in their midst and said, “Peace be with you.”

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.”

Thomas answered and said to him, “My Lord and my God!”

Jesus said to him, “Have you come to believe because you have seen me?

Blessed are those who have not seen and have believed.”

WEDNESDAY OF THE THIRTEENTH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME - FEAST OF SAINT THOMAS - John 20:24-29

THE WORD OF GOD FOR EVERYONE

Dear People of God,

In the Word of God today, God the Father says to all humanity: listen to the Word God the Father gives, because only His teachings are the wisest. Whoever listens, remembers every small detail of the Word, and puts it into practice will gain the happiness of the Kingdom of Heaven.

God the Father teaches His children: "Blessed are those who have not seen and have believed.” God the Father loves children who always rely on, depend on, and trust Him completely, because that shows the child's humility towards God. He invites His children to become like children, to let Him teach and guide them step by step on this earthly path. This will enable them to achieve happiness in the Kingdom of Heaven, when He calls them out of this world.

All that God teaches is wisdom. He knows in advance what is good and what is bad for people. God's love will shine on all children who always rely, trust, and have absolute confidence in Him. But love is higher than everything when people devote their entire body and soul to following God.

Like the image of Saint Thomas today, it also represents those children who only want to see God's presence with the naked eye to believe; that does not please God. Because His love always requires His children to have absolute love for Him, and love always goes hand in hand with trust. When you love, you believe. When people require seeing with their own eyes, hearing with their loved ones, touching with their hands, meaning they have to verify it to believe it, then that is not absolute love. It is not yet the faith that a child has in God the Father, but rather skepticism, and love that is not sincere.

Therefore, today, the Word of God calls people to listen and follow, because only then will they demonstrate great love, based on absolute faith in God. He taught people:

- to have a simple, gentle and humble heart, so that we can listen to God's words and put them into practice.

- Believe absolutely in His teachings, which are the truth and come from God. Absolutely believe that there is only one God, the only Father, the Creator of this world, and only He can bring happiness and eternal life to humans. And believe absolutely in the words of Jesus Christ, who is the true God. He came to earth to become a human to accompany and atone for the sins of all people, so that all people can enjoy happiness in the Kingdom of Heaven.

- Live by our own faith in God absolutely. This absolute faith will bring eternal life to people, without needing to be verified with the naked eye. The need to verify with the naked eye demonstrates a weak belief. Therefore, God's word is eternal. Whatever He teaches, people should follow, simply and trustingly like a child nestled in its mother's womb, into the bosom of our merciful Father so that He will guide us on the path that He knows is good for us.

Thanks be to God. Amen.