MOTHER’S FINE CHINA

MOTHER’S FINE CHINA

I remember my mother who guarded, and kept off limits her collection of Fine China, only to be used on special occasions or when an important guest would come to dine at home. Of course she alone decided which special occasion or who was important, enough, to merit the grand appearance of her shiny porcelain dinner plates, serving bowls,  tea cups, saucers, coffee pot, salad plates and sugar bowl, all of matching patterns, on our old table. She would put them out and set the table with great ceremony.  

Our ordinary daily fare only deserved the use of cheap commercial table wares. One day I asked her why I couldn’t use her Fine China. She said they are far more beautiful, elegant and expensive, for my crude table manners and irreverent taste.  I don’t blame her. As long as they serve the purpose, platters and cups regardless of quality, don’t mean much to me.

My mother has long gone. I imagine her sitting poised in the great massive banquet table, laden with golden vessels   where all believers dine with the Lord. She left me a lasting impression with her fine china, as I pondered on the words of St. Paul to Timothy the second letter, and the second chapter which says: “ But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and silver but also of wood and of earth; and some to honor and some to dishonor. If a man therefore purge himself  from  these he shall  be a vessel unto honor, sanctified and meet for the Master’s use and prepared unto very good work.”(2 Timothy 2:20-21)

It became clear, after all these years, what mother really meant when she forbid me to use her Fine China. I did not have the right heart of using her priceless vessels,  with honor,  as perhaps she knew I would treat them with dishonor. The same is true with one’s life. St. Paul says that unless we are clean and pure in the sight of God we cannot be effective servants. Whether we are made of Fine China or of cheap earthen ware the outward and inward attitude of our lives should reflect the holiness of God.  The Shepherd King David asked, “Who may ascend the hill of the Lord? Who may stand in His holy place? He who has clean hands and a pure heart…”(Psalm 24:3-4)      

   

BUYING AT NO COST

BUYING AT NO COST

I am fascinated by the lifestyles of the rich and the famous, who spend money unmindful of the cost, indulging in every bit of luxury, which we ordinary mortals, could only dream about. The only way we could possibly hope to be like them is in our fantasy, no wonder when the lottery hit more than half a billion, people flocked in droves to the betting stations, hopeful that by sheer stroke of luck, mixed with superstition, they would realize their dream of living out the rest of their lives wealthy and enjoying the pleasures of the idle rich, which they longed to be.

In the Book of Isaiah the Prophet, I am likewise fascinated by the Prophet’s proclamation to those who are thirsty, and have no money, to come and buy without money and without cost.  In the present world system  we inhabit where one could hardly survive without money, or without paying the cost of almost  anything, including the water we drink (thank God we are not charged for the air we breathe),  this promise  is almost unbelievable, even difficult to imagine.

Isaiah declared: “Come all you who are thirsty, come to the waters; and you who have no money, come buy and eat! Why spend money on what is not bread and your labor that does not satisfy? Listen, listen to me and eat what is good, and your soul will delight in the richest fare. Give ear and come to me; hear me that your soul may live.” (Isaiah 55:1-3)

The Lord God speaking through His prophet is inviting His people who are thirsty, those who have particular need, or those who are poor, the ones who have no money, to come to Him. He will surely satisfy them. Their needs would be met, and money is of no use to buy what they really need. The Lord God is calling his people to buy at no cost milk and wine, symbols of  abundant life  and spiritual blessings,  which only the Almighty can provide.  God is calling His people to come to Him the Living Water that refreshes and satisfies the soul.

The pursuit of material wealth is the strongest competition to ever surface against any organized religion. Dr. Charles Swindoll, Bible Teacher and President of Dallas Theological Seminary,   sharply observed that people work in their play and play in their worship.

The totality of one’s spending is the measure of a man’s stature. The materialism of this age has inflated the desire to accumulate more, that we are trapped into  thinking that greater possessions will bring lasting happiness.  But Isaiah, asks,  “Why spend your resources on the things that do not satisfy?”   He implores the people to listen and understand that they should partake of that which is good and delight in God’s  land of plenty.    

Bible Commentator Matthew Henry, wrote,“All the wealth and pleasure in the world, will not yield solid comfort and content to the soul. They do not satisfy even the appetites of the body; for all is vanity and vexation. Let the disappointments we meet with in the world, help to drive us to Christ, and to seek for satisfaction in Him only. Then, and not before, we shall find rest for our souls. Hear, and your soul shall live. On what easy terms is happiness offered us!”

   

SITTING STILL

SITTING STILL

The great French Philosopher Mathematician Blaise Pascal said, "Nearly all the ills of life spring from this simple source,  that we are unable to sit still for long in a quiet room."

My teenage son used to chide me that I am an obsessive compulsive because he has lived with my compulsivity all his life, an opinion shared by his mother. I haven’t seen a shrink to confirm this diagnosis but I admit I’ve been plagued by extreme anxiety, worry, and fear which is easily discernible in my often agitated state of uneasiness that I couldn’t stay still. I pace the floor, I sit and stand, I  go in and out. The tension mounts as my foreboding thoughts bring me to places of every imaginable doom.  

Pascal’s sharp observation that most of the ills of man spring from his restlessness is an accurate picture of mankind in this so called age of anxiety.

The inhabitants of this world are all in hurry. People are oppressed by deadlines, they move fast, drive fast, eat fast, walk fast, talk fast, sleep late, take a quickie, wake up early and repeat the same cycle. In this age of cyberspace, speed is measured in mbps, and busyness or the appearance of being busy, is a status symbol.

So when I finally resolved to deal with my so called disorder by seriously looking into the real cause of this malady I was led to the bitter truth: I lacked FAITH. I’ve been striving to be in control of the circumstances of  my life, which sadly is beyond my powers.

Psalmist of old declared:   

Be still, and know that I am God ..."  (Psalm 46:10)

God our Creator is telling us  be still, be quiet, I am God your Maker,  in my presence there is peace.  The great Blaise Pascal was probably speaking of his own experience. He described this restlessness as a great void in man’s soul that only Christ could fill.

The great Prophet Isaiah declared, “ In repentance and rest is your salvation, in quietness and trust shall  be your strength.” (Isaiah 30:15)

To be still is to prepare the soul to commune with God,  to be filled with the Spirit, to be  overshadowed by His awesome presence that every mundane thing or preoccupations of  the flesh pales in utter insignificance. To be still is to let go of SELF, to release every doubt, fear, or worry and rest upon HIM who promised, “ I will never leave you nor forsake you.” (Hebrews 13:5)

THE MURMURERS

THE MURMURERS

If there is any group or race of people mentioned in the Scriptures, whom we could describe as congenital complainers and murmurers, they are none other than the Hebrew people, the chosen race. A curssory reading of the Old Tetament beginning in Exodus  would show that God’s people consistently complained and grumbled despite the greatest manifestation of God’s power and protection  in their journey to the land of promise. And when the people complained it displeased the Lord.     

In the book of Philippians the brilliant Apostle Paul of Tarsus wrote a powerful treatise on the subject of complaining and murmuring. This great Saint of  Christ was perhaps moved by what he saw in the attitude of the new believers during his day. He saw the innate complaining attitude of the Israelites which could well desribe people of the present generation.   Here St. Paul reminds us how we should conduct ourselves as men and women of God:

I dare  say and I hope I am wrong, that  filipinos are second to none when it comes to criticizing others and denouncing everything or opposing everyone that we have forgotten to practice the virtue of acceptance and approval. Just to give you an idea, if you open your TV set and view the local news or the wide assortment of talk shows, it is likely that you will hear one politician, critic, or person, denouncing, condemning  or complaining against another. Hardly could we hear words of praise and appreciation. The atmosphere  is depressing and obnoxious.  It seems that in this country everything is wrong and everyone complains.      

IN THE COMPANY OF OLD MEN

IN THE COMPANY OF OLD MEN

I take long days off,  in-between long days work. This is sort of a ritual I need to do. The month of December is most preferable in the observance of this pilgrimage. It is the last, month of the year, the most joyous and festive, with longer holidays.

In my days of indolence I don’t visit any particular place, splashing around in idyllic seafronts. I spend the days loafing. I am an avid practicing loafer. I walk in the plaza, meander along the streets, stroll in the malls, and then sit out in cafes, where old choleric men silently sip the brew.  In the company of old men, I once again look at  life in this pulsating small  city, I call home.

This idle exercise gives me complete serenity. An emptying of mind, like time stood still. In this state of mindlessness the disconnection is exhilarating. There is no time to catch. In the stillness within, I sit entranced, transfixed, absent yet present.   The mind’s eye absorbing  anything and everything.

I thank God for the luxury of doing nothing,  but to sit beside men wizened by age, watching the hand of time slip by, ruminating in the silence of the moment, lost in the vast sea of thought, patiently waiting for nothing. I bask in the joy of idleness for in this I am the time-tamer,  holding it back so I can look, listen, sit still in wonder savoring the moment that never ends.

I realize that the Lord is partial to habitual loafers like me. He practiced the art, so excellently well:

He said, “ ‘Come off by yourselves; let’s take a break and get a little rest.’ For there was constant coming and going. They didn’t have time to eat. So they got in the boat and went off to a remote place by themselves.” (Mark 6:31-32, The Message)

“And a great windstorm arose, and the waves beat into the boat, so that it was already filling. But He was in the stern asleep on a pillow. And they awoke Him and said to Him, ‘ Teacher do you not care that we are perishing?’ Then He arose and rebuked the wind and said to the sea, ‘Peace, be still’. And the wind ceased there was great calm.” (Mark   4:37-40)

If you are one of those who can’t stand doing nothing, then you must be a successful, hard driving, wealthy  man, loath to waste time even reading this idle piece.  Loafers like us can’t keep up with your pace as you scale the heights but we have the patience to wait till age catches up with you. Who knows you might join the company of old men who have learned to sit still, and while away precious time.   

The Filipino Christmas

The Filipino Christmas  stands out different, from other forms of Christmas celebration.  

Christmas Day, December 25 , is an official holiday, but most Filipinos start  celebrating  as early as November culminating with the New Year’s celebration. Gift giving becomes  pressing, holiday shopping more frenzied,  and partying progressively intense,  as Christmas day draws near. This is also the time when year end bonuses or profit sharing dividends are generously given.

Christmas eve is more revered with religiosity .  Families reunite. Children far away come home. Families gather, stay up late, then attend the misa de gallo, after which they partake of the lavish food called Noche Buena.  

Christmas Day  connects with New Year’s Day, which is still regarded as part of Christmas.  New  Year’s day is, likewise, another official holiday. It is amazing how work slows down at this time of the year.  The new year’s eve is a contest in merry making, in making the  loudest  noise, in exploding the largest number of assorted firecrackers and fireworks.   The stroke of midnight ushering the New Year is practically welcomed by a cacophony of loud deafening noise.

 There is no question that Christmas  is the happiest time of the year.  

How did this unique Filipino celebration of Christmas  come about?

There is perhaps no better explanation  except  the  fusion of  native traditions, with foreign cultural influences.

From Spanish Roman Catholicism we have the misas de gallo, the belen, the food: jamon, quezo de bola, embutido, uvas, manzanas. The strongest  influence is the Spanish fiesta culture

The Filipino inputs consist of the following  native repertoire: bibinka, suman, puto, lechon, parol, and of course the native superstitions.

Chinese influences are seen in the pansit, moon cake, and of course the firecrackers. The American influences could be seen in Santa Claus, fruit cake, cookies, Christmas tree, Christmas cards.

This is what makes the Filipino Christmas different.  This is what draws you home . 

Lest you forget, the central figure of Christmas, is CHRIST our Lord. He might get lost in the trappings.

MERRY CHRISTMAS !

The Keeper of Spring: SOLOMON’S PRESCRIPTION

The Keeper of Spring: SOLOMON’S PRESCRIPTION: "I read a bumper sticker which says, “Don’t take life too seriously. You won’t get out of it alive anyway.” This one makes us pause, hitting ..."

SOLOMON’S PRESCRIPTION

I read a bumper sticker which says, “Don’t take life too seriously. You won’t get out of it alive anyway.” This one makes us pause, hitting us straight with a jolt, breaking our uptight lips into a  smile, with the thought that the wise guy who cooked up the lines is absolutely right. Most us take ourselves too seriously that we have forgotten to look at the lighter side,  smile at the sea of gloomy faces  we meet every day, or even laugh at our own folly. The air hangs heavy with tension or distress beating down upon us. A good laugh is a welcome relief, like medicine.   Wise King Solomon in his Divinely inspired Proverbs said, “A merry heart doeth good like medicine” (Proverbs 17:22)

Wise old King Solomon handed out a strong prescription for healing, of both mind and body. The prescribed medicine is a “merry heart” unlikely to be found in all the drugstores. The healing power of happiness has been established in the laboratory of life’s experiences. Bad news makes one sick, good news makes him feel pleasant all over. There are people whose presence alone is as refreshing as the morning,  and there are some whose shadows darken the otherwise lighter shade of the soul.  Another wise man said, “To be sure there will always be a note of sadness in the world. But there is also a note of  gladness. There is calm and tranquility after the storm. There is light and beauty after the tempest. No matter how dark the day God gives us a song.”

The author of the bumper sticker probably did not mean that we need not take life seriously. Life is very much precious  to be taken lightly. But our attitude in life need not be grave, somber or dull. Solomon advises that we put on a merry heart. The Word of God teaches us to rejoice in Him always. Joy is that inner peace and contentment  regardless of circumstances, because God is in control. The Merry Heart which Solomon speaks about is not the rowdy, raucus jesting, or artificial laughter  impelled by worldly pleasures. It is the joy and inner peace that comes from God,  transcending human understanding. A child of God who radiates love joy and peace is like good medicine. He refreshes others.  

A TRIBUTE TO ADOPTING PARENTS

MESSAGE DELIVERED TO “HEAVEN SENT ORGANIZATION”  AN ASSOCIATION OF ADOPTERS OF  ABANDONED, NEGLECTED CHILDREN

        A story is told of a poor woodcutter who lived contentedly in a little house at the edge of the forest. He supported his family by chopping down trees. But no matter how tired he was, he and his family always ended the day with laughing and singing.

        Every evening the king passed by  his cottage. It annoyed the king that ordinary working people could be so happy . So one day he sent his messenger down to the woodcutter to tell him the king has given orders that by tomorrow morning he must have fifty bags of saw dust ready, if the woodcutter couldn’t deliver he and his family would be executed.

        The woodcutter confiding to his wife said “It’s an impossible order.” But his wife kept up his good spirits and told him not to worry about it. His wife said “We have all had such a good life together so tonight we shall again sing and be joyful. That is the way we have lived and that is the way we should die”, the wife said.

        So they had the biggest party and after everyone had gone off to sleep the woodcutter and his wife stayed up talking until sunrise. “Soon it will be over”, commented the woodcutter. “Don’t’ worry  it’s  better to die in peace and contentment than to live a life of fear and sorrow”, said the wife.

        Just then there was a knock at the door and the woodcutter let in the expected messenger from the king. The messenger slowly and sadly entered the house and told the woodcutter, “ You have to cut twelve hard wood planks for a coffin. The king died last night.”

What is the lesson of the story? The wicked king intended to destroy a happy family. He did not succeed.

        The home is the oldest institution known to man. Society is composed of families. The  family is the heart of the community, of the church, and of the nation. It is the basic social institution. God sanctioned marriage, recognizing it  as an institution which He Himself had established. He ordained that men and women should be united in holy wedlock, to rear families whose members, may be united to Himself. We have a God given responsibility to nurture our families. The home is designed to be a blessing to mankind. And it is a blessing wherever the marriage covenant is entered into intelligently, in the fear of God.  The wellbeing of society, the success and prosperity of the nation depend upon the kind of homes that we have. If the  home is strong, society is strong. The breakdown of the home over the past half century is well documented. One of the most important things that we can do for our country and our community in particular is to establish and maintain a Christian home.

       

        Most of us should be thankful that we have been born and raised in functional families. Families are here to provide homes and to train us in the art of living together. Families are here to provide care, love, and support for children.   Our homes should be strengthened and guarded against the sinister forces  of evil that seek to destroy family relationships.  

       

        The home is designed to be a blessing to mankind. And it is a blessing wherever the marriage covenant is entered into intelligently, in the fear of God.  The wellbeing of society, the success and prosperity of the nation depend upon the kind of homes that we have. If the  home is strong, society is strong.  The breakdown of the home over the past half century is well documented.

       

        And to you adopting parents, your  home is truly God’s blessing to these helpless children who could not have possibly survived because they have been abandoned, neglected, rejected , unloved and abused. You are important to the lives of these children. These children are equally blessed to have you as caring and loving  parents. If you shower them with love, tempered by right discipline they will turn out to be mature, successful and productive adults whom you can be proud of some day.

       

If children are left to themselves, without any instruction, they will not naturally develop such obedience to their parents. As parents you are their first teachers. They need to be taught  obedience, respect, and proper manners.  They need to be encouraged, loved and cared for. And it is the responsibility of parents to do these things. Parents should love and nurture their children. If it is hard to be a parent to one’s own biological children, it is even more challenging to be an adopting parent.

         

          Parents have considerable power to negatively shape a child's life by making him or her feel rejected. By giving these children   the parental love, they could not have, they will become normal well adjusted adults shaped by their child experiences. Rejection would leave them wounded for life. Feelings of distrust would always follow them.  On the other hand, acceptance and love, discipline and instruction,  would make them grow as  mature individuals to be useful and productive citizens some day.

        It is also important to guard our children from the evil influences of the world. As children grow a parent’s role changes, but the responsibility to care remains the same. Loving, training, admonishing and encouraging our children is a continuing parental concern.

        It has been said that the best parents not only give life to their children, they also teach them how to live.

        As adopting father or mother or adopting father and mother,  you  are to take your parenting role seriously. These children are God’s precious gifts  whose lives are entrusted to your care. You have given these children hope and a future. May your home  be a happy and wonderful place God intended  it to be  for every member of your family.

        Let me close by quoting from a writer whose name escapes me. She wrote: “One hundred years from now it will not matter what kind of car you rode in, what kind of house you lived in, how much money you saved, nor what clothes you wore. But the world will be a little better because you were important in the life of a child.”

Christians and Politics

One basic question is, Should  Christians be involved  in secular politics, and how are they to be involved?

          Among Christians, the dominant and influential Roman Catholic Church, has always been in the forefront of moral advocacy, delicately treading the thin line that separates the secular State and the Church, entrenched in the non-establishment of religion clause in the Constitution. The Christian Catholic hierarchy has often been outspoken in speaking out its mind on political, and social issues, which might be viewed as subtle interference by the religious on matters of State. Despite this outspokenness the Catholic Clergy shuns involvement in any partisan political activity and avoids endorsing any particular candidate. On the other hand, the Evangelical Christian denominations hardly speak as one, to the point of temerity, on political and social issues, where such issues do not  relate to matters of faith or Christian morality. 

          A more novel phenomenon has surfaced lately along this line. The entry of priests, pastors and religious leaders in politics. A priest was elected to public office. This poses some very interesting questions. A charismatic preacher is taking a shot at the highest position of the land. In this development where do Christians stand?   

          There are three perspectives which I believe should be considered in relation to this question.

          First, the Transformational Model. This view espouses that the role of the church is to transform and ultimately control politics. Since God is the  Lord of everything, Christians should seek to participate in everything as precursors of this Lordship,  including politics. They should therefore use any righteous means possible to sanctify the political system, seek to pass legislation that reflect God’s will, or perhaps shape the  governing policy by applying Scripture. This would warrant unrestrained involvement in the electoral or parliamentary process.

          The  Second position is the  Oppositional View. This  view  proposes that  Christians should not be involved in all matters  secular, particularly politics. This is  the traditional view held among the  Baptists.  In the Baptist Church where I worship there are church leaders running for public office,  an indication that hard-line theological thinking on this issue hardly holds sway or matters at all. But to go back to this view, it finds support in the declaration of Christ that His  Kingdom is not of this world, and He did not allow himself to be drawn in the political debates of his day (John 18:36). Christians are called to be loyal to Christ’s Kingdom alone and to see themselves as citizens of the Kingdom of God living in a “foreign” land (Phil. 3:20).

          The Third position is the Two Kingdoms Model, of church and state. In contrast with the Oppositional School of Thought, this view holds that “secular” politics are under God’s authority. Unlike the transformational model, however, it does not hold that the politics of the world should be or can be transformed into a Christian system. Rather, secular government and the church are two ways that God works in the world, and they accomplish different purposes. 

          I am partial to the Two Kingdoms Model. The Jewish people were governed by the satellite kings enthroned by the Emperors. The Jews did not like their political masters, who were often corrupt and oppressive. In order to trap Jesus by testing His loyalty, on one occasion the Pharisees  asked Him a question: "Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar or not" (Matthew 22:15-22)? If Jesus had said it was wrong to pay taxes, He would get in trouble with the Roman rulers. If He had answered it was right to pay taxes, He would be in trouble  with the Jews. They expected Jesus to be drawn into this trap. The Lord knew their duplicity.  Jesus asked them to bring a Roman coin to Him. He asked them whose picture and name were on the coin. They replied, "Caesar's." Then Jesus replied: "Render therefore to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's" (Matthew 22:21).

          There is Biblical support to the proposition that Christians live in two kingdoms. One kingdom is spiritual. The other kingdom is temporal. We are not of this world but we are in this world. We are citizens of the kingdom of Christ. (Matthew 16:18,19; Colossians 1:13). At the same time, we are citizens of our earthly country.  We must be good citizens to both. Our Lord instructs us to render what is due to the governing earthly authorities which rule over us, even as we obey God and  await His great Kingdom to come. St. Paul, the apostle, the Roman citizen and expert in Jewish law, declared: "Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. ( Romans 13:1-7). 

          I believe Christians should be involved in shaping government policy to advance God's Kingdom. Having said this, I am led, to carefully consider the dichotomy of the Office which a priest, bishop,  minister or evangelist holds, as Shepherd of the flock. My religious conviction tells me that an ordained priest, or  minister, who preaches and lives by the Word, has been set apart and anointed by God to  a far more higher calling, that immersing himself in a political struggle for power is unthinkable. His true calling is not  politics, and he should eschew any political ambition no matter how noble or pure are his intentions for he is called to labor in God’s vineyard, and not in the temporal realm. If he ventures into politics then I suppose he should resign his calling as a man of the cloth and strive to be a good  Christian politician. This position I admit  is theologically debatable.

Thomas the Doubter

The Apostle Thomas is an interesting Biblical character often criticized, ridiculed, even condemned by self righteous Bible thumping preachers of old, because he became a skeptic, and doubted the report of witnesses that Jesus had risen from the dead. Thomas said, "I won't believe it unless I see the nail wounds in his hands, put my fingers into them, and place my hand into the wound in his side." (John 20:25) Thomas knew the fact that Jesus his Master and Teacher was crucified, stabbed with a spear and died on the cross. This was the only reality  perceived by his senses. He saw the crucifixion, he saw the agony and the death of Christ. He knew of the burial. These were the hard cold facts. Nothing could have dissuaded him to believe otherwise. So when word got around that his Master, whom he knew, laid entombed, was after all alive he thought it was some kind of a joke. To his skeptical mind the news of the resurrection was decidedly an impossibility. He even refused to believe the personal eyewitness testimony of Mary who had seen and heard the risen Lord.

In law the testimony of  reliable witnesses is admissible to prove a question of fact.  But for Thomas testimonial evidence is weak, and no other evidence could satisfy him  except the appearance of Jesus Himself,  so he could actually see Jesus, His nail pierced hands, His wounded side.  Not satisfied with seeing, and perhaps to erase all possibility that the Jesus who might be presented to him was not  an impostor, he demanded real evidence using the  sense of touch. He needed to put his hands on the wounded hands and side of the Master. The attitude of Thomas could hardly be regarded as philosophical skepticism, in the sense that all claims are doubtful. Thomas was doubtful because he wanted to be absolutely certain.

Jesus did not condemn the doubting Thomas. A careful reading of Thomas' encounter with Jesus as he was confronted with his doubt and unbelief even evokes a feeling of gentleness and understanding emanating from the heart of Christ. Let us recount the incident from the Book of John: "Now Thomas called the twin one of the twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. The other disciples therefore said to him, 'We have seen the Lord'. So he said to them, '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.' And after eight days His disciples were again inside, and Thomas with them. Jesus came, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst and said, 'Peace to you'. Then He said to Thomas, 'Reach your finger here, and look at My hands; and reach your hand here and put it into My side. Do not be unbelieving but believing'. And Thomas answered and said to Him, 'My Lord and my God!'. Jesus said to him, 'Thomas because you have seen Me, you have believed. Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.'"(John 20:24-30)

Thomas wanted visible, tangible proof upon which to anchor his belief. Jesus gave him the proof he wanted. Jesus says the problem has always been this unbelieving spirit that plagues the human heart. Man demands of God : "Show me what you've got, then I will believe". Thomas will not believe unless he sees. A realist to the core, Jesus loves him nonetheless. But there is no blessedness in this. Those who have not seen and yet have believed are truly blessed, for even without seeing they can declare, without doubt, "My Lord and my God!"