Saturday, April 25, 2009

Curing Unbelief with Unbelief

St Gregory the Dialogist writes:
When the doubting disciple touched the wounds in his Master's body, He cured the wounds of our unbelief. Thomas' unbelief was of more advantage to our faith than the faith of the believing disciples, because when he was led back to faith by touching Jesus, our minds were relieved of all doubt and made firm in faith.

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

I'd like to thank you for this quote. I used it in my sermon today. Fr. Milan- Vonmen

Felix Culpa said...

You're very welcome, Father. I do hope you provided a link during your sermon! One of the reasons I've been posting festal material a day early is precisely to provide assistance to those preparing sermons or classes.

The Pentecostarion service evokes similar language. The first sticheron of the aposticha at Vespers, for instance, begins: "O strange wonder, unbelief hath given birth unto steadfast faith!"