Wednesday, July 3, 2024
Feast of Saint Thomas di Apostle
Listen for English
“Put your finger here and see My hands, and bring your hand put am for My side. No doubt again, but believe.” Thomas answer Him say, “My Lord and my God!” Jesus tell am, “Na because you don see Me you come believe? Blessing dey for those wey never see Me but don believe.” John 20:27–29
For many ways, Thomas the Apostle represent each and every one of us for this talk wey e get with Jesus. We go like believe say we dey always believe and say we no dey doubt. But e important make we humble ourselves admit the truth say our faith fit no deep reach as e suppose be. E also important make we think about how we dey react to the blessings wey others receive but we no receive.
Remember say Thomas no dey among the other Apostles when Jesus first appear to dem. So, when Thomas return come hear say Jesus don appear and say e miss the time wey Jesus appear, e clear say e feel bad. Sadly, the sorrow wey Thomas feel because e no dey there when the Lord appear to the others leave bitterness for im heart instead of joy. This na the sin of jelesi. Jelesi na sorrow wey person dey feel because of the blessings wey others receive but e no receive. As e suppose be, Thomas for rejoice for the blessing wey the other Apostles receive as dem meet the Lord wey don rise from death. But instead, the sorrow say e miss this meeting leave am sad. E talk say, “Unless I see the nail marks for His hands, put my finger inside the nail marks and put my hand for His side, I no go believe.”
Why Thomas no dey there when this meeting with our Lord happen? E fit be say na as God arrange am, because God want make Thomas show us example. If na so, then one example wey Thomas show us be say we must dey humble and rejoice for the blessings wey other people receive, even when we no receive those blessings too. True true, if Thomas dey there, e for easy for am to share for the joy. But, for many ways, as Thomas no dey there, e give am chance wey even big pass. Chance wey e fail to use.
When you see others receive blessings from God, how you dey react? Many people go immediately begin look their own life, dey wish say dem too receive the same kind of blessing. Dem dey struggle with jelesi. Dem dey think say, “I wish say na me receive that blessing.” This kind of jelesi no always easy to notice. Na why we get Thomas as example of wetin we no suppose do for this kind of situation.
Of course, Thomas no be terrible person, and na why Jesus later appear to am. That time, Thomas talk words wey Catholic faithful don dey traditionally use as prayer of devotion for Mass when Consecration dey happen. E talk say, “My Lord and my God!” Then Jesus gently correct Thomas, say, “Na because you don see Me you come believe? Blessing dey for those wey never see Me but don believe.” But this gentle correction na act of love, because Jesus want make Thomas think deep about why e no believe. E clear say Jesus want make Thomas examine how jelesi cause am not to believe, and how this one appear to lead am to deliberately refuse to get faith.
Today, think deep about this holy Apostle. Today, Saint Thomas the Apostle dey among the great saints for the Kingdom of Heaven. God use am teach us these important lessons about jelesi, humility and faith. Make im weakness, wey e later overcome completely, help you examine your own struggle with jelesi because of the blessings wey others receive but you no receive. Learn to always rejoice for the ways wey God dey work for our world, and learn to grow for humility, so that when others receive blessings for ways wey you no receive, you go react as Saint Thomas later do: “My Lord and my God!”
My Lord wey generous well-well, You dey pour Your blessings on other people, day and night. As I dey see those blessings, help me overcome every temptation to envy other people, so that I fit rejoice for di grace wey You give everybody. Na You be my Lord and my God, and I thank You for every way wey You dey bless my life and di lives of people around me. Dear Lord, fill me with gratitude wey deep pass before for every grace and blessing wey I dey see every day, especially those graces wey You no give me directly. Jesus, na You I trust.
More Reflections on the Gospel
Reflection Dem about God im Mercy
Meditations on Scripture for Ordinary Time
Saint for Today – Saint Thomas the Apostle
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