November 7

Sixteenth Thursday after Trinity

That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith. Ephesians 3:17.

THE fellow-disciples of S. Thomas told him, "We have seen the Lord." He said, "Except I shall touch, except I shall put my finger into His Side, I will not believe;" and he actually did put his hand there and made his faith complete. For what is the fulness of faith? That Christ should not be believed merely as Man; that Christ should not be believed simply as God: but as Man and God. This is the fulness of faith; for the Word was made flesh and dwelt among us. Therefore S. Thomas, when the scars and limbs of his Saviour were presented to his touch, when he touched exclaimed, "My Lord and my God." He touched the Man—he recognised the God; He touched the Flesh—he thought of the Word. Every day, throughout the universal Church, Peter is saying, "Thou art Christ the Son of God," and every tongue which owns the Lord is instructed by the teaching of this voice. This faith overcomes the devil and breaks the chain of his captives, rescues men from the world and introduces them into heaven, and the gates of hell cannot prevail against it. Let us bear in mind that

Blessed are they who, needing no loud sign

Of reason, or felt proof, or voice Divine,

Believing, love; and loving, ask not sight!

They on the Bosom of the Infinite

Have been, and there in faith for ever lie;

Believing because they love, and ask not why,

But on His Bosom lie they all day long,

And are refreshed and strong.

Through all Thy works, Thee, Lord, at every turn,

Through all Thy Word, Thee and Thy Cross discern.