My Lord and My God

MEDITATION FOR—DECEMBER 21ST

“Peace be to you! Then He said to Thomas: ‘Put in thy finger hither and see My hands; and bring hither thy hand and put it into My side; and be not faithless, but believing,’ Thomas answered and said to Him: ‘My Lord and my God!’ ” (John 20, 26-28).

First Prelude: Behold St. Thomas in an ecstasy of joy and amazement at sight of his beloved Master.

Second Prelude: O my Saviour, imbue me with a lively faith and ardent love, that I may work efficaciously at the sanctification of self.

FIRST POINT

ST. THOMAS, THE EXAMPLE OF A LIVING FAITH

In her admirable wisdom, Holy Mother Church commemorates the feast of St. Thomas in close proximity to the feast of the Nativity. The faith of this Apostle in His Lord and God once wavered; now, Mother Church invites her children to approach the manger of the Christ Child strengthened by the living faith that animated the soul of Thomas after Christ had touched his heart. Our Lord permitted the doubt of the Apostle that, until the end of time, the once doubting Thomas might obtain for us the grace of humble submission of our understanding, that we might recognize in the Infant Jesus Him for Whom the nations wait. The words of our Lord to Thomas: “Blessed are they that have not seen and have believed” (John 20, 29) are applicable to us. Do we not desire such simple, submissive faith? Assuredly, we long for God to aid our weakness that we may feel the effects of His bountiful presence and in all humility greet the little Child in the manger as our Lord and God.

The saints call this living faith the door through which Christ enters our hearts, to dwell therein. Jesus delights to be where faith reigns, for He would enrich us with a living faith, to make our heart His tabernacle and throne. Through the presence of Jesus in His elect, He becomes their light, their strength, and their joy. Such faith qualified St. Thomas for his arduous missionary labors, gave him strength and grace to banish ignorance from countless hearts, and by his teaching, to inculcate the doctrine of Jesus Christ, his Lord and God. Such is the power of faith, which makes us strong in Christ Jesus, and imbues us with a heavenly life, hidden with Christ in God.

What profit will accrue to us in virtue of a lively faith if, in its light, we study the mysteries of our holy religion and regulate our life accordingly! Behold, our God offers Himself in inexpressible abasement and profound humiliation, for love of us! He longs not only to suffer pain and contempt but even to die the most ignominious death on the cross. This sacred truth, pondered in the light of faith, will render all things sweet and desirable. How full of consolation the inspired words: “If we suffer with Him we shall also be glorified with Him” (Rom. 8, 17).

SECOND POINT

ST. THOMAS, THE EXAMPLE OF A TENDER AND ARDENT LOVE FOR JESUS

St. Thomas had laid his hand in the side of Jesus and touched the furnace of love, whose flames instantly transmitted themselves to his heart in such measure that, falling on his knees and overcome by love, he exclaimed: “My Lord and my God!” The divine fire of love never again died out in him. It grew constantly, accompanied him on all his apostolic journeys, even in his labors among the pagans, strengthened him in all sufferings and led him, finally, to a glorious martyrdom.

Oh, that we had the smallest particle of the fire that burned in the heart of the Apostle! With what fervor should we then approach Jesus and with what ardor and longing, transform our hearts into His favorite abode! Let us at least endeavor to love God as much as is within our power. We know not whether God has decreed us many years more, or whether He will, perhaps, call us soon. We know, however, that with the measure with which we mete out it shall be measured back to us. The measure of our love of God here below will be the measure of our love in heaven. Oh, how strong should the fire of divine love burn in our hearts even now, if we used every opportunity to nourish it! Thanks to the goodness of God, it is not too late. It is still possible for us to attain to a high degree of divine love, which grows rapidly, if sought perseveringly.

Let us be zealous in exciting acts of love and beg Jesus when He gives Himself to us wholly in the Sacrament of His Love, to bestow His love on us, as He did on St. Thomas. But let us also gladly make the sacrifices which the unbloody martyrdom of religious life demands of us, day by day, and prove our love to Jesus by our deeds.

Affections: O glorious Apostle, St. Thomas, who hast led so great a number of infidel nations to Christ, we pray thee guide us to the manger of our Emmanuel, Who will manifest Himself to His Church in a few days. In order to appear worthily in His holy presence, we stand in need of heavenly light, and a living faith. Obtain it for us, O holy Apostle, together with that ardent love which thou didst draw from the Heart of the Saviour. We, too, wish to be of the number of those who, not seeing, still believe; we long to prostrate ourselves before the new-born Saviour, and lovingly to cry out in all humility: “My Lord and my God!” Pray also, O glorious Apostle, for all missionaries, who are thy successors, that the Sun of Justice may anew enlighten the countries moistened and fructified with thy blood. Therefore, we pray today, with the universal Church: “O Orient, Brightness of Eternal Light, King of Glory, come and enlighten those that sit in darkness and in the shadow of death.”

Resolution: I will strive to be recollected in God today, and frequently excite acts of faith and love.

Spiritual Bouquet: “My Lord and my God!”

Prayer: O Jesus, living in Mary . . .