Mano Viešpats ir mano Dievas: kai sąlygos Dievui nublanksta prieš tikrą susitikimą

“If it sometimes seems that God is ‘late’ and does not come when you call on Him, this homily on St. Thomas can show how a true encounter disarms all our conditions for God.” Sermon delivered at the Shrine of Divine Mercy (Vilnius) on July 3, 2026. Fr. Povilas Narijauskas reflects on the Gospel account of St. Thomas, who was not with the other disciples when Jesus first appeared, and who later said: “Unless I touch them, I will not believe”—as if setting conditions for God Himself. The homily shows how Jesus stoops to meet man’s level: He comes again, invites Thomas to touch His wounds, and does not rebuke him for his unbelief. It is precisely this moment—the encounter with the risen Christ—that disarms Thomas so completely that he no longer needs all that he himself had asked for. A cry springs from his heart: “My Lord and my God,” a cry no longer based on fulfilled conditions, but on genuine experience. The priest connects this episode to our own lives: we often “test” God by asking for ever-new signs and putting off the decision to follow Him until everything seems safe and comfortable. However, true change comes when we stand—or better yet, kneel—before the cross and receive Communion not as a beautiful symbol, but as a genuine encounter with the Lord, who looks upon our real situation. The homily invites us not to rush off after the blessing, but to remain before the Blessed Sacrament, to allow that encounter to transform our worries and kindle our faith from within. May there be more moments in our lives when, rather than bargaining with God, we exclaim in wonder, “My Lord and my God,” and share that joy with others. Priest: Povilas Narijauskas Location: Shrine of Divine Mercy, Vilnius Date: July 3, 2026 Theme: My Lord and My God—an encounter that disarms unbelief More about the Shrine of Divine Mercy in Vilnius: Website: www.gailestingumas.lt Meaningful gifts and religious items: Mercy Shop online store: mercyshop.eu Looking for a gift for a Baptism, Confirmation, or Wedding? Stop by the Mercy Shop.