"The Incredulity of Saint Thomas" by Caravaggio, from Wiki.
Peter and Thomas are two of my favorite saints, because they were human and obviously imperfect, and yet we celebrate their lives even now. Their humanity and imperfection further my hope that one day I will join them in the heavenly kingdom with the rest of the saints.
The following poem came to me as I pondered the lives of the two saints.
God's Woman
Peter, Thomas, are you my kin?
I call you, "Brother". Are we alike?
You imperfect ones, a doubter, a denier,
Am I your sister?
"I tell you I do not know him!"
Three times your Lord denied.
Oh, Peter, when you heard the cock crow,
Your salty tears were bitter.
You, Thomas, to touch, to see was all.
"Me believe? When I see the nail marks,
When I put my finger in his side."
"My Lord and my God!"
You, my brothers, deeply, fully human,
You flaw-filled men of God,
You give me strength; you give me courage.
Perhaps I'll be God's woman, after all.
June Butler 4/18/07
Jesus and Thomas
But Thomas (who was called the Twin), one of the twelve, 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 the mark of the nails in his hands, and put my finger in the mark of the nails and my hand in his side, I will not believe.’
A week later his disciples were again in the house, and Thomas was with them. Although the doors were shut, 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. Reach out your hand and put it in my side. Do not doubt but believe.’ Thomas answered him, ‘My Lord and my God!’ Jesus said to him, ‘Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have come to believe.’
John 20:24-29
READINGS:
AM: Psalm 23, 121; Job 42:1-6; 1 Peter 1:3-9
PM: Psalm 27; Isaiah 43: 8-13; John 14:1-7
PRAYER
Almighty and everliving God, who strengthened your apostle Thomas with sure and certain faith in your Son's resurrection: Grant us so perfectly and without doubt to believe in Jesus Christ, our Lord and our God, that our faith may never be found wanting in your sight; through him who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever.
Do click on the picture and get the larger view. It's so beautiful.
UPDATE: Padre Mickey has a fine post on Thomas. I like this that El Padre said, "God gave us large brains capable of reason and thought, and God expects us to use these brains even in spiritual matters. Questioning and study are all part of loving God with all our minds." Amen.
Oh, Grandmère Mimi, your poem is absolutely beautiful and inspiring. It is the flawed ones who give me hope, too.
ReplyDeleteFor a very long time, Thomas was the only saint I could really identify with.
ReplyDeleteI, too, hoped to be included.
Boocat, Jophnieb, thank God for Peter and Thomas.
ReplyDeleteSee both of you there.
Hooray for the flawed ones! Beautiful, Mimi.
ReplyDeleteThe look of love on the face of Christ in that painting is breath-taking.
thanks for the poem and the picture --- both remind us what it means to be human, and to be blessed with the doubt that only God can fill.
ReplyDeleteMy personal suspicion is that Thomas was not so much a doubter as the one who wanted to believe it more than any of the rest. He only asked for what Christ had already given all the rest. So I think Thomas' doubts were in the form of "this is too good to be true". "When the Lord restored the fortunes of Zion, then were we like those who dream" (Ps 126:1, appointed for this feast). The request to touch (which Jesus had invited the others to do) was like the "pinch me to be sure I'm not dreaming" sort of thing.
ReplyDeleteEven with my offbeat take on it, the story remains to reassure us who always want more convincing. Thanks for the lovely post: great art, great poems and prayers. You always come through, Mimi.
Thank you, LJ and Tobias. Thomas rocks, don't he?
ReplyDeleteI love that painting and your post.
ReplyDeleteHave you seen a modern version called "Still Doubting" by John Granville Gregory?
You can view it on my site or the Episcopal Church's site
http://www.episcopalchurch.org/69108_69139_ENG_HTM.htm
Paul, "This is too good to be true," works for me. too. As to coming through, if you only knew. At least half the time, or more, I don't know what I'm doing.
ReplyDeleteMonk-in-Training, welcome to my humble abode. I have seen that picture that you linked to, and I think it's lovely - not the actual picture, but a reproduction.
Which is your website at the link to your profile? There are three.
Thanks to you both for your kind words.
Thanks for the link, Abuela!
ReplyDeletegreat post!
ReplyDeleteI love Thomas because of how doubt has worked to build my own faith.
ReplyDeleteThis is lovely.