THE FEAST OF THOMAS THE APOSTLE

John 20:24-29

24 But Thomas (who was called the Twin), one of the twelve, was not with them when Jesus came.
25 So the other disciples told him, "We have seen the Lord." But he said to them, "Unless I see the mark of the nails in his hands, and put my finger in the mark of the nails and my hand in his side, I will not believe."
26 A week later his disciples were again in the house and Thomas was with them. Although the doors were shut, Jesus came and stood among them and said, "Peace be with you."
27 Then he said to Thomas, "Put your finger here and see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it in my side. Do not doubt but believe."
28 Thomas answered him, "My Lord and my God!"
29 Jesus said to him, "Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have come to believe."

REFLECTION: from a homily on Gospels by Saint Gregory the Great, Pope

MY LORD AND MY GOD

Thomas one of the twelve, called Twin, was not with them when Jesus came. He was the only disciple absent; on his return he heard what had happened but refused to believe it. The Lord came a second time; he offered his side for the disbelieving disciple to touch, held out his hands, and showing the scars of his wounds, healed the wound of his disbelief.

Dearly beloved what do you see in these events? Do you really believe that it was really by chance that this chosen disciple was absent, then came and heard, heard and doubted, doubted and touched, touched and believed? It was not by chance but in God’s providence. In a marvelous way God’s mercy is arranged that the disbelieving disciple, in touching the wounds of his master’s body, SHOULD HEAL OUR WOUNDS OF DISBELIEF. The disbelief of Thomas has done more for our faith than the faith of the other disciples. As he touches Christ and is won over to belief, every doubt is cast aside and our faith is strengthened. So the disciple who doubted, then felt Christ’s wounds, becomes a witness to the reality of the resurrection.

Touching Christ, he cried out; My Lord and My God. Jesus said to him: Because you have seen me, Thomas, you have believed. Paul said: Faith the guarantee of things hoped for, the evidence of things unseen. It is clear, then, that the faith is the proof of what cannot be seen. What is seen gives knowledge, not faith. When Thomas saw and touched, why was he told: you have believed because you have seen me? Because what he saw and believed were two different things. God cannot be seen by mortal man. Thomas saw a human being, whom he acknowledged to be God, and said my Lord and My God. Seeing he believed; looking at one who was true man, he cried out that this was God, the God he could not see.

What follows is reason for great joy: Blessed are those who have not seen and have believed. There is here a particular reference to ourselves; we hold in our hearts one we have not seen in the flesh. We are included in these words, but only if we follow up our faith with good works. The true believer practices what he believes. But those who pay only lip service to faith, Paul has this to say: They profess to know God, but they deny him in their works. Therefore James says: Faith without work is dead.

Message: "Believe on the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household."(acts 16:31)

Contributed by : REV. FR. FRANKLIN D'SOUZA

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