Today the Church celebrates the feast day of St. Thomas the Apostle. Best known for his initial unwillingness to believe the other Apostles in their claim that Jesus had risen from the dead, St. Thomas can teach us a lot about believing without seeing.
As an Apostle, St. Thomas (obviously) was dedicated to following the Lord. Upon hearing that Jesus was returning to Judea, an area that would pose dangers due to the growing animosity of the authorities there, he immediately said to the other Apostles, “Let us also go, that we may die with Him.” (John 11, 16). Yet despite this determination, Thomas proved not only too weak to stand beside Jesus as He faced His crucifixion, but also doubted the Lord’s Resurrection when he was told about it by the other apostles.
His later profession of faith, “My Lord and my God,” can teach us some important lessons: it can comfort us in our insecurity; it can show us that every doubt can lead to an outcome brighter than any uncertainty; and it can encourage in us mature faith and provide us with inspiration to persevere, despite difficulty, along our journey of loyalty and fidelity to the Way of the Lord.
After Pentecost, St. Thomas is traditionally believed to have preached the Good News to the Persians and Medes, until he reached India, where he evangelized and was eventually martyred in 72 A.D.
Let us pray. “St. Thomas, beloved Apostle, you spread the light of Christ in the hearts of the people far and wide. You humbly confessed “My Lord and My God” and sacrificed your life for love of Him. We pray that you strengthen us with love and faith in Christ Jesus so that we may dedicate ourselves totally to the cause of the kingdom of justice, peace, and love. We pray that, through your intercession, we may be protected from all trials, dangers, and temptations and be strengthened in the love of God, the Father, Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.”
