{"id":4776,"date":"2025-07-26T23:04:36","date_gmt":"2025-07-26T21:04:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/catholicus.eu\/en\/?p=4776"},"modified":"2025-07-26T23:04:36","modified_gmt":"2025-07-26T21:04:36","slug":"thomas-cries-out-for-all-of-us-the-eternal-impact-of-my-lord-and-my-god-john-2028","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/catholicus.eu\/en\/thomas-cries-out-for-all-of-us-the-eternal-impact-of-my-lord-and-my-god-john-2028\/","title":{"rendered":"Thomas Cries Out for All of Us! The Eternal Impact of ‘My Lord and My God!’ (John 20:28)"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Introduction: A Cry That Echoes Through Time<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Picture the scene: A locked upper room, an atmosphere thick with fear and confusion. Ten disciples in hiding, their hearts still pounding from the horror of the Cross and the wonder of the empty tomb. Suddenly, the risen Jesus stands among them. Peace. Unspeakable joy. But one is missing: Thomas, the twin, the skeptic, the one who needs to see to believe. A week later, the story repeats. Jesus appears again, and this time, He looks directly at Thomas. He doesn\u2019t scold him\u2014He offers His wounds: “Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe”<\/em> (John 20:27). And then, the deepest truth erupts, the purest confession, the very heart of the Christian faith, bursting from the lips of a once-doubting man:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“My Lord and my God!” (John 20:28).<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

This cry is not just Thomas\u2019s\u2014it is the echo of every believer who has ever recognized, in awe and worship, the true identity of Jesus of Nazareth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\n\n

I. The Scene: Doubt, Encounter, and Revelation<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

To grasp the weight of these words, we must set the stage. Thomas had missed Jesus\u2019 first appearance to the ten. His skepticism\u2014“Unless I see the nail marks in His hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into His side, I will not believe”<\/em> (John 20:25)\u2014wasn\u2019t mere stubbornness. It was the cry of a grieving heart, unable to fathom the Resurrection. Jesus, in His infinite mercy and divine pedagogy, does not reject Thomas for his doubt\u2014He meets him where he is<\/em>. He appears tangibly, offering the physical proof of His glorified Passion. This is no ghost\u2014this is the same One who was nailed to the Cross, now alive, transformed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\n\n

II. “My Lord and My God”: A Theological Earthquake<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Thomas\u2019s confession is brief but theologically explosive\u2014a jewel of divine revelation:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \n
  1. “Kyrios” (My Lord):<\/strong>\u00a0In Jewish and Greco-Roman context,\u00a0“Kyrios”<\/em>\u00a0was a title of absolute sovereignty. It was used for God Himself (translating the Hebrew\u00a0“Adonai,”<\/em>\u00a0the reverential substitute for Yahweh). To call Jesus\u00a0“Kyrios”<\/em>\u00a0was to acknowledge Him as Master, Owner, and Sovereign of one\u2019s life. It was a declaration of faith in His risen Lordship, fulfilling the prophecy that\u00a0“every knee shall bow… and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord”<\/em>\u00a0(Philippians 2:10-11).<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  2. “Theos” (My God):<\/strong>\u00a0Here lies the theological detonation. Thomas does not say\u00a0“a god”<\/em>\u00a0or\u00a0“divine.”<\/em>\u00a0He uses the unequivocal term\u00a0“Theos” (\u0398\u03b5\u03cc\u03c2)<\/strong>, the same word used for the One God of Israel in the Old Testament (LXX) and in John\u2019s Gospel Prologue:\u00a0“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God”<\/em>\u00a0(John 1:1). By addressing Jesus as\u00a0“Theos,”<\/strong>\u00a0Thomas is declaring, under the Holy Spirit\u2019s inspiration,\u00a0the full divinity of Jesus Christ.<\/strong>\u00a0He is not an exalted prophet or a mighty angel\u2014He is God Himself, made flesh, now risen and present.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  3. The Possessive “My”:<\/strong>\u00a0This is no abstract statement. It is personal, intimate, a total surrender:\u00a0“My Lord and my God!”<\/em>\u00a0It is the response of a heart that collapses in worship before the tangible evidence of Love incarnate, triumphant over death. It is mutual possession\u2014belonging entirely to Him.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n
    \n\n\n\n

    III. Jesus Is God: The Cornerstone of Faith<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
      \n
    • Against Arianism and Later Heresies:<\/strong>\u00a0This verse was a crucial weapon against heresies like Arianism (which denied Christ\u2019s full divinity). The Church Fathers (St. Athanasius, St. Gregory Nazianzen, St. Augustine) cited it constantly: How could Thomas, a monotheistic Jew, call a mere man\u00a0“God”<\/em>\u00a0without committing blasphemy? Only the reality of the Incarnation explains it.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    • Fulfillment of Revelation:<\/strong>\u00a0John structures his Gospel to progressively unveil Jesus\u2019 identity\u2014from\u00a0“the Lamb of God”<\/em>\u00a0(John 1:29) to\u00a0“I AM”<\/em>\u00a0(echoing Exodus 3:14)\u2014culminating in Thomas\u2019s explicit confession. This is the climax of Jesus\u2019 self-revelation.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    • The Trinity in Action:<\/strong>\u00a0By calling Jesus\u00a0“God,”<\/em>\u00a0Thomas confesses the Second Person of the Holy Trinity. The Father raises the Son by the Spirit\u2019s power (Romans 8:11), and the risen Son reveals Himself as God. This is a profoundly Trinitarian moment.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    • The Catechism Affirms It:<\/strong>\u00a0“The Church calls Thomas\u2019s confession\u2014’My Lord and my God!’\u2014the Easter proclamation of faith. It is the first explicit confession of Christ\u2019s divinity after the Resurrection”<\/em>\u00a0(Compendium of the Catechism, 129).<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
      \n\n\n\n

      IV. Why Is This Relevant TODAY? Overcoming a “Custom-Made God”<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

      In a culture marked by relativism, subjective spirituality (“I believe in something, but my way”<\/em>), and the temptation to reduce Jesus to a “moral teacher”<\/em> or “inspirational leader,”<\/em> John 20:28 is a necessary and thunderous reminder:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

        \n
      1. Against Reductionism:<\/strong>\u00a0We cannot dilute Jesus. He is not just a good man\u2014He is\u00a0God with us<\/strong>\u00a0(Emmanuel). His teachings carry absolute weight because they are God\u2019s Word. His sacrifice has infinite value because it is God who offers Himself.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
      2. The Basis of Worship:<\/strong>\u00a0Only God may be worshipped. If Jesus is not God, Eucharistic adoration, the Rosary, and processions would be idolatry. Thomas\u2019s confession justifies and demands our worship of Christ.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
      3. Hope Against Evil and Death:<\/strong>\u00a0If Jesus were only a man, His victory over death would be limited. But if He is God, His Resurrection guarantees\u00a0ours<\/em>\u00a0and ensures the final defeat of sin and death. Our hope rests on divine foundations!<\/li>\n\n\n\n
      4. An Answer to Modern Skepticism:<\/strong>\u00a0Like Thomas, many today demand\u00a0“proof.”<\/em>\u00a0Jesus does not reject honest seeking. But true faith, when met with sufficient evidence (Scripture, Tradition, the Church, the saints, the Eucharist), must culminate in the same confession:\u00a0“My Lord and my God!”<\/em><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n
        \n\n\n\n

        V. Practical Guide: Living “My Lord and My God!” in the 21st Century<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

        How do we translate this profound theological truth into daily life? Here\u2019s a theological-pastoral guide:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

        1. Cultivate Awe (Meditation)<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
          \n
        • Read and Re-Read John 20:<\/strong>\u00a0Meditate slowly on the scene. Imagine yourself there. Feel Thomas\u2019s doubt, the shock of seeing Jesus, the emotion of his confession.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
        • Contemplate the Wounds:<\/strong>\u00a0Christ\u2019s wounds are proof of His boundless love and victory. In prayer,\u00a0“touch”<\/em>\u00a0them spiritually\u2014especially in the Eucharist (His given Body) and Confession (His healing Mercy).<\/li>\n\n\n\n
        • Repeat the Confession:<\/strong>\u00a0Make Thomas\u2019s words your own. Use them as a prayer throughout the day:\u00a0“My Lord and my God! I believe; help my unbelief.”<\/em><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n

          2. Strengthen Your Faith (Formation)<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
            \n
          • Study the Foundations:<\/strong>\u00a0Learn why the Church believes in Christ\u2019s divinity (Catechism, Councils like Nicaea and Chalcedon). Books like Benedict XVI\u2019s\u00a0“Jesus of Nazareth”<\/em>\u00a0are excellent.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
          • Face Your Doubts:<\/strong>\u00a0Don\u2019t fear questions. Seek answers from solid Catholic sources (priests, trusted theologians, good books, approved websites). A reasoned faith is unshakable.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
          • Live the Liturgy:<\/strong>\u00a0Participate consciously in Mass. Every Eucharist is a new Upper Room where Christ becomes present. At Communion, whisper in your heart:\u00a0“My Lord and my God!”<\/em><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n

            3. Act on Your Faith (Witness & Mission)<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
              \n
            • *Acknowledge Him as\u00a0“Lord” (Kyrios):<\/em>\u00a0Examine your life\u2014what areas have you not yet surrendered to Him? (Work, relationships, money, pleasures, time.) Make a daily act of surrender:\u00a0“Jesus, be the Lord of [name an area] today.”<\/em><\/li>\n\n\n\n
            • *Worship Him as\u00a0“God” (Theos):<\/em>\u00a0Spend time in Eucharistic adoration. Simplify your prayer: Silent presence before Him\u00a0is<\/em>\u00a0worship. Let your whole life be an act of worship (Romans 12:1).<\/li>\n\n\n\n
            • Proclaim with Courage:<\/strong>\u00a0Don\u2019t hide your faith. In a world that relativizes Christ, testify to His divinity through your life (charity, integrity, hope) and, when possible, your words. Share how believing Jesus is God transforms\u00a0you.<\/em><\/li>\n\n\n\n
            • Trust as a Child:<\/strong>\u00a0If He is God, His promises are certain, His power limitless, His mercy boundless. Bring your burdens, fears, and dreams to Him with childlike trust.\u00a0“Father, into Your hands I commit my spirit”<\/em>\u00a0(Luke 23:46) was Jesus\u2019 perfect surrender\u2014let it model yours.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
              \n\n\n\n

              Conclusion: “Blessed Are Those Who Have Not Seen and Yet Believe”<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

              Jesus responds to Thomas\u2014and to us: “Because you have seen Me, you have believed. Blessed are those who have not seen and yet believe”<\/em> (John 20:29). We are those blessed ones.<\/strong> We have not touched His physical wounds, but we have the apostles\u2019 testimony, His real presence in the Eucharist, the Holy Spirit\u2019s action, and the experience of His grace in our lives.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

              John 20:28 is not a verse of the past\u2014it is an eternal call to the present.<\/strong> A call to step out of our “upper rooms”<\/em> of doubt, comfort, or fear. A call to fix our eyes on the risen Christ and, with the same clarity and fervor as Thomas, recognize His true identity. A call to kneel\u2014not just physically, but with our whole being\u2014and proclaim with renewed, vibrant, life-changing faith:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

              “MY LORD AND MY GOD!”<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

              May this confession be the foundation of our lives, the light in our darkness, the strength in our weakness, and our unshakable hope as we journey toward our heavenly homeland. Amen.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

              Introduction: A Cry That Echoes Through Time Picture the scene: A locked upper room, an atmosphere thick with fear and confusion. Ten disciples in hiding, their hearts still pounding from the horror of the Cross and the wonder of the empty tomb. Suddenly, the risen Jesus stands among them. Peace. Unspeakable joy. But one is …<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":4777,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_seopress_titles_title":"","_seopress_titles_desc":"","_seopress_robots_index":"","_seopress_robots_follow":"","_seopress_robots_imageindex":"","_seopress_robots_snippet":"","_seopress_robots_primary_cat":"","_seopress_robots_breadcrumbs":"","_seopress_robots_freeze_modified_date":"","_seopress_robots_custom_modified_date":"","_seopress_robots_canonical":"","_seopress_social_fb_title":"","_seopress_social_fb_desc":"","_seopress_social_fb_img":"","_seopress_social_fb_img_attachment_id":0,"_seopress_social_fb_img_width":0,"_seopress_social_fb_img_height":0,"_seopress_social_twitter_title":"","_seopress_social_twitter_desc":"","_seopress_social_twitter_img":"","_seopress_social_twitter_img_attachment_id":0,"_seopress_social_twitter_img_width":0,"_seopress_social_twitter_img_height":0,"_seopress_redirections_value":"","_seopress_redirections_enabled":"","_seopress_redirections_enabled_regex":"","_seopress_redirections_logged_status":"","_seopress_redirections_param":"","_seopress_redirections_type":0,"_seopress_analysis_target_kw":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[37,45],"tags":[1588,1068],"class_list":["post-4776","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","","category-doctrine-and-faith","category-sacred-scriptures","tag-john-2028","tag-thomas"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/catholicus.eu\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4776","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/catholicus.eu\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/catholicus.eu\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/catholicus.eu\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/catholicus.eu\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=4776"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/catholicus.eu\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4776\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":4778,"href":"https:\/\/catholicus.eu\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4776\/revisions\/4778"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/catholicus.eu\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/4777"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/catholicus.eu\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=4776"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/catholicus.eu\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=4776"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/catholicus.eu\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=4776"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}