Homily 2nd Sunday Easter C 2010, St. Joseph's
Fr. Paul D. Williams, Jr., Pastor
Fr. Paul D. Williams, Jr., Pastor
We do not know for sure what happened to Thomas in the after days; but there is an apocryphal book called The Acts of Thomas which purports to give his history. It is of course only legend, but there may well be some history beneath the legend; and certainly in it Thomas is true to character. Here is part of the story which it tells.
After the death of Jesus the disciples divided up the world among them, so that each might go to some country to preach the gospel. India fell by lot to Thomas. (The Thomist Church in South India does trace its origin to him.) At first he refused to go, saying that he was not strong enough for the long journey, doubting again, this time his own strength.
Well, the story goes that a merchant from the king of India had come to Jerusalem looking for a skilled carpenter. It so happened that Thomas was a carpenter. They happened to be in the market place at the same time, and the merchant came up to Thomas and said, “you may come with me now, as I have just bought you from your master.” Thomas was taken aback and said, “how can that be?” And then suddenly, Thomas saw Jesus, and the merchant said, “Is this your master.” “Yes.” “Well, he has just sold you to me, now will you come.” And again, Thomas submitted and finally agreed to go to India. "I will go whither thou wilt, Lord Jesus, thy will be done." It is the same old Thomas, slow to be sure, slow to surrender; but once his surrender is made, it is complete.
Thomas went to India, and the story continues that the King of India commanded Thomas to build a palace, and Thomas said that he was well able to do so. The king gave him money in plenty to buy materials and to hire workmen, but Thomas gave it all away to the poor. Always he told the king that the palace was rising steadily. The king was suspicious. In the end he sent for Thomas: "Have you built me the palace?" he demanded. Thomas said: "Yes." "When, then, shall we go and see it?" asked the king. Thomas answered: "You can’t not see it now, but when you depart this life, then you shall see it." At first the king was very angry and Thomas was in danger of his life; but in the end the king too was won for Christ, and so Thomas brought Christianity to India.
There is something very lovable and very admirable about Thomas. Faith was never an easy thing for him; obedience never came readily to him. He was the man who had to be sure; but once he was sure, he went to the ultimate limit of faith and obedience.
There are, of course, today those people who like Thomas want to probe the nail prints in Jesus’ hands and put their hands in his side. If you want to see the wounds in Jesus hands, remember what he said, “For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, a stranger and you welcomed me, naked and you clothed me, ill and you cared for me, in prison and you visited me... 'Amen, I say to you, whatever you did for one of these least brothers of mine, you did for me.'” The wounds of Jesus still exist today, and they exist in his people. Nowadays, we have the opportunity to see those wounds when we can comfort the sick or the elderly, those who are alone or feeling abandoned, those who are doubting or confused, those who need a friend during a time of crisis or need. We have all sorts of opportunities to see the Lord’s wounds and respond to his call to serve.
If you want to arrive at the certainty of truth in today’s world, then you need simply do what Thomas did: totally submit yourself to the Lord and say, “My Lord and my God!”
After the death of Jesus the disciples divided up the world among them, so that each might go to some country to preach the gospel. India fell by lot to Thomas. (The Thomist Church in South India does trace its origin to him.) At first he refused to go, saying that he was not strong enough for the long journey, doubting again, this time his own strength.
Well, the story goes that a merchant from the king of India had come to Jerusalem looking for a skilled carpenter. It so happened that Thomas was a carpenter. They happened to be in the market place at the same time, and the merchant came up to Thomas and said, “you may come with me now, as I have just bought you from your master.” Thomas was taken aback and said, “how can that be?” And then suddenly, Thomas saw Jesus, and the merchant said, “Is this your master.” “Yes.” “Well, he has just sold you to me, now will you come.” And again, Thomas submitted and finally agreed to go to India. "I will go whither thou wilt, Lord Jesus, thy will be done." It is the same old Thomas, slow to be sure, slow to surrender; but once his surrender is made, it is complete.
Thomas went to India, and the story continues that the King of India commanded Thomas to build a palace, and Thomas said that he was well able to do so. The king gave him money in plenty to buy materials and to hire workmen, but Thomas gave it all away to the poor. Always he told the king that the palace was rising steadily. The king was suspicious. In the end he sent for Thomas: "Have you built me the palace?" he demanded. Thomas said: "Yes." "When, then, shall we go and see it?" asked the king. Thomas answered: "You can’t not see it now, but when you depart this life, then you shall see it." At first the king was very angry and Thomas was in danger of his life; but in the end the king too was won for Christ, and so Thomas brought Christianity to India.
There is something very lovable and very admirable about Thomas. Faith was never an easy thing for him; obedience never came readily to him. He was the man who had to be sure; but once he was sure, he went to the ultimate limit of faith and obedience.
There are, of course, today those people who like Thomas want to probe the nail prints in Jesus’ hands and put their hands in his side. If you want to see the wounds in Jesus hands, remember what he said, “For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, a stranger and you welcomed me, naked and you clothed me, ill and you cared for me, in prison and you visited me... 'Amen, I say to you, whatever you did for one of these least brothers of mine, you did for me.'” The wounds of Jesus still exist today, and they exist in his people. Nowadays, we have the opportunity to see those wounds when we can comfort the sick or the elderly, those who are alone or feeling abandoned, those who are doubting or confused, those who need a friend during a time of crisis or need. We have all sorts of opportunities to see the Lord’s wounds and respond to his call to serve.
If you want to arrive at the certainty of truth in today’s world, then you need simply do what Thomas did: totally submit yourself to the Lord and say, “My Lord and my God!”
