My beloved brothers and sisters in Our Risen Lord, God and Savior Jesus Christ,
CHRIST IS RISEN! TRULY HE IS RISEN! ΧΡΙΣΤΟΣ ΑΝΕΣΤΗ! ΑΛΗΘΩΣ ΑΝΕΣΤΗ!
Thomas said: "Unless I see in His hands the print of the nails,
and put my finger into the print of the nails, and put my hand
into His side, I will not believe" (John 20:25)
Our Holy Father among the Saint John Chrysostomos writes, As to believe carelessly and in a random way, comes of an over-easy temper; so to be beyond measure curious and meddlesome, marks a most gross understanding. On this account Thomas is held to blame. For he believed not the Apostles when they said, "We have seen the Lord;" not so much mistrusting them, as deeming the thing to be impossible, that is to say, the resurrection from the dead. Since he says not, "I do not believe you," but, "Except I put my hand– I do not believe." But how was it, that when all were collected together, he alone was absent? Probably after the dispersion which had lately taken place, he had not returned even then. But do thou, when hou see the unbelief of the disciple, consider the lovingkindness of the Lord, how for the sake of a single soul He showed Himself with His wounds, and comes in order to save even the one, though he was grosser than the rest: on which account indeed he sought proof from the grossest of the senses, and would not even trust his eyes. For he said not, "Except I see," but, "Except I handle," he says, lest what he saw might somehow be an apparition. Yet the disciples who told him these things, were at the time worthy of credit, and so was He that promised; yet,since he desired more, Christ DID NOT DEPRIVE HIM EVEN OF THIS.
And why does He not appear to him straightway, instead of "after eight days"? (John 20:26). In order that being in the meantime continually instructed by the disciples, and hearing the same thing, he might be inflamed to more eager desire, and be more ready to believe for the future. But whence knew he that His side had been opened? From having heard it from the disciples. How then did he believe partly, and partly not believe? Because this thing was very strange and wonderful. But observe, I pray you, the truthfulness of the disciples, how they hide no faults, either their own or others’, but record them with great veracity.
Jesus again presents Himself to them, and waits not to be requested by Thomas, nor to hear any such thing, but before he had spoken, Himself prevented him, and fulfilled his desire, showing that een when he spoke those words to the disciples, He was present. For He used the same word, and in a manner conveying a sharp rebuke, and instruction for the future. For having said, "Reach hither your finger, and behold My hands; and reach hither your hand, and thrust it into My side," He added, "And be not faithless, but BELIEVING." (John 20:26) Do you see that his doubt proceeded from unbelieve? But it was before he had received the Spirit; after that, it was no longer so, but, for the future, they were perfected. And not in this way only did Jesus rebuke him but also by what follows; for when he, being fully satisfied, breathed again, and cried aloud: "My Lord, and my God." He says, "Because you have seen Me, you have believed; blessed are they who have not seen, and yet have believed" (John 20:28-29).
For this is of faith, to receive things not seen; since, "Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen" (Hebrews 11:1). And here He pronounces blessed not the disciples only but those also whl after them should believe. "Yet," says someone, "the disciples saw and believed." Yes, but they sought nothing of the kind, but from the proof of the napkins, they straightway received the word concerning the Resurrection, and before they saw the body, exhibited all faith. When therefore any one in the present day say, "I would that I had lived in those times, and had seen Christ working miracles," let them reflect that, "Blessed are they who have not seen, and yet have believed."
It is worth enquiring how an incorruptible body showed the prints of the nails, and was tangible by a mortal hand. But be not thou disturbed what took place was a matter of condescension. For that which was so subtle and light as to enter in when the doors were shut, was free from all density; but this marvel was shown, that the Resurrection might be believed, and that men might know that it was the Crucified One Himself, and that another rose not in His stead. On this account He arose bearing the signs of the Cross, and on this account He eats. At least the Apostles everywhere made this a sign of the Resurrection, saying, "We, who ate and drank with Him" (Acts 10:41). As therefore when we see sHim walking on the waves before the Crucifixion, we do not say, that that body is of a different nature, but of our own; so after the Resurrection, when we see Him with the prints of the nails, we will no more say, that he is therefore corruptible. For He exhibited these appearances on account of the disciples.
John 20:30. "And may other signs truly did Jesus."
Since this Evangelist hath mentioned fewer than the others, he tells us that neither have all the others mentioned them all, but as may as we suffiicient to draw the hearers to belief. For, "If," it saith, "they should be written every one, I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books." Whence it is clear; that What they have mentioned they wrote not for display, but only for the sake of what was useful. For how could they who omitted the greater part, write these others for display? But why went they not through them all? Chiefly on account of their number; besides not those they had mentioned, would not give heed to a greater number; while he who received these, would have no need of another in order to believe. And here too he seems to me to be for the time speaking of the miracles after the Resurrection. Wherefore He saith, "In the presence of His disciples,"
For as before the Resurrection it was necessary that many should be done, in order that they might believe that He was the Son of God, so twas it also after the Resurrection, in order that they might admit that He had arisen. For another reason also he has added, "In the presence of His disciples," because He conversed with them alone after the Resurrection; wherefore also He said, "The world seeth Me no more." Then, in order that thou mayest understand that what was done was done only for the sake of the disciples, he added, "That believing ye might have life in His Name" (John 20:31).
Speaking generally to mankind, and showing that not on Hm Who is believed on, but on ourselves, he bestows a very great favor. "IN HIs Name," that is, "through HIm;" for He is the Life. (Resources: Church Theology. An Archive of Classic and Modern Resources for the sake of the Church)
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"Glory Be To GOD
For
All things!"
+ Saint John Chrysostomos
+ + +
With sincere agape in HIs Divine and Life-Giving Resurrection,
The sinner and unworthy servant of God
+ Father George
The Eastern Orthodox Christian Ethos 