3 July, 2024 Feast of Saint Thomas, Apostle

 Reading 1  EPH 2:19-22

Gospel JN 20:24-29

Thomas, called Didymus, one of the Twelve,

was not with them when Jesus came.

So the other disciples said to him, “We have seen the Lord.”

But Thomas said to them,

“Unless I see the mark of the nails in his hands

and put my finger into the nailmarks

and put my hand into his side, I will not believe.”

Now a week later his disciples were again inside

and Thomas was with them.

Jesus came, although the doors were locked,

and stood in their midst and said, “Peace be with you.”

Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here and see my hands,

and bring your hand and put it into my side,

and do not be unbelieving, but believe.”

Thomas answered and said to him, “My Lord and my God!”

Jesus said to him, “Have you come to believe because you have seen me?

Blessed are those who have not seen and have believed.”

Reflections:

Today, on the Solemnity of the Apostle of India, our hearts should rise in thanksgiving, first of all, to Jesus who sent Thomas his disciple to our land to bring the Good News of our salvation, and then to Thomas himself for having faithfully accomplished the command of the Lord, “Go and preach the Gospel…”  He is called the “doubting Thomas” because of his refusal to believe until he could see and touch the Master. Thomas’ loyalty to Jesus is undisputable. When the other disciples were afraid to accompany Jesus to Jerusalem, Thomas was the only one who said, “Let us also go and die with him.” And he showed it in his life: he died preaching the Good News, witnessing to the one who called him. Well, moments of doubts can creep in as we live and work for the Lord, but then in moments of our communion with him the Master will remove all that and strengthen our faith and enable us to do as Thomas did. Do we have the courage that Thomas had? Are we faithful to the Lord as Thomas was?

Activity:

Decide to witness to Jesus in a few acts a week, where it costs your comfort, but deepes your spiritual self.