Today the Church celebrates the Feast of Saint Thomas the Apostle. In the first reading from Ephesians 2, St. Paul tells us that the household of God, the Church, is built upon the foundation of the Apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the capstone. And the Gospel reading from John 20 is the story of Doubting Thomas. (I probably shouldn’t start the word “Doubting” with a capital letter, as though that were really part of his name. But that is how most people know him.)
Thomas was not around when Jesus first appeared to the disciples. He didn’t believe that they really saw Him. He needed concrete proof. He said that he would not believe until he touched the nailmarks in His hands and put his hand into Jesus’ side. Lots of people can become all indignant and self-righteous about Thomas. I would most certainly not be one of those people. I totally get it.
The claims that the other disciples were making were outlandish! Jesus had risen from the dead. That’s a pretty tough thing to buy into. And you know what? Even today, the whole concept of Jesus is still tough for so many to buy into. Why? Because the claims that we as Christians make are still outlandish. Jesus has conquered sin and death. He is God. He still performs miracles and healings to this very day. He loves you and cares about you and desires to make all things right. Let’s pray that, like Thomas, we can set all our doubts aside and help others do the same by the way we live our lives and proclaim the outlandish Gospel of Christ.
Father, help us to put all our doubts about Christ behind us. Help us to live out the gospel so that we may help others lose their doubts, too. Amen.
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