"The Incredulity of Saint Thomas" by Caravaggio
When it was evening on that day, the first day of the week, and the doors of the house where the disciples had met were locked for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said, ‘Peace be with you.’ After he said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord. Jesus said to them again, ‘Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you.’ 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 them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained.’
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.’
Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book. But these are written so that you may come to believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that through believing you may have life in his name.
John 20:19-31
Please read Doorman-Priest's sermon for today. It is excellent. He reminds us that Thomas is remembered for his doubting, but that he is pretty much forgotten for his high Christology, which was rare at that time.
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.
Grandmère Mimi 4/18/07
It's the third time that I've used the painting by Caravaggio, but I love it, as I do nearly all of Caravaggio's religious paintings.
The painting is wonderful. As for today's readings. I took a different tack on Thomas this morning. I challenged people to be more like him. In a small town everyone believes whatever it is that someone tells them, especially if it's bad news and like the "telephone" game, the message gets more and more garbled. I said that like Thomas we should want to check things out for ourselves rather than rely on what someone else said. Really can't carry analogy that too far, but it hit home after this past week. Of course we also need to heed Jesus' word that those who believe and have not seen are especially blessed. Pax.
ReplyDeleteAmelia, TheMe did something similar with a sermon he preached today. He's getting to be a regular sermonizer.
ReplyDeleteAs TheMe notes, the Gospel says nothing about Thomas actually doing what Jesus says, so the painting says more than the Gospel.
ReplyDeleteMimi, your poem ranks right up there with Caravaggio for imagery in my humble book of art appreciation. Thank you for sharing this.
ReplyDeleteCrapaud, thank you from my heart. I post my poems in fear and trembling, because I have no idea if they're any good. I can't judge my own poetry.
ReplyDelete