Daily Devotion

“I am One's slave. Thou hast no power over me whatever. ... I came here to save many, and I am to depart from my body by thy hands.”

Thomas · The Acts of Thomas, "Consummation of Thomas the Apostle" (Ante-Nicene Fathers, vol. 8)

Scripture

Matthew 10:28 Do not be afraid of those who can kill the body but not destroy the soul. But fear God who has the power to destroy both the soul and the body in hell.

Reflection

Thomas's dying words resonate with the teachings of Jesus, profoundly impacting those of us who, though living in comfort, are often plagued by anxiety. We are frequently preoccupied with temporary gains and losses, physical comfort, or the opinions of others, neglecting the soul that truly cannot be taken away. Thomas proved with his life that when one belongs wholly to the Lord, worldly threats and the shadow of death lose their power. Today, have I built my security on material things that can be destroyed? Lord, grant me a perspective beyond the present, to disregard fleeting power, and to revere only the God who rules over eternal life.