“My Lord and My God”


Jesus’ presence amid a Locked situation
Affirmation of Christ as Lord and God: John 20:24-29
Rev. Bartholomew Segan Palk, CSI Coimbatore Diocese

Lockdown has made us like the disciples who had locked themselves in fear after the death of Christ. Most of us have lost our hope, strength, and continue to live in fear of death because of COVID-19.When all our hope and strength is lost we look forward to divine intervention like the disciples.
But most of the times, when God comforts us with His Word and through His messengers we still do not believe because we ask for proof and evidence from God just like Thomas. He is not the first person in the Bible to ask for proof from God, we all know that even Gideon asked for proof and God answered his prayer.
We have to understand the difference between Doubt and unbelief.
Doubt says ‘we cannot believe’ or ‘a feeling of uncertainty’ whereas unbelief says, ‘we will not believe unless we are given evidence or proof’ or ‘absence of faith’.

Thomas the brave disciple:

Thomas was a brave disciple; even he was ready to face death. John 11 says, when other disciples remained silent it was him (Thomas) who dared to die with Christ.
The brave and daring people will always question and you cannot stop them from asking questions. We might ask, is this the first incidence that Thomas questions? No. John 14 says, when other disciples remained silent again it was Thomas who asked Jesus, "Lord, we don't know where you are going, so how can we know the way?"
Thomas the brave, dared to ask questions straight on the face and he is not the one who talks behind the back like most of us do, these days. When he confronted the Resurrected Christ, he proclaims “My Lord and My God” and reaffirms what John 1:14 said, “And the Word became flesh and lived among us, and we have seen his glory, the glory as of a father's only son, full of grace and truth”
We are called to be brave when situation makes us to lock from within and we have to come out of our bondage and liberate ourselves because we serve the God who conquered death and still lives for us.

Thomas’ unbelief makes us blessed:

Thomas’ action of unbelief makes us blessed because we did not see Jesus in the flesh. Jesus said to him, "Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have come to believe." John 20:29
The Church, the government and the future has forced us to move online. The Holy Service goes online, the policies of the government are discussed through conference calls and class rooms are also slowly moving towards online classes (while shifting our education system to online medium, government should also consider the people who are underprivileged).

It is like someone else's mistake makes us perfect.

Thomas’ unbelief gives us a belief that,
 “Our Redeemer lives” and assures that, He (Jesus) is “My Lord and My God”.

May the Affirmation of Christ as 'My Lord and My God' enable us to Be Brave and use us as a Channel of Blessing
Location: Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, India

Comments

  1. James Victor27 April 2020 at 08:34

    Thank you for.the message. Focussed remained on mostly on Thomas. As your title suggests, should have written bit.more on what difference Jesus' presence makes in this present context. Thank you. Keep writing.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Bartholomew27 April 2020 at 22:36

      Thank you ayya. For your kind suggestions

      Delete

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