July 03, 2020 (St Thomas Apostle, Feast)
Doubt no longer…
Dear friends in Christ, today we celebrate the feast of the Apostle St Thomas. He was one of the twelve. He became very famous for doubting the resurrection and eventually addressed by Jesus personally on his next appearance. We pray that our doubts may lead us to stronger faith in the Lord.
Today’s first reading (Ephesians 2:19-22) tells us, “You are no longer strangers and sojourners, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets…” Our entry into this household of the people of God is made possible by our baptism into Christ who commanded his disciples to go and preach the gospel and to baptise the believers in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Paul invites the Ephesians who may not have met any of the Apostles directly, that their faith is not in a vacuum, but built on that foundation of the same faith, with Christ himself being the cornerstone. The same applies to us now. Jesus called the Apostles and gave them a mission to bring the world home to God; to unite the believers in a common household built on faith.
The gospel (John 20:24-29) is on St Thomas, he was absent from the community when Jesus appeared to the Apostles on the day of resurrection. Enthusiastically the other apostles told him of their experience of the resurrected Lord, when he returned. He was however doubtful and told them, “Unless I see in his hands the print of the nails, and place my finger in the mark of the nails, and place my hand in his side, I will not believe.” He was however surprised eight days later with another appearance, in which Jesus asked him to come forward and test the holes for himself with the admonition, “Do not be faithless, but believing.” This was greeted by a strong profession of faith by Thomas who exclaimed: “My Lord and my God.” His doubt gave way to a strong profession of faith in the person of Jesus as both ‘Lord and God’. Jesus would later add, “You have believed because you have seen me. Blessed are those who have not seen and yet believe.” You have not seen Jesus in the flesh, yet you have believed the gospel message on the evidence of the Apostles. The blessedness is yours! Your own doubt may not be about the resurrection, but do you have some doubts about your faith? Some doubts about whether God knows your situation? Whether God will answer the prayers you make? Jesus was not with them in the room, yet he knew what exactly Thomas wanted as confirmation. So also it is, that he hears you. Thomas remained in the community and so experienced the risen Lord. Remain firm in faith and you will see the glory of God too.
Let us pray: Lord, you revealed yourself to Thomas and cleared his doubts, listen to the prayers of your people and heed their call. Amen. May the Almighty God bless you, the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen