It’s kind of funny how things get turned around in this day and time I am referring to that phrase that past generations are very much familiar with a “Doubting Thomas”. Where did that come from? From the Christian mind, in the Gospel of John, Thomas is absent when Jesus first appears to the disciples after his resurrection. When told of the event, Thomas famously declares he will not believe unless he can see and touch the nail marks in Jesus’ hands and the wound in his side. The writings that we have tell us at eight days later, Jesus appeared again and this time Thomas was present. Thomas is invited by Jesus to touch his wounds, prompting Thomas to declare his faith with the words, “My Lord and my God.”  it was in the synoptic gospels Matthew, Mark, and Luke to put it in the way of writing lingo, Thomas doesn’t get a whole lot of ink so to speak and he was mentioned only in the listings of the apostles. However, in the gospel of John, Thomas plays a leading role with  two significant accounts. In John’s gospel, Jesus’ earthly ministry is nearing its end, and there are some people in Judea, who are plotting the Lord’s demise. It was during these times that the disciples receive the news that their friend Lazarus was at the point of death. The disciples were fearful for Jesus’s life as well as their own, and they tried to talk Jesus out of returning to Lazarus’s hometown of Bethany, which was near Jerusalem, where death threats certainly awaited them but Jesus could not be persuaded not to go. Thomas spoke to his fellow disciples. “Let’s go also that we may die with him”. Thomas’s readiness to stay with Jesus, despite the consequences is noteable. I am sure that there was a lot of uneasiness among many of the disciples and though Thomas’  outlook on things may have been a bit pessimistic and sometimes his words rather gloomy, Thomas demonstrated extreme loyalty to Jesus. I think it’s fair to say that many of us kind of fit in Thomases shoes we are deeply committed to our God, to our faith, to our church but we have doubts and questions just like anyone else. The story goes after the disciples were gathered together in a closed room and Thomas wasn’t there for some reason or other, but they passed on to Thomas the information that they had seen Jesus, that he had been there with them. It was at this point that Thomas uttered his famous words, “unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where his where the nails were and put my hand into his side. I will not believe.”

I guess it’s worth repeating with these famous words. Thomas learned a nickname that would be remembered throughout history, Doubting Thomas. Thomas’s deal was real and understandable, but it turned in to a truth, a loving quest, the truth being that Thomas’ doubt was not one of worldly opposition. It is important that we note at this particular point of our blog that Thomas had an honest skepticism and inquisitive nature which prompted him to continue to seek the truth when Jesus told him that he was going to his fathers house to prepare a place for them and the disciples were rightly confused. It was this honest skepticism and inquisitive nature that prompted him to be the first to ask, “Lord, we don’t know where you are going, so how can we know the way”? Several commentators have made a very very important point here. Jesus wasn’t talking about knowing a route or a location, but about knowing a person. Being sincere in our faith and asking questions doesn’t make us a bad person. Thomas was speaking honestly and with a sincere faith and that does not prohibit investigation. Today right now in our time we live on our faith after Jesus had confirmed Thomas’s faith he addressed all of us with these words from John’s gospel “because you have seen me you have believed, bless are those who have not seen and yet have believed”. These words of encouragement and validation from our savior have come down through the ages, and hopefully, as we read those words, we will be inspired to believe, defend our faith and live a fruitful life for him.

While it is true that Thomas demanded evidence of the miracle of Christ Resurrection before he accepted the truth, this doubt does not define the quality of his life. Thomas would go on to be better known for his loyalty, his obedience to the gospel, and his faith. Tradition tells us that Thomas traveled to India to preach the gospel and it is believed that he established Christian communities along the Malabar coast. I suppose that’s all that we’ll write at this point about St. Thomas. It’s interesting to note that faith overcame his doubts and he searched until he found the truth in that room confronting Jesus there and Jesus responding. I believe it can be honestly sad that his doubt became a lifetime of faith, service, and love to our savior.

Life is Good

jk