St. Thomas, Apostle-feast

Ephesians 2:19-22
John 20:24-29

DOUBT NO LONGER BUT BELIEVE IN JESUS

Today we celebrate the feast of St. Thomas, the Apostle who is also called the Twin-Didymus. He is quite a unique apostle because he is known not only for his famous doubt about the Risen Lord’s appearance but also the affirmation that Christ is His Lord and God. The phrase ‘Doubting Thomas’ emerged from the apparition of Jesus to His disciples as seen in today’s gospel passage.

Our attention goes first to his fear in seeking refuge after Christ was crucified and was buried and secondly to his doubt as to whether Christ is truly risen that will need a physical evidence. Although, he was unfortunate not to be in the first appearance of Risen Lord and as he was being told of it, he doubted until Christ appeared again and showed him the marks of his Crucifixion. Thus, the marks of pain and death before his very eyes transformed into a sign and source of life

The response of Jesus is revealing. His first encouragement is to offer peace – an elusive reality in the wider world, but one that he encourages and offers to each disciple amid everything around them. It is worth taking a moment to savour this moment. Jesus recognises that faithful discipleship does not insulate one from either fear or doubt, but he also shows a way to move forward towards the trust that grows from experience of his presence.

Further, Jesus reveals to them the wounds of the Passion. In other words, He reveals the depth of His love, symbolized by the wounds and suffering Je endured, and this same love invites relationship. Faith is our relationship with Jesus in action.
While faith is an individual gift, our Christian lives are meant to be lived in a community context.

Thus, when Thomas is alone, he follows his own instincts and logic and forms an opinion – he does not believe. He echoes the world around us, seeking empirical evidence always and demanding proofs for things that are more mysterious and intuitive. When alone he cannot find faith. However, when he is with the community his doubts cease and he finds faith and trust are the keys to his life (not empirical proof).

Fr Joseph Osho