ACC ~ John 20 v29

THOMAS SEES ONE THING, BELIEVES ANOTHER

GREGORY THE GREAT: When the apostle Paul says that “faith is the ground of things to be hoped for, the proof of things that are not evident,” [1] it is clear that faith is the proof of those things that cannot be made evident. Things that are evident no longer involve faith but recognition. Why then, when Thomas saw and when he touched, was it said to him, “Because you have seen me, you have believed”? Because he saw one thing, and he believed another; divinity could not be seen by a mortal person. He saw a human being, and he confessed him as God. … But we also rejoice at what follows, “Blessed are those who have not seen and have believed.” Certainly this saying refers to us who keep in our minds one whom we do not see in his body. It refers to us, but only if we follow up our faith with our works. That person truly believes who expresses his faith in his works. FORTY GOSPEL HOMILIES 26. [2]

[1] Heb 11:1.

[2] CS 123:207*.

CHRIST’S PATIENCE WITH THOMAS AND US

CYRIL OF ALEXANDRIA: Jesus said to him, “Because you have seen me, Thomas, you have believed. Blessed are those who have not seen and yet believe.” These words were wonderfully pertinent, and they can be of very great help to us. They demonstrate once again how much he cares for our souls, for he is good, and as Scripture says, “He wants everyone to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth.” [1] Even so, this saying of his may surprise us. As always, Christ had to be patient with Thomas when he said he would not believe and with the other disciples too when they thought they were seeing a ghost. Because of his desire to convince the whole world, he most willingly showed them the marks of the nails and the wound in his side. Because he wanted those who needed such signs as a support for their faith to have no possible reason for doubt, he even took food, although he had no need for it. … But when anyone accepts what he has not seen, believing on the word of his teacher, the faith by which he honors the one his teacher proclaims to him is worthy of great praise. Blessed, therefore, is everyone who believes the message of the holy apostles who, as Luke says, were eyewitnesses of Christ’s actions and ministers of the word. If we desire eternal life and long for a dwelling place in heaven, we must listen to them. COMMENTARY ON THE GOSPEL OF JOHN 12.1. [2]

[1] 1 Tim 2:4.

[2] LF 48:691-92**.

BLESSING HIDDEN IN SUFFERING

AMBROSE: There are some … who think a blessed life is impossible in this body, weak and fragile as it is. For we have to suffer pain and grief, weeping, illness—all in this body. … It is not a blessing to be in the midst of suffering. But it is a blessing to be victorious over it and not to be bullied by the power of temporal pain. Suppose that things come that are considered terrible because of the grief they cause, such as blindness, exile, hunger, violation of a daughter, loss of children. Who will deny that Isaac was blessed, who did not see in his old age, and yet gave blessings with his benediction? [1] Was not Jacob blessed who, leaving his father’s house, endured exile as a shepherd for pay, [2] and mourned for the violated chastity of his daughter [3] and suffered hunger? [4] Were they not blessed on whose good faith God received witness, as it is written: “The God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob”? [5] A wretched thing is slavery, but Joseph was not wretched. In fact, clearly he was blessed when, while a slave, he checked the lusts of his mistress. [6] What shall I say of holy David, who bewailed the death of three sons, [7] and, what was even worse than this, his daughter’s incestuous connection? [8] How could he be unblessed from whom the author of blessedness himself sprung who has made many blessed? For “blessed are they who have not seen yet have believed.” All these felt their own weakness, but they bravely prevailed over it. What can we think of as more wretched than holy Job, either in the burning of his house, or the instantaneous death of his ten sons or his bodily pains? [9] Was he less blessed than if he had not endured those things whereby he really showed himself approved?

It is true that in these sufferings there is something bitter and that we cannot use mind over matter to hide this pain. I should not deny that the sea is deep because in shore it is shallow, or that the sky is clear because sometimes it is covered with clouds, or that the earth is fruitful because in some places there is only barren ground or that the crops are rich and full because they sometimes have wild oats mingled with them. So, too, count it as true that the harvest of a happy conscience may be mingled with some bitter feelings of grief. In the sheaves of the whole of a blessed life, if by chance any misfortune or bitterness has crept in, is it not as though the wild oats were hidden or as though the bitterness of the tares was concealed by the sweet scent of the corn? DUTIES OF THE CLERGY 2.5.19-21. [10]

[1] Gen 27:28.

[2] Gen 31:41.

[3] Gen 34:5.

[4] Gen 42:2.

[5] Ex 3:6.

[6] Gen 39:7.

[7] 2 Sam 12:16;13:31; 18:33.

[8] 2 Sam 13:21.

[9] Job 1:14—2:10.

[10] NPNF 2 10:46-47**.

SALVATION RESTS ON MORE THAN EYES CAN SEE

LEO THE GREAT: It is the strength of great minds and the light of firmly faithful souls unhesitatingly to believe what is not seen with the bodily sight and to focus your affections where you cannot direct your gaze. And from where should this godliness spring up in our hearts or how should someone be justified by faith, if our salvation rested on those things only that lie beneath our eyes? And so, our Lord said to Thomas, who seemed to doubt Christ’s resurrection until he had tested by sight and touched the traces of his passion in his very flesh, “because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” SERMON 74.1. [1]

[1] NPNF 2 12:188**.

COURAGEOUS ENDURANCE

JOHN OF CARPATHUS: Blessed are those who, when grace is withdrawn, find no consolation in themselves but only continuing tribulation and thick darkness, and yet they do not despair. Rather, strengthened by faith, they endure courageously, convinced that they do indeed see him who is invisible. TEXTS FOR THE MONKS IN INDIA 71. [1]

[1] TP 1:315.