Tradition tells us that Thomas, one of the twelve apostles of Jesus, after evangelizing other parts of the East, came to India. He evangelized many parts of this country, especially the South and finally received the martyr’s crown at Mylapore. The feast of St. Thomas is celebrated on 3rd of July.
There are three scenes in John’s Gospel where we meet with Thomas the apostle.
Scene one: Jesus is at work across the Jordan away from Jerusalem. Martha sends word that Lazarus, her brother and friend of Jesus is ill. Jesus breaks the news to the disciples, but carries on there for another two days. But after two days Jesus decides to go to Lazarus, who by then, is dead. The disciples are disturbed with Jesus’ decision to return to Jerusalem because they know that hatred and enmity of Jesus has been stronger and stronger in Jerusalem, and they would rather stay away from any open confrontation. It is safer to be across the Jordan! From among this disturbed and dejected band of disciples, there is one who speaks up: “Let us also go that we may die with Him”. That is Thomas. (Jn.11:1-6). To share fully in the life and perils of Christ: this is what Thomas was ready to embrace.
Scene two: the discourse after the last supper. Jesus had been telling the apostles about the departure from this world, about His return to the Father, His going ahead to the Father to prepare a place for them, so that where He is they, too, may be. All that Jesus had been saying was probably over their heads; they did not quite understand; Thomas says: “Lord, we do not know where you are going, so how can we know the way? ‘This question of Thomas evokes from Jesus the mysterious reply from Jesus: “ I am the way; I am the truth and I am the life”. (Jn. 14:1-6).We owe to Thomas this mysterious but beautiful revelation regarding the person of Jesus. Through Jesus Christ the Father takes possession of us. We become sharers in God’s truth and life. Thomas’ question not merely manifests his ignorance, but also His searching and probing mind, his desire for clarity and comprehension. Scene three: the gospel reading which has a glimpse at two aspects of Thomas: first there is the stubbornly incredulous Thomas who refuses to believe unless and until he sees the risen Jesus with his own eyes and touches him. So a week later Jesus comes to them and to Thomas at the latter’s terms. Jesus invites him to feel the marks of the nails on his hand and to insert his hand into the pierced side. The unbelieving Thomas is not there any longer; instead , there is a fervently believing and humbly adoring Thomas from whose lips escape the words: “my Lord my God”, the most beautiful confession of faith in Jesus recorded in the gospel. And Jesus replies with the last of the ‘beatitudes’: “Happy are they who never saw me and yet have found faith”. In fact, John actually ends His gospel with this beatitude. In all these three scenes Thomas is presented as a person of loyalty and courage. He is ready to share the lot of Christ. Yet like the other Apostles, he too lacks understanding. Not one of them really understood Jesus. His whole person, his words and deeds were from the Father.
So this is Thomas, Let us today affirm our loyalty to Jesus and say: “let us also go with him in order that we die with him”. At the same time, let us also pray that our proclamation may not be a matter of words, but that we be truly given the courage to go with Jesus all the way, cost what it may. With Thomas, let us proclaim our faith in Jesus in Our Lord and Master: “My Lord and my God”. Then in the stillness of our hearts we shall hear him speak to us: “Happy are you because you have believed in me though you have not seen me with the eyes of your flesh; happy are you because you have come to recognize me as the way, the truth and the life. Go forth now with courage and tell everyone that Jesus is the way that men should follow, Jesus is the truth that they should know and Jesus is the life that they should live by if they want to be truly happy “.
HAPPY FEAST TO ALL
Sisters
St. Joseph Convent