A reading from the gospel of John 20:24-29
24 Thomas, called Didymus, one of the Twelve, was not with them when Jesus came.
25 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 nail marks and put my hand into his side, I will not believe.”
26 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.”
27 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.”
28 Thomas answered and said to him, “My Lord and my God!”
29 Jesus said to him, “Have you come to believe because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and have believed.”
Reflection: Do not doubt but believe
In this gospel reading, we encounter the story of Thomas, one of Jesus’ twelve disciples, who is often referred to as “Doubting Thomas.” This passage offers a profound lesson on faith, belief, and the transformative power of encountering the risen Christ.
Thomas was not present when Jesus first appeared to the other disciples after His resurrection. When they shared the joyous news, Thomas was skeptical. He declared, “Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe” (John 20:25). Thomas’s doubt is not just a lack of belief but a deep yearning for a personal encounter and tangible proof.
A week later, Jesus appeared again, and this time Thomas was present. Jesus, in His infinite grace and understanding, addressed Thomas directly, inviting him to touch His wounds and see for himself. “Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe” (John 20:27). Thomas’s response, “My Lord and my God!” (John 20:28), was not just a declaration of faith but a profound recognition of Jesus’ divinity and lordship.
This passage speaks volumes about the nature of faith. It acknowledges that doubt is a natural part of the human experience. Thomas’s skepticism was met with compassion, not condemnation. Jesus understood Thomas’s need for evidence and met him where he was. This encounter teaches us that Jesus is willing to reveal Himself to us in our moments of doubt and uncertainty.
Moreover, Jesus’s response to Thomas, “Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed” (John 20:29), extends a blessing to all future believers. This blessing emphasizes the virtue of faith that does not rely on physical proof. It reassures us that faith is not about having all the answers but about trusting in the unseen and the promises of God.
In our lives, we often face situations where doubt creeps in, and we seek tangible evidence of God’s presence and promises. The story of Thomas encourages us to bring our doubts to Jesus, knowing that He understands and meets us in our need. It challenges us to cultivate a faith that trusts in God’s character and His word, even when we cannot see or understand His plans.
As we navigate through life’s uncertainties, let us remember Thomas’s journey from doubt to faith. Let his story inspire us to seek a deeper relationship with Christ, to trust in His presence, and to believe in His promises, even when we cannot see. For in doing so, we are blessed, as Jesus Himself has promised.
*****
“To see is to believe” is a familiar refrain for many people. Proof of existence is needed to accept something as a fact. This is pragmatism at its best. We cannot just believe anything we hear, right? We need some sort of validation. Otherwise, gossip will easily destroy our sanity.
Yet, faith is anchored in what is unseen by the naked eye. We don’t actually believe in material things because they are already there. You can see and touch them. This is what sets us apart from atheists. We have faith in the unseen God.
For Jesus, trust is necessary. He already told His disciples many times before His crucifixion that He will rise from the dead on the third day. His words are truth. Why did Thomas ask for proof? He is just like many of us. To see is to believe. Yet instead of putting him in a bad light for his unbelief, we should thank him for bringing out in the open our own doubts. Because of him, Jesus uttered our assurance: Blessed are those who have not seen and have believed.
That is who Jesus is. In our time of doubt, he comes to say: Peace be with you! May we allow Him to be the Lord in all aspects of our life.
*****
We often remember Thomas for his moment of hesitation, his famous words after the resurrection: “Unless I see the mark of the nails in his hands… I will not believe.” But this moment, rather than being one of weakness, reflects something deeply human, a sincere search for truth. Thomas was not content with hearsay. He longed to see, to touch, to know. And in that yearning, we find a powerful mirror of our own spiritual journeys.
What makes Thomas truly inspiring is not that he doubted but that he allowed his doubt to lead him to deeper faith. When Christ appeared to him, offering his wounds to be touched, Thomas responded not with shame, but with awe and worship: “My Lord and my God!” This is the first time in the Gospels that Jesus is directly called God and it came from the lips of the one who doubted.
This transformation teaches us that doubt is not the enemy of faith, but a doorway. Through honest questioning, we come to real conviction. Through wrestling with truth, we grow stronger in belief. Thomas shows us that it is okay to struggle, to seek, to ask hard questions. What matters is what we do with those questions and how open we are to God’s answer when it comes.
But the story of Thomas doesn’t end there. Inspired and empowered by Christ, he went on to live a life of radical courage and missionary zeal. Tradition holds that Thomas traveled farther than any other apostle, preaching the Gospel in distant lands, including Persia and India. It is in India that he is most deeply venerated today, where generations of Christians trace their spiritual heritage to his footsteps.
Imagine the bravery it took to journey thousands of miles from home, without modern transportation or communication, simply to spread the message of a crucified and risen Savior. Thomas, once unsure, became a pillar of conviction, giving his life in martyrdom for the faith he once questioned.
His legacy calls us to live boldly. It challenges us not to let fear, doubt, or distance keep us from fulfilling our purpose. It invites us to step into the unknown with faith, trusting that God walks beside us even when we cannot see Him clearly.
To the student wrestling with questions, to the parent uncertain about the future, to the believer whose heart has grown weary, Saint Thomas reminds you: your doubt does not disqualify you. It may, in fact, be the soil from which your deepest faith will grow.
Like Thomas, we may not always have clarity, but we are invited to walk forward anyway – to trust, to serve and to proclaim. And like Thomas, we are called to say with conviction: “My Lord and my God.”
In the end, Saint Thomas teaches us that the truest faith is not blind, it is tested. When it stands firm, it becomes unshakable.
In a world often clouded by doubt and uncertainty, the life of Saint Thomas the Apostle shines as a beacon of hope, honesty, and ultimate faith. His story is not just one of doubt. It is one of transformation, courage, and unwavering devotion. Let us walk in his footsteps, not just as questioners, but as believers who rise from our doubts to carry the light of Christ into the farthest corners of our world.
