Thomas Sunday

Title

Thomas the Believer

Outline

1. Some time ago I read the Chronicles of Thomas Covenant the Unbeliever

Thomas Covenant does not believe in God, but is transported into another world where he comes to believe

And while the books have some very dark places that I would not recommend, in the end there is an explanation of God’s allowing evil that has stuck with me

However, our Thomas is not like that - he is Thomas the believer

2. We first meet Thomas the Twin in John 11

They have learned that Lazarus is sick and Jesus has proposed going to see him.

The disciples protest that that would be suicide, for the Jews had tried to kill Jesus

Jesus notes that Lazarus is dead but that he will go anyway

Thomas comments, “Let us also go, that we may die with him.” Perhaps it is a play on Lazarus’ death and Jesus’ danger, but Thomas is committed to go with Jesus, even if it means death. He looks facts in the face.

3. We then meet Thomas in the upper room after Jesus says that he is going somewhere, but that they knew the way

Thomas protests, “We do not know where you are going, so how can we know the way?” Again clear headed.

Jesus responds, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father, but by me.”

That must have confused Thomas, for it identifies the way with a person, with Jesus, so it is not a way one can know like the Tao, the Eightfold Path, or a road map.

4. Finally we have Thomas again in the upper room with the other 10.

He has refused to believe their word that they had seen Jesus for they had no concrete evidence

Now Jesus appears, speaks peace, and, as if he had overheard Thomas’ demand offers the very evidence that Thomas had demanded.

We never hear that Thomas actually touched Jesus; probably the presence was enough.

Thomas comes out with the strongest Christological confession in the Gospel: “My Lord and my God!” No one else has said this yet in John.

5. What does Thomas call us to in this commitment to Jesus?

He calls us to forsaking the world and its values: “whatever is born of God overcomes the world; and this is the victory that overcomes the world, our faith. Who is it that overcomes the world but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?” 1 John connects this to the keeping of Jesus’ commandments.

No longer does sense perception control Thomas or even worldly loyalty, but he has learned that Jesus is the way the truth and the life, for Jesus is God.

Thomas who requires concrete evidence to believe - perhaps a miracle - believes when he encounters a presence and because that presence is ultimate, God, he is freed from all that is not ultimate.

In Acts the other apostles give evidence of the reign of Christ in miraculous healings - the unseen Jesus is seen in these events. Ironically, the Jesus was threat enough to the ruling party that they imprisoned the apostles, but jealousy was strong enough that they could not see the reigning Lord behind the threat.

The apostles, beyond this-world threats, kept on doing what they had been doing: “Go and stand in the temple and speak to the people all the words of this Life.”

And that is what we are called to do in word and in deep, although the temples of this world may be businesses and banks, white houses and legislatures, or establishments dedicated to exquisite food and drink.

Readings

Epistle

Acts 5:12–20 RSV2CE

Now many signs and wonders were done among the people by the hands of the apostles. And they were all together in Solomon’s Portico. None of the rest dared join them, but the people held them in high honor. And more than ever believers were added to the Lord, multitudes both of men and women, so that they even carried out the sick into the streets, and laid them on beds and pallets, that as Peter came by at least his shadow might fall on some of them. The people also gathered from the towns around Jerusalem, bringing the sick and those afflicted with unclean spirits, and they were all healed. But the high priest rose up and all who were with him, that is, the party of the Sadducees, and filled with jealousy they arrested the apostles and put them in the common prison. But at night an angel of the Lord opened the prison doors and brought them out and said, “Go and stand in the temple and speak to the people all the words of this Life.”

Gospel

John 20:19–31 RSV2CE

On the evening of that day, the first day of the week, the doors being shut where the disciples were, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said to them, “Peace be with you.” When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord. Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I send you.” And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained.” Now Thomas, one of the Twelve, called the Twin, was not with them when Jesus came. So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord.” But he said to them, “Unless I see in his hands the print of the nails, and place my finger in the mark of the nails, and place my hand in his side, I will not believe.” Eight days later, his disciples were again in the house, and Thomas was with them. The doors were shut, but Jesus came and stood among them, and said, “Peace be with you.” Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here, and see my hands; and put out your hand, and place it in my side; do not be faithless, but believing.” Thomas answered him, “My Lord and my God!” Jesus said to him, “You have believed because you have seen me. Blessed are those who have not seen and yet believe.” Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; but these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in his name.

Notes

Byzantine Lectionary (Gregorian) 4-11-2021: Thomas Sunday or Second Sunday of Pascha or Antipascha

SUNDAY, APRIL 11, 2021 | PENTECOSTARION

THOMAS SUNDAY OR SECOND SUNDAY OF PASCHA OR ANTIPASCHA

Bright Vestments

Matins Gospel Matthew 28:16–20

Epistle Acts 5:12–20

Gospel John 20:19–31

St Antipas, Bishop-Martyr; our venerable father Parmuthius