I don’t think any of us would choose to have a dose of covid, even though the illness is not generally as severe now. I recently isolated for 11 days with it, and in some ways the enforced rest did me good. I was able to spend more time reading and one of the things I love to do in spare moments is to browse through the hymn book. There are some wonderful old hymns that wouldn’t be sung now but are rich in Christian teaching and inspiration.
This time I found one I had never seen before, and it’s really old, as it was written by Jean Tisserand who died in 1494. It was later translated by John Mason Neale who died in 1866, presumably from French or Latin. I couldn’t find anything about the writer on Google, but the reason I was drawn to tbe hymn was that it is almost all about Thomas, and his reaction to Jesus’ resurrection, based on John 20 vs 19 – 29.
The words are as follows:
Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!
O sons and daughters let us sing!
The king of heaven, the glorious king,
O’er death today rose triumphing.
Alleluia !
That night the apostles met in fear,
Amidst them came their Lord most dear,
And said “My peace be on all here “
Alleluia!
When Thomas first the tidings heard,
That they had seen the risen Lord,
He doubted the Disciples’ word.
Alleluia!
“My pierced side, O Thomas see,
Behold my hands, my feet” said he,
“not faithless yet believing be”
Alleluia!
No longer Thomas then denied,
He saw the feet, the hands, the side,
“You are my Lord and God !” he cried,
Alleluia!
How blest are they that have not seen,
And yet whose faith hath constant been,
For they eternal life shall win.
Alleluia!
You can listen to the hymn on You tube and it is more suited to a cathedral choir than an ordinary congregation. Thomas is one of my favourite Bible characters so I am thrilled that he has a hymn written all about him. How many of us have had our faith strengthened by reading about Thomas’ questions! I know i have and we can thank him for showing Jesus’ followers down the centuries that it’s okay to ask questions and to doubt. Jesus takes us as we are and shows us the way!
Dear Lord, we thank you for Thomas who asked questions and voiced his doubts. Bring us with him to that place of faith where we can say, ” My Lord and my God!”