SAINT THOMAS
14- SAINT THOMAS
The first Sunday after Easter is called the Sunday of
Thomas. The name comes from the gospel that is read on
this Sunday. The gospel begins with Jesus appearing to
His Disciples on the evening of His Resurrection.
When it was late that same day, the first day of the week
Jesus came and stood in the midst and said to them, "Peace
be to you" And after eight days, His Disciples were again
inside and Thomas with them. Jesus came, the doors being
closed, and stood in their midst and said, "Peace be to
you! II (Jn. 20: 19-27)
Thomas was not present when Jesus first showed Himself to
His Disciples. When the Apostles told Thomas of the Lord's
appearance, he said that he would not believe until he saw
Jesus Himself. Eight days later, Jesus again appeared and
called Thomas to Him and showed His hands and side that
Thomas might believe.
The Church remembers this gathering of the Disciples and
celebrates Thomas' confession on the eighth day after the
Feast of The Resurrection. Thomas' brief but pointed
affirmation of belief "My Lord and my God", (Jn. 20: 28)
is the title often given to the Icon of St. Thomas. It
portrays the greatest confession of anyone in the Gospels.
Thomas, who has seen Christ in His earthly existence, now
is transformed to see Christ through the eyes of faith.
In the Icon, Christ shows Himself to Thomas. Christ, the
dominant figure at the center, initiates the activity in
the Icon as He bends toward Thomas and shows him His side.
Thomas is called to see and believe. The remaining Apostles
stand as witnesses to the Risen Lord. This event takes
place in the upper room where the Disciples gathered, and
the closed doors witness to Christ's entering even though
the doors were locked. This Icon is a witness of the
Resurrection. It is a witness to us and a call to believe
and profess our faith in Christ, our Lord and our God.
TROPARION -Though the tomb had been sealed, from the tomb
You arose, O Christ God, Life; and though the door had
been locked, You appeared among the Disciples, O
Resurrection of All, restoring an upright spirit for us
by this according to Your great mercy.
I acknowledge, accept and embrace everything about me.
The most difficult things to face in life are the things
you do not like about yourself. Not your ears, legs, hair
or those habits and abilities you feel are not up to par.
It is the ugly little things you know about yourself that
need a good long look. You recognize it when you see it in
others, but you make excuses for yourself. You may go to
any length to cover a shortcoming, while you quickly point
out the ills of another. Since the very thing you want to
hide is the things that shows, itself, you need to be able
to say, "I know that and I'm working on it!" It takes a
loving heart, a willing mind and a sensitive spirit to get
to the core of the self. But when you do, you can root out
the seeds of ugliness.
Successful people succeed because they learn from their
failures.