From 'doubting' to faithful witness
Reflections on the readings for the Feast of St. Thomas (July 3, 2021): EPH 2:19-22; PS 117:1-2; JN 20:24-29
MISSIO offers “Mission In Scripture” to nurture a missionary heart, providing reflections on the missionary themes in the readings of Sundays, Feast Days and Holy Days.
St. Thomas is one of the many Apostles about whom we hear only a few times in Scripture. However, unlike most of them, he left a lasting impression on people as “Doubting Thomas.”
Here was a man who was willing to leave his old life behind in order to follow Jesus for years. Yet, after our Lord’s Crucifixion, he was unwilling to take the word of his fellow Apostles when they assured him that Jesus had indeed risen. He could not grasp that He lived and that they had seen Him. We do not know if Thomas tended to be skeptical or if the death of Christ had so overwhelmed him that the idea that He would rise again seemed too good to be true. He probably felt guilty for deserting Jesus and unable to believe the truth. We do know that Thomas told the other Apostles that he wanted proof from his own senses. And that is exactly what Christ gave him. Whatever doubt Thomas had fell away in the presence of the Son of God whom he adored with his whole being, when he prayed: “My Lord and my God!” Our Lord then spoke words that have touched the hearts of all who have had faith in Him over these two thousand years. “Jesus said to him, ‘Have you come to believe because you have seen Me? Blessed are those who have not seen and have believed’” (John 20:29).
This was not the only time that Thomas elicited from Christ memorable words mean so much to believers. At the Last Supper, Jesus said to the Apostles that He would be leaving them, yet that they knew the way to where He was going. None understood what Christ meant. But it was Thomas who asked how they could possibly know the way. Jesus answer: “I am the way and the truth and the life” (John 14:6). When the Apostles later spread out as missionaries, St. Thomas brought news of our Savior, the way, the truth and the life, as far as India. It was there that he was martyred for his faith in the Savior who loved him – and all of us – so much.
Suggested missionary action: We can ask St. Thomas to help missionaries who, like him, open the door to faith in Christ so that those who have not seen may believe. On his feast day, let us support the work of the Pontifical Mission Societies in prayer and, if possible, with material assistance.