Prologue in Sermons: October 6

House Not Made With Hands

October 6

(Homily on the Holy Apostle Thomas)

By Archpriest Victor Guryev

I will tell you the following story from the life of Saint Thomas the Apostle. After the Ascension of Jesus Christ into heaven and the Descent of the Holy Spirit, the Apostles cast lots to determine where each would go to preach the word of God. Thomas was assigned Parthia, Media, and India, and he began to prepare for his journey. Meanwhile, at that very time, an Indian merchant named Avan came to Jerusalem, seeking an artist to build a magnificent house for his king. He met the Apostle. Thomas told him that he himself was a skilled builder and set off with him to India. Arriving before the king, Thomas offered his services, and the king, believing him to be a truly skilled artist, entrusted him with the construction of the building and, after indicating the location, gave him a considerable sum of gold and silver for expenses. Taking the money, the Apostle distributed it to the poor, and instead of building a palace, he began to zealously spread the word of God. Some time later, someone told the king, who wanted to know how the work was progressing, that the roof was already under construction. Overjoyed by this news, the king sent Thomas an even greater amount of gold than before. The Apostle distributed this to the poor, but the palace was still not built. Finally, it was revealed to the king that Thomas was deceiving him, and the king, blazing with anger, immediately ordered him to be brought before him and he cried out, "Where is the house you were supposed to build?" The Apostle replied that the house was not here, but that he would see it after death and only then would he take possession of it. The king, seeing Thomas's words as mockery towards himself, ordered him thrown into prison, where he was threatened with a terrible fate. However, in reality, things turned out differently. The king's beloved brother fell dangerously ill and during his illness had the following vision. He was shown the dwellings of the saints and asked to choose the one he particularly liked. When he had selected one of the best and pointed to it, the angel accompanying him told him he could not occupy that dwelling because it had already been prepared for his brother, the king. Coming to his senses, he reported his vision to the king, who, convinced that the Apostle was truly preparing a heavenly dwelling for him, rather than an earthly one, immediately commanded to release him and, falling at his feet, begged his forgiveness. Saint Thomas then instructed him in the Christian faith and baptized him.

Brethren! What does this circumstance from the life of the Apostle teach us? First of all, that we must be most concerned with acquiring a true, everlasting dwelling place for ourselves, "a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens" (2 Cor. 5:1); remembering that we are strangers and pilgrims here on earth, and that our dwellings here, and the earth itself, are nothing more than a temporary inn, which, if not today, then tomorrow, but in any case, we must inevitably leave. And while thinking about this, we must not forget that "no one can lay any other foundation for our eternal dwelling than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ" (1 Cor. 3:11).

We further learn how much almsgiving can contribute to our salvation. As you see, it makes even the pagans pleasing to God, so that in exchange for it He provides the means for conversion, and therefore for salvation. The king's gold, distributed to the poor through the Apostle, was not wasted in vain, as the king thought, but rather acquired for him an eternal, not-made-with-hands home in heaven. Nor will our goods, given to the least of Christ's brethren, be wasted; indeed, they will grow and multiply for us.

"Therefore do not forget to do good and to share, for with such sacrifices God is pleased" (Heb. 13:16). Amen.

Source: Translated by John Sanidopoulos.