John 20:19

   -31

Today’s Gospel – John 20:19-31 – tells of two appearances of Jesus after the resurrection. Thomas plays a special role in these. Whilst Thomas is mentioned in the other Gospels and Acts – see Matthew 10:3; Mark 3:18; Luke 6, cf. Acts 1:13 – he has a special role in John’s Gospel.

In John’s Gospel, Thomas seems to be a man of drive and energy, ready to take on a challenge, a man of high ideals. But he also likes to be convinced that what he is doing is worth it. We meet him in John 11:16, when Jesus announces his intention of returning to Judea to visit Lazarus: “Thomas, who was called the Twin, said to his fellow disciples, ‘Let us also go, that we may die with him’”. Thomas does not really know what he is saying!

Later, however, Thomas’ question seems to suggest that he is beginning to get some sense of what is actually happening. Jesus tells the disciples he is “going away” and “you know the way to the place where I am going”. Thomas says: “Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?” Thomas is becoming a special agent in the revelation of the mystery of God’s being the flesh. Here he elicits one of the most oft-quoted texts from the Bible: “Jesus said to him, ‘I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you know me, you will know my Father also. From now on you do know him and have seen him’” (John 14:4-7).

Thomas’ special agency in the unveiling of God’s intentions is highlighted in today’s Gospel. Thomas’ doubt – and is his doubt perhaps a sign of his maturing? – elicits the most profound affirmation of God’s being in the flesh: “He said to Thomas, ‘Put your finger here and see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it in my side. Do not doubt but believe’. Thomas answered him, ‘My Lord and my God!’” (John 20:27-28).

Wittingly or unwittingly – in his role as a special agent – Thomas reminds us that our familiar worlds actually contain a remarkable strangeness – a strangeness that is beautiful and welcoming and liberating, and often missed: The infinite is here in the finite, the divine is here in the human. We occasionally share something of Jacob’s experience when he exclaims, “Truly, God is in this place!” – see Genesis 28:16.

The Australian poet, James McAuley (1917-1976), reminds us of “The meaning not ours, but found/ In the mind deeply submissive/ To the grammar of existence,/ The syntax of the real” (“Credo”).

The Risen Lord is “the grammar of existence, the syntax of the real”. It is central to our faith, that God’s being in the flesh embraces all creation, “So that alien is changed/ To human, thing into thinking:/ For the world's bare tokens/ We pay golden coin, Stamped with the king's image;/ And poems are prophecy/ Of a new heaven and earth,/ A rumour of resurrection” (Ibid).



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Date
10 April 2021

Tag 1
Gospel

Tag 2
Story

Tag 3
Teaching

Source Name
Michael Whelan sm

Source URL
https://stpatschurchhill.org/...

Activity

Read the days Gospel John 20:19-31.

Discuss the meaning over dinner with someone else.

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