Vigils Reading – 2nd Sunday of Easter

BLESSED ARE THOSE WHO HAVE NOT SEEN,

AND YET BELIEVE

From a commentary by St Cyril of Alexandria1

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Thomas’s profession of faith came swiftly when, eight days after he had

declared his unwillingness to believe, Christ showed him his side and the nail

marks in his hands and removed every possible doubt.

Our Lord Jesus Christ had miraculously entered the room when the doors

were closed. As this would have been impossible for an ordinary earthly body

he reassured Thomas, and through him, the other disciples, by letting him see

his side and the wounds in his flesh.

Only Thomas is reported to have said: Unless my hands touch the marks

of the nails and I see them, and unless I put my hand into his side, I will not

believe, yet to some extent all the disciples were guilty of disbelief. Doubt

remained in their minds even after they had told Thomas that they had seen the

Lord. St. Luke’s account says that while they were amazed, torn between joy

and disbelief, Christ said to them, “Have you anything to eat?” They gave him

a piece of broiled fish and part of a honeycomb, which he took and ate before

their eyes. This surely proves that it was not only in the mind of blessed Thomas

that disbelieving thoughts still lurked, but in the minds of the other disciples as

well. It was their very astonishment that made them slow to believe, but when

it became impossible to disbelieve what they could see with their own eyes,

blessed Thomas made his profession of faith: My Lord and My God.

Jesus said to him: ‘Because you have seen me, Thomas, you have

believed. Blessed are those who have not seen, and yet believe.” There was a

wonderful providence behind these words of the Savior, and they can be of very

great help to us. They show 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

knowledge of the truth. 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

wished those who needed such signs as a support for their faith to have no

possible reason to 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 to 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.

1 Journey with the Fathers – Year B – New City Press – NY -1994 – pg. 51.3