MY LORD AND MY GOD

II SUNDAY OF EASTER: Jn 20:19-31

This Sunday’s Gospel is full of insight on what it means to be a Christian.

First of all, faith is essential, and this faith is a personal and deep relationship with Jesus, in which we recognise him as “the Christ, the Son of God”, so that we “may have life through his name” (Jn 20:31). And that is the purpose that John had in mind in writing his gospel; he wrote so that we may know Jesus Christ, recognise him as Saviour, serve him as Lord and worship him as Son of God, and by doing that we will find life and salvation.

Throughout the New Testament we can find time and again this proclamation that Jesus is the Christ (Messiah) and the Son of God. And this belief is the cornerstone of the Christian Church.

With Thomas, we discover that faith is not a straightforward reality and does not come without questions. All great believers passed through dark moments in their lives, in which they questioned themselves, and what they believed if it made sense. In such moments, Jesus will come to our aid, facilitating our faith, as he did to Thomas.

Thomas’ positivist attitude is much more common today than it was during his time. All of us are immersed in a certain scientific mentality that demands proof for everything that we profess to be true. However, science only gives us some glimpses of truth, from which the scientists make theories with which they try to explain everything. Then, as they get new glimpses into reality, they change their theories and affirm them with vigour as the only truth.

The incident of Thomas shows us that a positivist attitude does not give us a complete grasp of all the reality, and a truly human experience goes far beyond what we see, touch and measure. Although the demand for proof play a great role in our daily life, our life will lack meaning and fulfillment if we reject everything that cannot be proved. Faith goes beyond what can be seen, touched and measured, but the truth of it touches us deep into our hearts, speaking to us the words of God and enlightening our minds with the sparks of the Spirit.

Finally, Thomas professed his faith, which is the faith of the whole Church: “My Lord and my God” (Jn 20:28). Jesus is our Lord and our God, and in him we can find life. His resurrection is the guarantee that God will fulfill his promise. In Jesus, we become God’s children and with him we will rise to eternal life.