Sunday message (audio message) of His Eminence Metropolitan Seraphim of Kythera & Antikythera
MRS THOMAS (27-04-2025)
WRITTEN DIVINE PROCLAMATION
Today's Sunday, my dear brothers, is the Sunday of Thomas and the Apostolic reading, which we heard earlier, is a passage from the 5th chapter of Acts, and the Gospel reading is a passage from the 20th chapter of the Gospel of John, in which our Evangelist describes two of the appearances of the Risen Christ to the disciples, the first on the evening of the Resurrection, in the absence of Thomas, and the second eight days later, in the presence of Thomas, who even had the privilege of feeling the Risen Lord. This appearance, in the presence of Thomas, we can say that it is the most important of all the others, because here we have not only the sight of the risen Lord, but also the touching of the risen body, so that the Resurrection is confirmed both by the eyes and by touch and hearing.
As St. Cyril of Alexandria observes, the temporary unbelief of the disciple served as a divine economy, so that his own testimony and assurance may become for us later generations the reason for unreserved faith, namely, that the body which was hung on the wood of the Cross and suffered death was quickened by the Father through the Son. But for another reason. For the reason that in the present case we also have the confession of the previously unbelieving disciple: «My Lord and my God». It is a confession of the human, but also of the divine nature of the Lord, that the Risen Lord is the eternal God, God the Word made flesh.
According to the Evangelist's narrative, when Thomas returned to the upper room and the other disciples, full of joy, announced to him that they had seen the risen Lord, he declared unequivocally: «Unless I see in his hands the type of the living and put my finger on the type of the living and put my hand on his side, I will not believe» (John 20:25). Thomas' demand was sharp and unequivocal, which would satisfy even the most demanding and objective investigator and interrogator of the Resurrection. He was not satisfied to see with his own eyes the Crucified alive. He wants to touch with his hands the body of the risen Christ. Even more! He wants to feel with his fingers the wounds caused by the nails in his hands and with his palm his lynched side. With all his senses, sight, hearing, touch, he seeks to be convinced of the fact.
And the Lord, who out of infinite love for his creature endured the ultimate humiliation of death on the cross, condescends to his disciple's demand. He yields and accepts to be touched, in order to add an even more powerful proof of his Resurrection. The unbelief of Thomas, therefore, gave birth to the sure faith, not only in himself but in all generations of men, so that it leaves no room for doubt and unbelief in every well-meaning man who loves the truth. He, who «dare» to ask for proof, he later became one of the hottest preachers of the Gospel, and even in far-off India! How could he preach to the people what he had seen miraculously near his Master and convince the unbelievers to believe, if he himself had not first been convinced? For it is one thing to hear about an event and another thing to have personal experience of the event.
The word of the Lord to Thomas, my beloved brethren, «And be not unfaithful but faithful.» shows that it was possible that even after feeling the resurrected body, Thomas might not want to believe and remain unrepentant in unbelief. But from such a possibility we are all in danger. For, the Resurrection exists and shines more brightly than ever in all the history of mankind and in all the ages. The proofs are many, convincing and conclusive and exclude the slightest possibility of doubt.
This saving confession and sure faith of Thomas, let us hope, my brothers, that it will be done in all of us by the grace and charity of our Lord Jesus Christ, the intercessions of the Virgin Mary, the Holy Apostle Thomas and all the Saints. Amen.
Αρχ. Paul Dimitrakopoulos
