Festival of St. Thomas, Apostle
Posted on December 21, 2022 by under
Scripture: 1 Corinthians 2:6-10 (NKJV)
2:6 However, we speak wisdom among those who are mature, yet not the wisdom of this age, nor of the rulers of this age, who are coming to nothing. 7 But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, the hidden wisdom which God ordained before the ages for our glory, 8 which none of the rulers of this age knew; for had they known, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.
9 But as it is written:
“Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor have entered into the heart of man the things which God has prepared for those who love Him.”
10 But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God.
Devotion
Today we observe the festival of St. Thomas the Apostle. St. Thomas often gets the unfortunate moniker of “doubting Thomas.” It was easy for Thomas to rest on his own wisdom when he did not believe the reports of the Lord’s resurrection at first. However, we see in our reading from 1 Corinthians that the wisdom needed is not in ourselves, or of this age. It is the hidden wisdom of God, the mystery of faith. If the world knew this wisdom, there wouldn’t even be a need for the resurrection, because they would not have crucified the Lord.
Despite his initial unbelief, St. Thomas did believe, and he preached this same wisdom which is the mystery of faith in Christ Jesus. St. Thomas is no longer known by his doubting, but by his faithful believing. We, like Thomas, are believing because the Holy Ghost reveals this wisdom in the Word. Trust the Lord and His Word that you may believe.
Prayer: 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.
The Collect for Rorate coeli, The Fourth Sunday in Advent
Stir up, 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.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
