Fr. Manuel João, comboni missionary
Sunday Reflection
from the womb of my whale, ALS
Our cross is the pulpit of the Word
Thomas’s Easter
Year C – Easter – 2nd Sunday
John 20:19–31: “My Lord and my God!”
Today, the second Sunday of Easter, we celebrate… the “Easter of Saint Thomas”, the apostle who was absent from the apostolic community last Sunday! This Sunday is also called “Divine Mercy Sunday”, since 30 April 2011, the day of Sister Faustina’s canonisation by Pope John Paul II. As we praise the Lord for his mercy, we also give special thanks for the gift of Pope Francis, who has made mercy one of the “leitmotifs” of his pontificate.
The Gospel presents us with many themes: Sunday (“the first day of the week”); the Peace of the Risen One and the joy of the apostles; the “Pentecost” and the apostles’ Mission (according to the Gospel of John); the gift and task given to the apostles of forgiving sins (the reason we celebrate “Divine Mercy Sunday” today); the theme of community (from which Thomas had been absent!); but above all, the theme of faith! I will focus on the figure of Thomas.
Thomas, our twin
His name means “double” or “twin”. Thomas holds an important place among the apostles: perhaps this is why the Acts and Gospel of Thomas were attributed to him, apocryphal texts from the 4th century, “important for the study of Christian origins” (Benedict XVI, 27.09.2006).
We would like to know of whom Thomas is the twin. It might be Nathanael (Bartholomew). In fact, this final profession of faith by Thomas mirrors the first made by Nathanael at the beginning of John’s Gospel (1:45–51). Moreover, their character and behaviour are strikingly similar. Finally, the two names appear relatively close in the list of the Twelve (see Matthew 10:3; Acts 1:13; and also John 21:2).
This mystery gives room to say that Thomas is “the twin of each one of us” (Don Tonino Bello). Thomas comforts us in our struggles as believers. In him, we see ourselves and, through his eyes and hands, we too “see” and “touch” the body of the Risen One. A truly captivating interpretation!
Thomas, a “double”?
In the Bible, the most famous pair of twins is Esau and Jacob (Genesis 25:24–28), eternal antagonists, expressing the dichotomy and polarity of the human condition. Could it be that Thomas (the “double”!) bears within himself the conflict of this duality? At times capable of great acts of generosity and courage, and at other times, he appears unbelieving and stubborn. Yet, when confronted with the Master, his deepest identity as a believer who proclaims faith with readiness and conviction re-emerges.
Thomas carries his “twin” within him. The apocryphal Gospel of Thomas underlines this duplicity: “You were one, but you have become two” (n. 11); “Jesus said: When you make the two into one, then you will become sons of Adam” (n. 105). Thomas is an image of all of us. We too carry that “twin” within—rigid and stubborn in defending his ideas, obstinate and temperamental in his ways.
These two realities or “creatures” (the old and the new Adam) struggle to coexist, often in open conflict within our hearts. Who has not experienced the pain of this inner division?
Thomas, however, has the courage to confront this reality. He allows his dark, unbelieving side to emerge, and he brings it to Jesus. He accepts the challenge thrown up by his “rebellious” inner self that demands to see and touch… He brings it to Jesus and, faced with the evidence, the “miracle” happens. The two “Thomases” become one and proclaim the same faith: “My Lord and my God!”
Sadly, this is not often the case with us. Our Christian communities are almost exclusively populated by “good” and compliant twins—yet they are also… passive and dull! The truth is, they are not fully present. The energetic, instinctive part—the other twin, the one in need of evangelisation—does not show up to the “meeting” with Christ.
Jesus said he came for sinners, but our churches are frequented by the “righteous” who… feel no need to convert! The one who should convert, the “sinner” twin, is left at home. It’s Sunday—he takes the opportunity to “rest” and leaves the day to the “good twin”. Come Monday, the twin of instincts and passions is back in charge, full of energy.
Jesus in search of Thomas
If only Jesus had many Thomases! In the Sunday celebration, it is above all they whom the Lord seeks… Perhaps they are his “twins”! God seeks real men and women, who relate to him as they are: sinners who suffer in their flesh the tyranny of instinct. Believers who are not ashamed to show their unbelieving and grace-resistant side. Who do not come to make a good impression in the “assembly of believers”, but to encounter the Doctor of Divine Mercy and be healed. It is such as these that Jesus makes his brothers!
The world needs the witness of honest believers, capable of recognising their errors, doubts and difficulties, and who do not hide their “duplicity” behind a pharisaic mask of “respectability”. The mission truly needs disciples who are authentic people—not “stiff-necked”! Christians who face the reality of suffering head-on and touch with their hands the wounds of today’s crucified ones!…
Thomas invites us to reconcile our duality in order to celebrate Easter!
Word of Jesus, according to the Gospel of Thomas (n. 22 and 27): “When you make the two one, and when you make the inside like the outside and the outside like the inside, and the above like the below, and when you make the male and the female into a single one (…) then you will enter the Kingdom!”
Fr Manuel João Pereira Correia, mccj
