Sunday, April 24 : Basil of Seleucia

“Put your finger into the marks of the nails”. You looked for me when I wasn’t there, now take advantage of it. I understand your desire despite your silence. Before you tell me them I already know your thoughts. I heard you speak and, even though unseen, I was beside you, beside your doubts. Without revealing myself I made you wait so as better to consider your eagerness. “Put your finger into the marks of the nails. Put your hand into my side; do not be unbelieving any longer, but believe.” Then Thomas touched him and all his mistrust fell away. Full of genuine faith and all the love owing to God, he cried out: “My Lord and my God!” And the Lord said to him: “You believe because you have seen me; happy are those who have not seen and yet believe!” Thomas took the news of the resurrection to those who had not seen. Draw the whole earth to believe, not by its own sight but at your word. Go through peoples and cities far away. Teach them to carry the cross rather than weapons on their shoulders. Only proclaim me: they will believe and worship. They will demand no other proof. Tell them they are called by grace and, with your own eyes, behold their faith. Truly, blessed are those who did not see and yet believed! This is the army the Lord raises; these are the children of the baptismal font, the works of grace, the fruit of the Spirit. They have followed Christ without having seen him; they sought him and believed. They recognised him with the eyes of faith not those of the body. They have not put their finger into the mark of the nails but they have bound themselves to his cross and embraced his sufferings. They have not seen the Lord’s side but, by grace, they have become members of his body and have made his words their own: “Happy are those who have not seen and yet believe!”
maronite readings – rosary,team