Quod Dominus apparuit discipulis in domo, Thoma praesente
The Risen Lord in the Little Home
The terrified disciples prostrate themselves before the risen Christ, joyfully serve him a meal, and attend reverently to him and to his mother, with Mary Magdalene sitting at his feet.
They prostrated themselves before him, those who had been struck with terror just moments before.✦ Oh, how gladly they set those things before him, so that he might eat!✦ How faithfully they served him, and how joyfully they attended to him! Notice too that the Lady is there in the same place, because the disciples were gathering around her.✦ See, then, her gazing upon these things with unspeakable joy, sitting familiarly beside her son, and serving him eagerly, as is fitting. The Lord Jesus, too, gladly accepts every service from her hands, and honors her reverently before the disciples. But don't overlook Mary Magdalene, the beloved disciple and apostle of the apostles.✦ Notice too how she sits at the feet of her Master in the usual way, diligently listening to his words, and if there's anything she can do, she herself serves him joyfully and with her whole heart.✦
Holding On to the Lord
The devotional warmth of that first Passover evening is savored, and Mary Magdalene's loving clinging to the Lord's garments is lovingly described.
What a little home that must have been — and what a gracious thing it is to dwell in it! Doesn't it even now seem to you a great Passover, if you have any devotion in you? I think so. But the Lord stayed only a short time with them, because by then it was already nearly evening. Even so, perhaps they themselves urged him to stay a little longer, asking him not to leave so quickly. Don't you think that Mary Magdalene, sitting at his feet beside him, was holding on to him by his garments — confidently, yet with reverent boldness — so that he wouldn't leave so soon? For he was clothed in the whitest garments, the robes of his own glory. So that is how she held him: not presumptuously, but confidently she acted — so loving, so beloved — and she did not displease the Lord.
The Lord Departs and Calls Us to the Passover
After blessing the disciples and departing, the Lord leaves them hungry for him, and the text draws the reader into a present-day longing to taste the Passover through sharing in his Passion.
The Lord wants to be held on to, as is clear in the case of the two disciples mentioned above, who were on their way to Emmaus.✦ At last, after showing reverence to his mother and likewise receiving leave from her, the Lord blessed them all and departed from them; but they, prostrating themselves, begged him, on account of their swift return, to stay.1 But they remained hungry and thirsty for the Lord, from whom they had been accustomed to have such abundance, often calling him back with sighs and longing. You have seen how many times today you have had your Passover: for all these apparitions took place on the day of the Passover.2 But perhaps you heard, yet did not feel — nor perhaps did you have compassion in the Passion. For I believe that if you had learned to suffer with him in the Passion, and had a unified mind — not scattered toward worldly things, or idle distractions, or curiosities — on every such occasion you would taste the Passover.3 And this could happen on any Lord's day, if with a whole mind you prepared yourself on Fridays and Saturdays together with the Passion of the Lord — the Apostle telling us plainly: If we are sharers in his sufferings, we will be sharers in his consolation.✦4 That the Lord appeared to the disciples on the octave of Passover, and Thomas was with them.✦5
Thomas Touches the Wounds
On the octave of Passover the Lord appears with the doors shut, invites Thomas to touch his wounds, receives his confession of faith, and freely forgives him.
When the eighth day of the Resurrection came, the Lord Jesus appeared again to the disciples, the doors being shut; and Thomas was with them, who had not been with them on the first day.✦ And when the others told him that they had seen the Lord, he replied: Unless I see in his hands the mark of the nails, and put my finger into the wound, I will not believe.✦ So the good shepherd, concerned for his little flock, says: Peace to you.✦ Then he said to Thomas: Put your finger here, and see my hands, and bring your hand, and put it into my side, and do not be unbelieving, but faithful.✦ Then Thomas knelt down, touched the Lord's wounds, and said: My Lord and my God.✦ For he saw his risen humanity, and believed in his divinity.✦ He also confessed his own fault in this: that he had abandoned him, just as the others had said.✦ But the Lord, raising him up, said: Do not be afraid; all your sins are forgiven you.✦
The Purpose of the Sacred Scars
Thomas's doubt is shown to be divinely permitted, and the Lord keeps his scars for the apostles' faith, for his intercession with the Father, and for the final judgment, before the disciples are sent to Galilee.
This, however, was providentially permitted concerning Thomas's doubt, so that by clearer proofs the resurrection of the Lord might be established. Now look carefully here at him, and consider his customary kindness, humility, and fervent love — how he shows his wounds to Thomas and to the other disciples, so as to remove all darkness from their hearts, for their benefit and ours. The Lord also kept the scars of his wounds for himself, especially for three reasons: namely, to build up the apostles' faith in his resurrection; and to show them to the Father when he wishes to appease him and intercede for us — he is indeed our advocate; and also to show them to the reprobate on the day of judgment.✦ So the Lord Jesus stands with his mother and his disciples, speaking for a short while about the kingdom of God; and they, attentive to him, listen with great joy to these sublime words, gazing upon his face full of gladness and beauty. Observe carefully those standing around him on all sides, but the Lady closer beside him; and Mary Magdalene — notice how she is always at his feet. And you, stand reverently at a distance — unless perhaps his mercy moves you and causes you to be called. He tells them to go into Galilee, to Mount Tabor — as it is said — and there he will appear to them.✦ And having given his blessing, he departed from them.
Hungry and Strengthened
After the Lord's departure, the disciples remain hungry and thirsty for him, yet greatly strengthened.
But they themselves remained, as before, hungry and thirsty for him — and yet greatly strengthened.
Read the original Latin
Iffitantiir coram eo, qui ante erant pavefacti. 0 quam libenter eitlem illa porrexerunt, ut comederet! Quam fideliter ei ministrabant, et quam jucunde assistebant ei! Conspice etiam Dominam ibidem esse, quia discipuli congregabant se ad eam. Vide ergo eam indicibili gaudio ista conspicere, et juxta tilium familiariter sedere, et sicut expedit servire alacriter. Dominus etiam Jesus libenter suscipit omne servitium de manibus ejus, et eam reverenter honorat coram discipulis. Non autem omiltas Magdalenam dilectam discipulam, et apostolorum apostolam. Conspice etiam, qualiter more solito sedet ad pedes Magistri sui, diligenter audit verba ejus, et si quid potest etiam ipsa, gaudiose ac toto afiectu eidem ministrat.
0 qualis tunc est domuncula ista, et quam gratiosum habitare in ea! Nonne tibi videtur etiam nunc esse magnum Pascha, si aliquid devotionis habes? Puto quod sic. Sed parum stetit tunc Dominus cum eis, quia jam erat quasi sero. Tamen forte etiam ipsi coegerunt eum aliquantulum plus stare, rogantes ne sic cito recederet. Annon credis quod Magdalena, sedens ad pedes juxta eum, teneret per pannos eum confidenter, et cum reverenti audacia, ne discederet ita cito. Erat enim indulus vestimentis albissimis, vestibus gloriae suae. Sic enim eum tenebat: non praesumptuose, sed confidenter faciebat, sic diligens, sic dilecta, nec Domino displicebat.
Teneri vult Dominus, ut patet in duobus discipulis supra, euntibus in Emmaus. Tandem Dominus reverentia matri exhibita, similiter et ab ea recepta licentia, benedicens omnes, recessit ab eis; ipsi vero procidentes, de cita reversione rogaverunt eumdem. Remanserunt autem famelici et sitibundi de Domino, de quo tantam copiam habere consueverant, eum saepe suspiriis et desideriis revocantes. Vidisti quoties hodic habuisli Pascha: nam omnes istee apparitiones in die Paschatis fuerunt. Sed forte audisti, sed non sensisti, qui nec forte in passione compassionem habuisti. Credo enim, quod si in passione compati scires, et mentem haberes unitam, et non sparsam ad saecularia, vel superflua, vel curiosa, in quahbet vice sentires Pascha. Et hoc de quolibet die dominico contingere posset, si mente integra diebus Veneris et Sabbati, te cum passione Domini praeparares, raaxime dicente Apostolo ^: Si fuerimus socii passionum, erimus ei co7isolatio7ium. Quod Domiiius apparuit discipnlis in octava Paschce, et erat cum eis Thomas.
Adveniente aufera die octava resurrectionis, iterum ^ apparuit Dominus Jesus discipulis, januis clausis; et erat Thomas cum eis, qui prima die cum eis non fuerat. Et cum alii narrasscnt ei, quia viderant Dominum, rcspondit: Nisi vidcro in ma^iibus ejus flxuram clavorum, et mittam 7ion credam. Dicit ergo Pastor bonus, et de pusillo suo grege sollicitus: Paa; vohis. Tieinde dicit ThomcK: Infer digitum tuum huc, et vide manus meas, et affer ma^ium tuam, et mitte in latus meum, et noH esse incredulus, sed fidelis. Tunc Thomas procidens, tetigit cicatrices Domini, et dixit: Domi7ius meus et Deus meus. Horainem enim vidit, et Deum credidit. Dixit etiam suam culpam de hoc, quod ipse derehquerat eum, sicut et alii dixerunt. Dominus autem erigens eum, dixit: Noli timere, omnia peccata sunt tibi dimissa.
Hoc autem de Thoraae dubitatione dispensatorie permissum est, ut evidentioribus argumentis resurrectio Domini probaretur. Conspice autem hic diligenter eum, et considera solitam benignitatem, humilitatem et amorem ferventem ipsius, quomodo scihcet Thomae monstrat et ahis discipulis vulnera sua, ut tolleret omnem obscuritatem de cordibus eorum, ad ipsorum et nostram utihtatem. Reservavit quoque sibi Dominus cicatrices vulnerum, maxime propter tria, scilicet ut faceret apostolis fidem de sua resurrectione, et ut ipsas ostendat Patri, quando vult placare eum, et interpellare pro nobis: est enim noster advocatus; et etiam ut eas monstret reprobis in die judicii. Stat ergo Dominus Jesus cum matre et discipulis suis, per ahquam morulam loquens de regno Dei; et ipsi cura eo in laetitia magna, audientes ista verba excelsa, et aspicientes faciem ejus plenam gaudio et decore. Attende bene eos circumcirca stantes, sed Dominam familiarius juxta eum; Magdalenam vero semper ad pedes ejus considera. Sta et tu reverenter, a longe tamen, nisi forte raisericordia raotus faciat tc vocari. Tandera dicit eis, quod vadant in Galilaeam in montem Thabor, ut dicitur, et ibi apparebit eis. Et benedictione data, discessit ab eis.
Ipsi vero remanserunt, ut prius, famelici et sitibundi de eo, sed plurimum eonfortati
Scripture echoes
- ↩John.20.19-John.20.20 — On the evening of that day, the first day of the week, the doors being locked where the disciples were for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said to them, "Peace be with you." John.20.20 — And when he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side. So the disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord.
- ↩Luke.24.30-Luke.24.31 — And it came to pass, when he was at table with them, he took the bread, blessed it, and broke it, and gave it to them. Luke.24.31 — And their eyes were opened, and they recognized him; and he vanished from their sight.
- ↩Acts.1.14 — All these were devoting themselves with one accord to prayer, together with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brothers.
- ↩John.20.17-John.20.18 — Jesus said to her, "Do not hold on to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father. But go to my brothers and say to them, 'I am ascending to my Father and your Father, and my God and your God.'" John.20.18 — Mary Magdalene went and announced to the disciples, "I have seen the Lord," and she told them these things that he had said to her.
- ↩Luke.10.39 — She had a sister called Mary, who also sat at the Lord's feet and listened to his word.
- ↩Luke.24.13-Luke.24.35 — And behold, two of them on that same day were going to a village sixty stadia from Jerusalem, called Emmaus. Luke.24.14 — And they were talking with each other about all these things that had happened. Luke.24.15 — And it came to pass, while they were talking and questioning together, that Jesus himself drew near and went with them. Luke.24.16 — But their eyes were kept from recognizing him. Luke.24.17 — And he said to them, "What are these words that you are exchanging with one another as you walk?" And they stood still, looking sad. Luke.24.18 — Then one of them, Cleopas by name, answered him, "Are you the only visitor in Jerusalem who does not know the things that have taken place there in these days?" Luke.24.19 — And he said to them, "What things?" And they said to him, "The things concerning Jesus of Nazareth, who was a man, a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people." Luke.24.20 — how our chief priests and rulers handed him over to a sentence of death and crucified him. Luke.24.21 — But we had hoped that he was the one who was going to redeem Israel. But even besides all this, today is the third day since these things took place. Luke.24.22 — But also, certain women from among us amazed us; they went to the tomb early in the morning, Luke.24.23 — and when they did not find his body, they came back saying that they had also seen a vision of angels, who said that he is alive. Luke.24.24 — And some of those who were with us went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said, but him they did not see. Luke.24.25 — And he said to them, 'O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken!' Luke.24.26 — Was it not necessary for the Christ to suffer these things and to enter into his glory? Luke.24.27 — And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself. Luke.24.28 — And they drew near to the village to which they were going, and he made as though he would go farther. Luke.24.29 — And they urged him, saying, "Stay with us, for it is toward evening and the day is now far spent." And he went in to stay with them. Luke.24.30 — And it came to pass, when he was at table with them, he took the bread, blessed it, and broke it, and gave it to them. Luke.24.31 — And their eyes were opened, and they recognized him; and he vanished from their sight. Luke.24.32 — They said to one another, "Was not our heart burning within us while he spoke to us on the road, while he opened to us the Scriptures?" Luke.24.33 — And they got up that very hour and returned to Jerusalem, and found the eleven and those who were with them gathered together, Luke.24.34 — The Lord has truly been raised, and he appeared to Simon. Luke.24.35 — Then they told what had happened on the road, and how he was made known to them in the breaking of the bread.
- ↩Rom.8.17;2Cor.1.7 — And if children, then heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with him so that we may also be glorified with him. 2Cor.1.7 — And our hope for you is sure, because we know that as you share in our sufferings, so also you share in our comfort.
- ↩John.20.26-John.20.29 — And after eight days his disciples were again inside, and Thomas was with them. Jesus came, the doors being locked, and he stood in the midst and said, 'Peace be to you.' John.20.27 — Then he said to Thomas, "Put your finger here, and see my hands; and put out your hand, and place it into my side; and do not be unbelieving, but believing." John.20.28 — Thomas answered him, 'My Lord and my God!' John.20.29 — Jesus said to him, "Because you have seen me, you have believed. Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed."
- ↩John.20.26 — And after eight days his disciples were again inside, and Thomas was with them. Jesus came, the doors being locked, and he stood in the midst and said, 'Peace be to you.'
- ↩John.20.25 — So the other disciples told him, 'We have seen the Lord.' But he said to them, 'Unless I see in his hands the mark of the nails, and put my finger into the mark of the nails, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe.'
- ↩John.20.19 — On the evening of that day, the first day of the week, the doors being locked where the disciples were for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said to them, "Peace be with you."
- ↩John.20.27 — Then he said to Thomas, "Put your finger here, and see my hands; and put out your hand, and place it into my side; and do not be unbelieving, but believing."
- ↩John.20.28 — Thomas answered him, 'My Lord and my God!'
- ↩John.20.28-John.20.29 — Thomas answered him, 'My Lord and my God!' John.20.29 — Jesus said to him, "Because you have seen me, you have believed. Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed."
- ↩Mark.14.50 — And everyone deserted him and fled.
- ↩John.20.21-John.20.23 — So Jesus said to them again, 'Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you.' John.20.22 — And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said, "Receive the Holy Spirit." John.20.23 — If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained.
- ↩1John.2.1 — My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the Righteous One.
- ↩Matt.28.7 — And go quickly and tell his disciples that he has been raised from the dead. And behold, he is going ahead of you into Galilee; there you will see him. Behold, I have told you.
Notes
- 1 ↩reverentia matri exhibita — the nature of this reverence is left unspecified; the text does not elaborate on what the Lord did for his mother
- 2 ↩hodie — the meditative 'today' collapses the historical day of resurrection into the reader's present devotional experience
- 3 ↩sentires Pascha — 'taste/experience the Passover' is a devotional metaphor for interior participation in the mystery, not merely intellectual awareness
- 4 ↩Si fuerimus socii passionum, erimus ei consolationis — candidate allusion to Romans 8:17 (si tamen compatimur, ut et conglorificemur) or 2 Corinthians 1:7; exact source pending Moses resolution
- 5 ↩Domiiius / discipnlis / Paschce — normalized from apparent typos in the raw text (Dominus, discipulis, Paschae)
Meditationes Vitae Christi (Pseudo-Bonaventure), Castilian court context companion
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