Desiring Christ's Presence (Thomas)

The follower of Christ will have an intense desire to be in Christ’s presence.

When you think of Thomas, you probably think of a doubter. But if you look beyond his doubt, you'll see he was characterized by something that should mark every true believer: an intense desire to be with Christ.

John 10:39-40 tells us Jesus and His disciples left Jerusalem because of threats on Jesus' life. While they were staying near the Jordan River, Jesus received word that His dear friend Lazarus was sick. He delayed going to Lazarus because He didn't want merely to heal him, but to raise him from the dead.

Lazarus lived in Bethany—just two miles east of Jerusalem. So when Jesus decided to go there, His disciples were deeply concerned, thinking it would surely be a suicide mission (John 11:8). Despite the danger, Thomas said, "Let us also go, that we may die with Him" (v. 16). That's a pessimistic attitude, but it shows his courage and desire to be with Christ, whether in life or death. An optimist would expect the best, making it easier to go. Thomas expected the worst, but was willing to go anyway.

I believe Thomas couldn't bear the thought of living without Christ. He would rather die with Him than live without Him. That's also evident in John 14, where Jesus told the disciples He was going away to prepare a place for them. Thomas responded by saying in effect, "Lord, we don't know where you're going or how to get there. Please don't go somewhere we can't go!" (v. 5). He didn't understand what Jesus was going to do. All he knew was he didn't want to be separated from His Lord.

Can you identify with Thomas? Is Christ such an integral part of your daily decisions and activities that life without Him is unthinkable? Do you love Him so much you long to see Him? That was Thomas's passion. May it be yours as well.

Thank the Lord for His presence and power in your life. Demonstrate your love for Him by communing with Him often.

What did Jesus say about His return? Who would comfort and instruct the disciples in Christ's absence?

The follower of Christ will have an intense desire to be in Christ’s presence.

Christ understood our needs to be in Christ’s presence and He left His Body and Blood for us as food in the Sacrament of the Eucharist.

Jesus said “I am the bread of life; he who comes to me shall not hunger, and he who believes in me shall not thirst.

“Truly,truly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of man and drink his blood, you have no life in you; he who eats mt flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day. For my flesh is food indeed, and my blood is drink indeed. He who eats my flesh and drinks my blood abides in me, and I in him. John 6: 35 and 47-56

As Catholics, we are thankful to Jesus for the gift of the Eucharist and look forward to the return of Mass.

In the meantime, your “church” is denying you (supposedly) the presence of Christ.

Jesus does not live in inanimate objects to be eaten to indwell the believer.

Acts 17:24 The God who made the world and everything in it, being Lord of heaven and earth, does not live in temples made by man,

Rather He indwells the believer through faith, not through physical eating.

Ephesians 3:17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love,

Christians worship the Creator, not the created. You all can worship a wheat wafer if you want, but it isn’t Jesus cause He’s not it.

Catholicism is also really good at ignoring this verse in John 6 where Jesus comes right out and tells His disciples that He’s speaking metaphorically about the eating.

John 6:63 It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh is no help at all. The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life.

Whatever Jesus is supposedly inhabiting that wheat wafer, it isn’t the Jesus of the Bible. Y’all are being deceived about how to be in Christ’s presence

Your comment: “Jesus does not live in inanimate objects to be eaten to indwell the believer.”

Obviously you do not believe that Jesus as God can do whatever He says and has performed many miracles during His life on earth and after he ascended into heaven. Indeed, the apostles had seen Jesus perform many miracles, and He empowered them perform miracles. (Matt 10”1,8 Luke 9:1)

St Paul states that the Eucharistic elements are a participation in,not just a representation of, Christ’s Body and Blood (1 Cor 10:16). Paul warns that those who profane the Eucharist “will be guilty of profaning the body and blood of the Lord” (1 Cor 11:29), and the consequence of this can even be death (1 Cor 11:30).

In John 6, Jesus repeatedly stresses the need to eat His flesh and Blood for eternal life. When challenged on how this can happen,Jesus becomes more emphatic, stating “unless you eat the flesh of the Son of man and drink his blood, you have no life in you” and”my flesh is food indeed, and my drink indeed”. Rather than clarifying the matter privately for his core disciples, Jesus asked if they, too, will leave. Jesus was willing to lose core disciples rather than weaken his teaching or explain it as symbolic.

Many believe man-made religious teachings and ignore the words of Jesus, so how can they profess faith in God and ignore His Word?

Remember the words of St Peter: “But false prophets also rose among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Master who brought them, bringing upon themselves swift destruction.” 2 Peter 2

May you find God’s Truth and Peace and be filled with the fullness of God.

Your comment: “John 6:63 It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh is no help at all. The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life.”

While you did not present fully the man-made teaching that ignores God’s Word, some ignore or do not understand the rest of the quote from Jesus: “the words that I have spoken to you are Spirit and life.” “But there are some of you that do not believe.”

How can the Body and Blood of Jesus in the Eucharist be considered “flesh” (as described in John 6:63) when Jesus is the Word of God and the Truth and he specially tells us that the words he has spoken are “Spirit and life”? (John 1:1-14)

The Word became flesh. The Body and Blood of Jesus in the Eucharist is the food Catholics need for eternal life. I hope that you may understand and believe for your sake.

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