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St. Luke’s Institute
Wed of 13th Week OT
July 3, 2013
THOMAS’ ABSENCE ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
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Some would speculate Thomas so brokenhearted
over J’s death he could not B w/ others
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After all, this was follower who, after news of
death of Laz, said to Jesus, “Let us go 2,
that we may die w/ him.”
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Perhaps Thomas so brokenhearted just needed 2 B alone
w/ grief & absented himself from upper room when J 1st appears
1 MISTAKE +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
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Character of Thomas stands out very clear re 1
mistake & 2 great virtues
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Made 1 mistake: withdrew from cty of believers
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Sought isolation rather than comm. & not
only missed support but also missed 1st coming of J
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We 2 miss great deal when we separate selves
from community & go it alone
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When sorrow comes & sadness envelops, we
tend 2 shut selves up & refuse 2 meet other residents
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But that’s very time when, spite of R sorrow, we
need 2 seek fellowship of others, 4 it’s there we R likeliest 2 meet J
face-to-face
1ST
VIRTURE ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
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Yet, Thomas had two great virtues. He refused 2 say
he understood what didn’t understand or believe what didn’t believe
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He’d never still doubts by pretending they didn’t
exist
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Wasn’t sort of guy who’d rattle a creed w/o understanding
what it was about
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There’s < faith in 1 who insists on being
sure than in 1 who glibly repeats things never thought out & which may not
really believe
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It’s doubt like this which arrives at certainty
2ND
VIRTURE ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
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2nd virtue = when he was sure, Thomas
went whole way: “My Lord and my God!”
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He doubted in order 2 become sure & when he
did, his surrender 2 J was complete
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So 2 R we when we fight R way thru R doubts 2 conviction
that J is Lord!
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It’s certainty that 1 who unthinkingly accepts
things can never reach
CONCLUSION +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
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Today we give thanks for the doubting Thomas in
each of us!
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