My Lord and My God

When I was very young I was taught that when the host was raised at Mass, I was to bow my head, touch my chest and say: My Lord and my God. I had no idea what the words meant, but I knew that if I did this, I was saying that Jesus was here among us and that we were OK. It was simple, and just as true then as it is now, but probably still not understood.

High Altar
Sacred Heart Church, Beagle Bay, WA

Like the other disciples, Thomas was devastated at Jesus’ death and his reaction to the passion. Like most of the disciples, Thomas is not mentioned in the passion narrative, as he was absent, ‘missing in action’ if you like. When word of Jesus’ resurrection circulated, he was as scared as the other disciples, probably thinking that Jesus would come back to exact revenge against those who deserted him. In a last show of bravado, Thomas declares his mistrust in the nascent church by declaring that he will not believe until he touched the wounds of Christ. In the drama of John’s gospel, this provokes Jesus into revealing himself to Thomas.

When Jesus appears to Thomas he is not instantly recognised. This is resurrection not resuscitation! We are not told what the glorified body looked like, but it must have been somewhat different, otherwise he would have been recognised straight away. Thomas was given the grace to declare his faith. The words he used were significant. At that time the, the Roman emperor was the divine Domitian, whose title was: ‘Dominus et Deus’.  Thomas declared not only that Jesus has risen from the dead, but that his life has changed radically. It was treason to designate anyone equal to the emperor, and here Thomas went further, saying:  “Dominus Meus et Deus Meus”. Not only is Christ Risen, but he is our personal and loving God, not like the avenging deities of the pagans.

Today is commonly called Low Sunday, as we are expected to take a bit of a rest after the Easter ceremonies. It is also known as that so that we can appreciate the wonder of the Resurrection. With Thomas, we can say “My Lord and my God” not just as words, but as a plan of life. The resurrection changes everything. Tradition teaches us that the resurrection sent Thomas as a fearless preacher to India. The resurrection has brought us back here again to ask: How is my life changed by this Easter event?

The tabernacle at Beagle Bay has the beautiful inscription around its door, which you can see on the screen. It reads, in Latin, My Lord and My God. When I visit Sacred Heart Church I am drawn by the altar, beautifully adorned with shell in this harsh land, but in the centre is the reason for the existence of this building. The interior conversion to which each of us is called is like that of Thomas. It begins as a personal confession of faith, but then extends outward. In the case of Thomas it began bu publicly supplanting the emperor of Rome with Christ, and then is said that he went to India to preach the gospel.  

The Pallottines answered God’s call and came from Germany to Beagle Bay, shared the word and then, confessing Jesus as their Lord and God and joined by aboriginal co-workers, extended to all parts of the Kimberley. The tabernacle reminds us of the interior conversion that gives us strength to live the gospel and go where it demands.

The doubting St Thomas, knew this; and Fr Thomas knew this when the built the Church in Beagle Bay. The example set by those who have gone before us in faith calls us to follow, confessing: 

Dominus Meus and Deus Meus”

Homily for the Second Sunday of Easter, 7th April 2013, OLQP Broome.