Feast of St. Thomas, the Apostle
Isaiah 52: 7-10, Ephesians 2: 19-22; John 20: 24-29
Prophet Isaiah exclaims, “How beautiful are the feet of those who announce the good news? Isaiah announced so to instil hope to the people in exile. Jesus often climbs on a hill or a mountain to preach. This was a practice in the ancient world to climb up a high place to announce anything important. St. Thomas was a missionary to India. He proclaimed the Good News of God in many parts of India, particularly southern India. He was martyred on a hilltop, which is now aptly called St. Thomas Mount. His martyrdom on a hilltop was an act of evangelization, a message of faith. Faith is a journey – a journey from doubting to martyrdom.
Touch signifies personal experience: John the evangelist records that Thomas was not with them when Jesus appeared. The disciples inform Thomas about Jesus’ appearance. Thomas firmly says to them, unless I see and touch the scars of the wounds, I will not believe.’ Touching something indicates feeling, experiencing and owning it. A commonly inferred understanding is that Thomas was doubting Jesus. I think Thomas is not doubting Jesus; instead, he is insisting on his right to have a personal experience of the risen Lord. He has received the information that Jesus appeared to his companions. This is an information about the experience of his companions. Information cannot be his experience. Faith is an experience translated into action. Later, Jesus appears, Thomas experiences the risen Lord and declares the most powerful faith statement ‘My Lord and My God,’
There is more faith in a honest doubt, It is fine to doubt and question: ‘An reflected life is not worth living, this is an old cliché. I may say an unquestioned and undoubted faith is not worth holding on to. Doubts clarify, and questions enrich. Thomas had been with Jesus from the beginning. He heard Jesus preach, saw the miracles, and witnessed the crucifixion and death. Now, he missed the risen Lord’s appearance and so demanded for it. Thomas has always expressed his desire to understand Jesus deeply. During the Last supper, Jesus says, ‘where I am going, you know the way.’ (John 14: 4-6). Thomas immediately questions, ‘Lord, we do not know where you are going; how can we know the way?’ These questions are not a sign of doubt but an expression of a deep desire to understand and solidify faith. Faith is a journey, and this journey has to progress with dialogue, debate, doubt, and question.
Community/Family nurtures faith: I think after Jesus' death, Thomas preferred to be alone rather than being with his companions. As he was absent, he missed the first coming of Jesus. We miss important things when we constantly keep ourselves away from our communities and families. At difficult times, we tend to be aloof. This is the time we need to be with others. Our families/communities nurture us.
Thomas was an honest man: Thomas never compromised. There is an uncompromising honesty about him. He would not pretend to understand or believe. He wanted to be sure about what he does and believes. When he does not understand, he did not hesitate to clarify.
Our Take Away
1.There is more faith in an honest doubt. Faith is a journey, journey from doubt to martyrdom. It is fine to question. Questions are not a sign of doubt but an expression of a deep desire to understand profoundly and solidify faith. It is fine to doubt and question.
2. Do I know God? Or Do I know about God? Knowing about God is having the information about God. On the other hand, knowing God is our personal experience. Thomas admonishes us that we insist God to bless us with an personal experience of Him.
3. Our communities/families nurture our faith.
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