From reading of Sunday June 12, 2011
Thomas doubts that the apostles saw Jesus
Bible Accent: New Testament from oral traditions
Saint for Today: St. Methodius I
Puzzle
Thomas doubts that the apostles saw Jesus
On the evening of the first day of the week the apostles were together in a locked place. Jesus had been crucified only a few days before, so their teacher was no longer with them. They were also afraid of what the Jews. If they had killed Jesus, what might they do to his closest followers? Suddenly, Jesus appeared in the room with them.
“Peace be with you,” he said to them. Then, to prove he was alive, Jesus showed his apostles the holes in his hands that had been made by the nails that had pinned him to the cross and the wound in his side where the soldier had stabbed him with a spear. “Peace be with you,” Jesus said again. As the Father has sent me, so I send you. Receive the holy Spirit. ” Then Jesus breathed on them.
After Jesus had given this blessing to his apostles, he left them again. They were happy that they had seen Jesus again, and they were not as afraid as they had been. Thomas, who was one of the first twelve men that Jesus had chosen to be his followers, was not with them when Jesus had appeared. When he joined them, they could not wait to tell him what had happened.
“We have seen the Lord,” they told him.
Thomas shook his head. “Unless I see the mark of the nails in his hands and put my finger into the nail marks and put my hand into his side, I will not believe.” A week passed and the disciples were together again, including Thomas. Again the doors were locked, and again Jesus appeared in the room with them.
“Peace be with you,” he said. Then he looked directly at Thomas and said to him, “Put your finger her and see my hands, and bring your hand and put it into my side, and do not be unbelieving, but believe.” Thomas looked at Jesus, and was stunned to see that it really was Jesus who was standing in front of him. He knew Jesus had died on the cross, but now he was alive and showing himself to his friends. “My Lord and my God,” Thomas said.
Jesus said to him, “Have you come to believe because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and have believed.”
READ MORE ABOUT IT:
John 20
Q&A
1. What was the first thing Jesus said to his apostles?
2. What did Thomas say he had to do in order to believe?
Bible Accent: New Testament from oral traditions
After documents and written records of oral traditions that had been passed down from previous Christians were collected, the Books of the New Testament were accepted by the church based on a checklist of four categories.
1. Apostolic origin. The texts were believed to have been written by the original apostles or were based on writings of people who knew them and observed their ministries.
2. Universal acceptance. This means that the early Christian communities accepted these texts as being accurate and truthful.
3. Liturgical use. The texts were read when the Christians gathered to celebrate their own religious services.
4. Consistent message. The different texts did not contradict other accepted scriptures, and promoted Christian messages, such as love and the holiness of Jesus.
Saint for Today: St. Methodius I
Methodius (d. 847) was born in Sicily and moved to Constantinople after completing his education, hoping to be given a court position. He was inspired by a monk and entered religious life instead. Unfortunately, his life was complicated by the fact that the emperors did not always share his views about the veneration of sacred images. When he delivered a letter from Pope Paschal requesting the reinstatement of St. Nicephorus, he was considered a political trouble maker. The emperor had him whipped and put in prison. Seven years later, he was set free, although he was barely alive after eating very little food during that time. After the death of her husband, the emperor, Theodora had the sacred images restored in the churches. We honor Methodius on June 14.
Puzzle
