Festival of St. Thomas, Apostle
Posted on December 21, 2021 by under
Scripture: 1 John 1:1-7 (NKJV)
1:1 That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, concerning the Word of life—2 the life was manifested, and we have seen, and bear witness, and declare to you that eternal life which was with the Father and was manifested to us—3 that which we have seen and heard we declare to you, that you also may have fellowship with us; and truly our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ. 4 And these things we write to you that your joy may be full.
5 This is the message which we have heard from Him and declare to you, that God is light and in Him is no darkness at all. 6 If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. 7 But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.
Devotion
In the 6,000-or-so-year history of the world, very few people have ever seen God, and even that was only a brief glimpse. But from the time the virgin Mary felt the first movement in her womb, mankind was given the singular privilege, for about 34 years, of seeing God, hearing God, touching God, and being touched by God. Light was born into the world on Christmas, and those who encountered Jesus at any point during His earthly life encountered the Light. Some special few, like Mary and Joseph, Jesus’ brothers, and later Jesus’ apostles, got to spend years of their life in His presence, whether or not they recognized or appreciated it.
The good news for us who do not live in that special era is that we are at no disadvantage at all. As St. John reminds us, we who have received the teaching of the apostles have the very same fellowship with God as they did, have the same Light as they did, have the same cleansing blood applied to us as they did. That is, we have it as long as we walk in the light, as long as we retain the knowledge of Christ and faith in Christ. We have the word of the Word, and that is, amazingly, just as good. Let us hold onto it steadfastly, and let us be careful always to walk according to it, in repentance, in faith, and in love, that our joy may be full.
Prayer: Stir up, O Lord, we beseech Thee, Thy power, and come, and with great might, succor us, that by the help of Thy grace whatsoever is hindered by our sins may be speedily accomplished, through Thy mercy and satisfaction; Who livest and reignest with the Father, and the Holy Ghost, ever One God, world without end. Amen.
Collect for the Festival of St. Thomas, Apostle: Grant, O Lord, unto Thy people a steadfastness in faith, that we might not be shaken by the doubts of the flesh, but ever be established in an unshakable hope in Christ Jesus, who liveth and reigneth with Thee and the Holy Ghost, ever One God, world without end. Amen.
Collect for Advent: Stir up, we beseech Thee, Thy power, O Lord, and come, that by Thy protection we may be rescued from the threatening perils of our sins, and saved by Thy mighty deliverance; who livest and reignest with the Father and the Holy Ghost, ever, one God, world without end. Amen.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
