FAUSTI - While the others were in the Upper Room, piled up in common fear, Thomas, the twin, dared to go out, despising the danger. With his actions he contradicts his name; he is not in solidarity with them. He doesn't share their fragility and fear. For this reason he excludes himself from others, interrupting the relationship with them. He is the twin of that deepest part of ourselves that does not accept the limit, but, with the force of despair, represses the fear itself, closing in a loneliness as heroic as destructive. He does not believe in life. He lives death as the only possible horizon. The evangelist reserves the expression "having seen the Lord" to the direct testimony of the first disciples. In the story he prefers to emphasize the fact that Jesus comes among them, to be recognised through the Word and the Signs of the Passion imprinted in His Body. In this way He highlights that aspect of faith which is common to them and to us: Visio Dei, vita hominis" : to see God is the life of man. Fire burns, light illuminates: the encounter with the Risen One raises us up. The community lives because it has met the Living One. Transformed into Him by the encounter with Him, it is able to witness Him. It is in fact one with Him and the Father, in the one Love: it has welcomed the Spirit and lives of His Glory, which it testifies to the world. Thomas does not believe those who have seen. He doesn't accept the witness of the Word and of the Spirit: he doesn't recognize the new life of the community and he doesn't insert himself in it. The credibility of the Son and of the Father is entrusted to the brothers who live the communion of mutual love. There we meet the Word becomed Flesh. Thomas wants to "see" and "touch" in order to be part of the twelve, witnesses of the Risen One. To him, as to Paul, this experience will be granted. But what is important, Jesus will say to Thomas, is not having seen Him for that brief period in which He showed Himself. It is not possible for everyone to be in the place where the spring gushes out; but anyone who is thirsty can drink that living water which now flows over the whole earth. Those who were present where it has sprung up, they canalize it up to us with their testimony, so that everyone can quench his thirst. It is together the first and eighth day, that one day without sunset, source of life without end. Everything is illuminated by the light of the Risen One. It is not by chance that the following chapter, which recounts the third manifestation, no longer is indicated any time. By now we always live in that time. In the liturgy, in fact, we begin reading the Gospel with the expression "in that time", because the story re-presents the event to us, making us contemporaries to it. The Eucharist is the place par excellence where one encounters the Risen One. We must "make the Eucharist in all things" (1 Th 5:18), so that our concrete existence may become the true spiritual cult pleasing to God (Rom 12:1). "The disciples were again inside" "Inside" is no longer the place of darkness and of fear, but of communion in peace and in joy, where the fruit of the Spirit blossoms and matures in mission, forgiveness and witness. It is that inside of those who, being sons, are sent to the outside of the world to continue the work of Jesus. In this place, the brothers live the memorial of the Son, who makes them "one" and projects them out, witnesses of the common Father to the whole world. "Peace be with you" The arrival and the greeting of the Lord are referred to as in the previous narration. He addresses to the whole community first of all - He says: 'Peace to you', and now Thomas is also in it.
Every encounter with the Living One makes us live "that day". enjoying the same gifts. After making himself known to the community, Jesus turns personally to Thomas. He does not want to lose any of those whom the Father has given him (17:12). Addressing to him, Jesus shows that not only does know the thoughts of his heart, but that He was present when he expressed his disbelief and the desire, considered impossible, to see and touch Him. Jesus is humble: He places Himself at the disposal of Thomas, of His deaf closure to others and to life. This condescension will make him available to believe in Him, until he reaches the highest point of expression of faith. Jesus exhorted Thomas to realize his desire to touch and to see the sign of the nails that sustained Him on the cross, the wound of the spear that opened His side. The presence of the Risen One is always connected with His wounds, memory of His Passion, an everlasting memory of His Love for us. The exhortation is also addressed to the reader, twin of Thomas. Like him, we too are called to touch and see the Body of the Son, to enter into Communion with Him. To see the wounds of the Crucified One, to immerse ourselves and baptize ourselves in them, means for us to breathe Love stronger than death itself, to find the source of life. In this way we too can contemplate the glory of the Word made Flesh, the Only Begotten of the Father, the glory of that Love for us which is before the foundation of the world. Thomas, like Mary and the others, saw the Lord. But it is not enough to see Him. But he wasn't there when the others saw Him: that's why he is also similar to us, called to believe through the testimony of others. Thomas is the link between the first ones and us, who experience the Risen One through their proclamation. "Blessed are those who have not seen and yet believe" "The verbs in Greek are aorist because, when the evangelist writes, his readers were among those who believed without having seen. This does not mean that the faith is blind. On the contrary: believers, because they do not seeing, have an unconditional faith and blind people, because they believe, have a more penetrating view than others. In fact, they have opened the eye of the heart, which only sees the reality. This bliss is for us, the readers of the Gospel, who rejoice in unspeakable and glorious joy, because even though we have not seen the Lord, we love Him (1 Pet 1:8). It is the bliss of faith, which is completed by the other bliss: "Knowing these things, you will be blessed if you will put them into practice". Our bliss is not to have an extraordinary encounter with Him, but, by listening to His Word, to lead a new life in love, walking as He has walked (1 Jn 2:6).
You are my God and I give you thanks, you are my God and I exalt you; I thank you because you have been my salvation. (Ps 117,28.21)
It is called the Gloria.
Colletta
May your Church rejoice, almighty God, on the feast of the holy apostle Thomas; may his protection of him sustain us so that, believing, we have life in the name of Jesus Christ, your Son, whom he recognized as his Lord and his God. He lives and reigns with you.
First Reading Built on the foundation of the apostles.
From the letter of Saint Paul the Apostle to the Ephesians Eph 2,19-22
Brothers, you are no longer strangers or guests, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and family members of God, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, having as the cornerstone Christ Jesus himself. In him the whole construction grows well-ordered to be a holy temple in the Lord; in him you too are built together to become God's dwelling place through the Spirit.
Word of God.
Responsorial Psalm
From Ps 116 (117)
R. Go into all the world and proclaim the Gospel.
All people, praise the Lord, all people, sing his praise. R.
Because his love for us is strong and the Lord's faithfulness lasts forever. R.
Acclamation to the Gospel
Hallelujah, hallelujah.
Because you saw me, Thomas, you believed; Blessed are those who have not seen and have believed! (Jn 20.29)
Hallelujah.
Gospel My Lord and my God!
From the Gospel according to John John 20,24-29
Thomas, one of the Twelve, called Didymus, was not with them when Jesus came. The other disciples said to him: "We have seen the Lord!". But he said to them, “Unless I see the mark of the nails in his hands, and put my finger into the mark of the nails, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe.” Eight days later the disciples were back in the house and Thomas was also with them. Jesus came, with the doors closed, stood in the middle and said: «Peace be with you!». Then he said to Thomas: «Put your finger here and look at my hands; stretch out your hand and put it in my side; and do not be an unbeliever, but a believer! Thomas answered him: «My Lord and my God!». Jesus said to him: «Because you saw me, you believed; Blessed are those who have not seen and have believed!
FAUSTI - While the others were in the Upper Room, piled up in common fear, Thomas, the twin, dared to go out, despising the danger. With his actions he contradicts his name; he is not in solidarity with them. He doesn't share their fragility and fear. For this reason he excludes himself from others, interrupting the relationship with them. He is the twin of that deepest part of ourselves that does not accept the limit, but, with the force of despair, represses the fear itself, closing in a loneliness as heroic as destructive. He does not believe in life. He lives death as the only possible horizon.
RispondiEliminaThe evangelist reserves the expression "having seen the Lord" to the direct testimony of the first disciples. In the story he prefers to emphasize the fact that Jesus comes among them, to be recognised through the Word and the Signs of the Passion imprinted in His Body.
In this way He highlights that aspect of faith which is common to them and to us: Visio Dei, vita hominis" : to see God is the life of man.
Fire burns, light illuminates: the encounter with the Risen One raises us up.
The community lives because it has met the Living One.
Transformed into Him by the encounter with Him, it is able to witness Him.
It is in fact one with Him and the Father, in the one Love: it has welcomed the Spirit and lives of His Glory, which it testifies to the world.
Thomas does not believe those who have seen. He doesn't accept the witness of the Word and of the Spirit: he doesn't recognize the new life of the community and he doesn't insert himself in it.
The credibility of the Son and of the Father is entrusted to the brothers who live the communion of mutual love. There we meet the Word becomed Flesh. Thomas wants to "see" and "touch" in order to be part of the twelve, witnesses of the Risen One. To him, as to Paul, this experience will be granted.
But what is important, Jesus will say to Thomas, is not having seen Him for that brief period in which He showed Himself. It is not possible for everyone to be in the place where the spring gushes out; but anyone who is thirsty can drink that living water which now flows over the whole earth. Those who were present where it has sprung up, they canalize it up to us with their testimony, so that everyone can quench his thirst. It is together the first and eighth day, that one day without sunset, source of life without end.
Everything is illuminated by the light of the Risen One.
It is not by chance that the following chapter, which recounts the third manifestation, no longer is indicated any time. By now we always live in that time. In the liturgy, in fact, we begin reading the Gospel with the expression "in that time", because the story re-presents the event to us, making us contemporaries to it.
The Eucharist is the place par excellence where one encounters the Risen One.
We must "make the Eucharist in all things" (1 Th 5:18), so that our concrete existence may become the true spiritual cult pleasing to God (Rom 12:1).
"The disciples were again inside" "Inside" is no longer the place of darkness and of fear, but of communion in peace and in joy, where the fruit of the Spirit blossoms and matures in mission, forgiveness and witness.
It is that inside of those who, being sons, are sent to the outside of the world to continue the work of Jesus.
In this place, the brothers live the memorial of the Son, who makes them "one" and projects them out, witnesses of the common Father to the whole world. "Peace be with you" The arrival and the greeting of the Lord are referred to as in the previous narration. He addresses to the whole community first of all - He says: 'Peace to you', and now Thomas is also in it.
Every encounter with the Living One makes us live "that day". enjoying the same gifts. After making himself known to the community, Jesus turns personally to Thomas. He does not want to lose any of those whom the Father has given him (17:12). Addressing to him, Jesus shows that not only does know the thoughts of his heart, but that He was present when he expressed his disbelief and the desire, considered impossible, to see and touch Him. Jesus is humble: He places Himself at the disposal of Thomas, of His deaf closure to others and to life.
RispondiEliminaThis condescension will make him available to believe in Him, until he reaches the highest point of expression of faith. Jesus exhorted Thomas to realize his desire to touch and to see the sign of the nails that sustained Him on the cross, the wound of the spear that opened His side. The presence of the Risen One is always connected with His wounds, memory of His Passion, an everlasting memory of His Love for us. The exhortation is also addressed to the reader, twin of Thomas.
Like him, we too are called to touch and see the Body of the Son, to enter into Communion with Him.
To see the wounds of the Crucified One, to immerse ourselves and baptize ourselves in them, means for us to breathe Love stronger than death itself, to find the source of life.
In this way we too can contemplate the glory of the Word made Flesh, the Only Begotten of the Father, the glory of that Love for us which is before the foundation of the world.
Thomas, like Mary and the others, saw the Lord. But it is not enough to see Him.
But he wasn't there when the others saw Him: that's why he is also similar to us, called to believe through the testimony of others.
Thomas is the link between the first ones and us, who experience the Risen One through their proclamation. "Blessed are those who have not seen and yet believe"
"The verbs in Greek are aorist because, when the evangelist writes, his readers were among those who believed without having seen. This does not mean that the faith is blind. On the contrary: believers, because they do not seeing, have an unconditional faith and blind people, because they believe, have a more penetrating view than others. In fact, they have opened the eye of the heart, which only sees the reality.
This bliss is for us, the readers of the Gospel, who rejoice in unspeakable and glorious joy, because even though we have not seen the Lord, we love Him (1 Pet 1:8). It is the bliss of faith, which is completed by the other bliss: "Knowing these things, you will be blessed if you will put them into practice".
Our bliss is not to have an extraordinary encounter with Him, but, by listening to His Word, to lead a new life in love, walking as He has walked (1 Jn 2:6).
SAINT THOMAS, APOSTLE – PARTY
RispondiEliminaAntiphon
You are my God and I give you thanks, you are my God and I exalt you;
I thank you because you have been my salvation. (Ps 117,28.21)
It is called the Gloria.
Colletta
May your Church rejoice, almighty God,
on the feast of the holy apostle Thomas;
may his protection
of him sustain us so that, believing, we have life in the name of Jesus Christ,
your Son, whom he recognized as his Lord and his God.
He lives and reigns with you.
First Reading
Built on the foundation of the apostles.
From the letter of Saint Paul the Apostle to the Ephesians
Eph 2,19-22
Brothers, you are no longer strangers or guests, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and family members of God, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, having as the cornerstone Christ Jesus himself.
In him the whole construction grows well-ordered to be a holy temple in the Lord; in him you too are built together to become God's dwelling place through the Spirit.
Word of God.
Responsorial Psalm
From Ps 116 (117)
R. Go into all the world and proclaim the Gospel.
All people, praise the Lord,
all people, sing his praise. R.
Because his love for us is strong
and the Lord's faithfulness lasts forever. R.
Acclamation to the Gospel
Hallelujah, hallelujah.
Because you saw me, Thomas, you believed;
Blessed are those who have not seen and have believed! (Jn 20.29)
Hallelujah.
Gospel
My Lord and my God!
From the Gospel according to John
John 20,24-29
Thomas, one of the Twelve, called Didymus, was not with them when Jesus came. The other disciples said to him: "We have seen the Lord!". But he said to them, “Unless I see the mark of the nails in his hands, and put my finger into the mark of the nails, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe.”
Eight days later the disciples were back in the house and Thomas was also with them. Jesus came, with the doors closed, stood in the middle and said: «Peace be with you!». Then he said to Thomas: «Put your finger here and look at my hands; stretch out your hand and put it in my side; and do not be an unbeliever, but a believer! Thomas answered him: «My Lord and my God!». Jesus said to him: «Because you saw me, you believed; Blessed are those who have not seen and have believed!
Word of the Lord.