BE PRESENT

John 20:24 But Thomas, one of the twelve, called Didymus, was not with them when Jesus came.

If there is one thing Fr Bogdan mentions each week he celebrates Mass, it is ‘I encourage you to be here from the start because I don’t want you to miss any part of the celebration’. This statement stood out quite a bit when the Gospel of today was read – I noticed myself asking the question “where was Thomas when Jesus came the first time? “

Had he been sent on an errand? Did he want to go out for some fresh air away from the staleness behind those locked doors? Had he grown tired of just waiting? Whatever the reason was, it was evident that the only words that Jesus repeated on his return eight days later were” peace be with you”. Thomas missed out on the core details from the first visit: Jesus breathing on them to receive the Holy Spirit, and the words regarding missions and forgiveness.

Absence, then, whether physically or mentally; can have an impact on your engagement. There are words in a sentence that when you miss, you can never really piece the full story together. You, therefore, become more prone to substituting alternative words that affect both meaning and understanding. So be present when it matters.

#sly