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Skriven 2006-09-28 12:31:54 av Marc Lewis (1:396/45)
Ärende: Vatican Information Service - Press Release
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                               VIS-Press releases

THOMAS: DETERMINATION IN FOLLOWING JESUS

VATICAN CITY, SEP 27, 2006 (VIS) - Benedict XVI dedicated the catechesis of
Wednesday's General Audience to the Apostle Thomas. The audience was celebrated
in Saint Peter's Square, with 30,000 persons present.

The Pope explained that Thomas's personality is characterized by "his
determination in following the Master" and gave as an example the Apostle's
exhortation to his companions to accompany Jesus to Jerusalem, even knowing the
dangers involved. This determination "reveals total availability in adhering to
Jesus, to the point of identifying one's fate with His (...) Christian life is
defined as a life with Jesus Christ, a life to be lived with Him".

Thomas also intervenes in the Last Supper when he asks Christ which is the way,
because they do not know it, and Jesus responds "I am the Way, the Truth and
the Life". The Holy Father said, "Every time we hear or read these words, we
feel that our thoughts side with Thomas and imagine that the Lord speaks to us
as He did to him. At the same time, the question also confers us the right, so
to speak, to ask Jesus for explanations. This way we express the shallowness of
our ability to understand, at the same time we set ourselves in an attitude of
trust, like those who await the light and strength from the one able to give
this to us".

The most well-known scene is the one when Thomas is doubtful, when the Apostle
says to the Risen Jesus that he cannot recognize Him until he places his hand
in the wound in His side. "In the end, these words demonstrate the conviction
that by now Christ is recognized not as much by His face but by His wounds.
Thomas believes that the qualifying signs of Jesus are above all, now, the
wounds, which reveal to what point He loved us. As to this, the Apostle is
correct".

Benedict XVI said: "The case of the Apostle Thomas is important for us for at
least three reasons: first, because it comforts our insecurities; second,
because it shows us that each doubt can achieve an enlightened result beyond
any incertitude; and, finally, because the words said to him by Jesus remind us
of the true meaning of mature faith and encourage us to follow, despite the
difficulties, our path in adhering to Him".
AG/THOMAS/... VIS 060927 (400)

SUMMARY

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