MY LORD AND MY GOD
There are different shades of meaning for the words “Lord” and “God.” The term God comes from Hebrew “Elohim” and Greek “Theos.” God stands for the all-powerful one who created the world and sustains it. The word “Lord” comes from Hebrew “Adonai” and Greek “Kurios”. It is also translated as Yahweh (Jehovah), who interacts with people like making Adam out of clay, conversing with the first parents, and making a covenant with the people. Elohim came from priestly tradition and Yahweh came from the Yahwistic tradition in the Bible. Thus, the Old Testament used both Lord and God when referring to God the almighty. Psalm 35:23 uses “my God and my Lord.”
The disciples usually called Jesus the Lord. The Lord could mean someone in higher rank or the “Son of God.” In Mathew 16:16, Simon Peter answered Jesus, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” Jesus had asserted that he was God and that was why the Jewish authorities accused him of blasphemy. However, it was Thomas who said to the Risen Lord, “My Lord and my God.” By that, Thomas declared he had seen Jesus until then as his Lord. However, he acknowledged the Lord was also the mighty God. Hence, Thomas had advanced in his belief and conviction. He expressed his faith in the divinity of Jesus. Jesus had told in John 14:9, “Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father.” Thomas, while seeing the Risen Lord, acknowledged that the God the Father was visible in Jesus.
REFLECTION
People of various beliefs consider Jesus differently. However, as Christians, he is our Lord and God. Our profession of faith is so important that church asks us to recite that along with our prayers. Our faith-based life will lead to our eternal salvation.