We have a Church full of doubting Thomases. As St. Thomas later became a great missionary and martyr, so these doubting Thomases today are called to renew the face of the earth in the power of the Holy Spirit (see Ps 104:30). However, they must first be transformed from having little faith to having strong faith.
We have a Church full of fearful disciples. These Christians acknowledge that Jesus is risen. However, because these disciples are locked in fear (see Jn 20:19), the doubting Thomases of the Church find it difficult to believe the fearful disciples. Fear feeds doubt, and doubt makes us more susceptible to fear, which makes our doubts worse, trapping us in greater fears and uncertainties.
Jesus broke this most vicious cycle by personally challenging Thomas' doubts and leading Him to faith. When Thomas cried out: "My Lord and my God" (Jn 20:28), he prepared the way for the reception of the Holy Spirit by Jesus' disciples at Pentecost. The Holy Spirit is not a spirit of fear but of faith (see 2 Tm 1:7). Thus, after fully receiving the Holy Spirit at Pentecost, Jesus' disciples were fearless in leading others to faith, fearlessness, and greater faith. Fearlessness feeds faith.
Because you are alive, you are either in a cycle of fear and doubt or a cycle of fearlessness and faith. On this last day of the octave of Easter, come to the risen Jesus. He will put you in the cycle leading to eternal life.
| PRAYER: | Father, in Your mercy, challenge me to repent. |
| PROMISE: | "Who, then, is conqueror of the world? The one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God." –1 Jn 5:5 |
| PRAISE: | Praise be to You, Lord God! You are "rich in mercy" (Eph 2:4). Alleluia! |
Reprinted with permission from Presentation Ministries, a lay association of the Catholic Church that focuses on evangelization and discipleship through Bible teaching, daily Mass, the charisms of the Holy Spirit, and Small Christian Community. Their ministries include:
· One Bread, One Body
· Daily Bread Radio Program
· Annual Bible Institute
· Discipleship Retreats
· Guadalupe Bible College