"Blessed are they who believe without seeing."

Speech by Fr Cherian Thunduparambil, CMI, on April 18, 2004 at the Holy Family Church, Hongasandra, Bangalore

Author: Jobi Varghese   Date: May 2, 2004

The Church celebrates the Feast of the Divine Mercy on the first Sunday following Easter. This is a day of divine grace, and reminds the Lord's promise of the total forgiveness of sins for all who confess and receive the Holy Communion. This year, the feast fell on 18th April.

It was only a few weeks since Fr Cherian Thunduparambil took charge of the Holy Family Church, Hongasandra, Bangalore. The day's Bible reading referred to the revelation of Jesus to His apostles on the evening of Easter Sunday and again on the following Sunday. Jesus' words to Thomas - "Blessed are they who believe without seeing" - are, for certain, the basis of the faith of all of us Christians.

Jesus came to the apostles in the evening of Easter Sunday and said: "Peace be with you." --(Jn 20:19) He then told the happy disciples: "Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you." -- (Jn 20:21) He gave them the gift of the Holy Spirit. Thomas, one of the twelve apostles, was not present then. When the other disciples told him of what they saw, Thomas said: "Unless I see the mark of the nails in his hands and put my finger into the nailmarks and put my hand into his side, I will not believe." -- (Jn 20:25)

On the following Sunday, the disciples including Thomas had gathered at the same place. Jesus came to them and said: "Peace be with you." -- (Jn 20:26) He then said to Thomas: "Put your finger here and see my hands, and bring your hand and put it into my side, and do not be unbelieving, but believe." --(Jn 20:27) Thomas said to Jesus: "My Lord and my God!" -- (Jn 20:28) Jesus said to Thomas: "Have you come to believe because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and have believed." -- (Jn 20:29)

In this context, Fr Cherian emphasized two points: First, the significance of peace -- Jesus grants the disciples the message of peace three times. Next, it was not that Thomas had any less faith in the resurrection of Jesus. Instead, Thomas had a strong belief that if Jesus came to the other eleven apostles, He would come to him also. Therefore, Thomas insisted that he would believe only if he saw Jesus physically.

We are the successors of the same Thomas who held a strong faith that the risen Lord would grant him a vision. We are the descendants of the same brave Thomas who said: "Let us also go to die with Him." -- (Jn 11:16)

Jesus' reply to Thomas (Jn 20:29) is a beatitude for all of us and for all generations to come: "Blessed are they who believe without seeing."

Even today, Fr Cherian continued, Jesus conveys his message of peace to us and asks each one of us: "Do you believe that I am the risen Lord?" To all of us who believe, He says: "You are blessed, for you have not seen Me, yet you have believed!"

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