7/3/2023 (Monday) Today’s gospel reading: 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.”
7/3/2023 (Monday) Today’s gospel reflection: John 20:24-29
The term “doubting Thomas” has become a pejorative term referring to a person who doubts. Yet the lesson from Thomas the Apostle who was transformed from doubting to believing is lost to many people. How often do we casually and unfairly use a term to make fun of other people when we can actually use it for our own growth as a human being. Let us never forget that the experiences of other people can be a source of lessons for us.
No doubt Thomas did doubted that Jesus had risen. Perhaps for him the stories of the other disciples were just rumors. Moreover, his great disappointment and the continuing fear he felt in the succeeding days after Good Friday made him forget all the prophecies of Jesus regarding His resurrection. Just the same, he needed solid proof before he could believe. Eventually, he uttered one of the most famous biblical phrases, “My Lord and my God”. With that phrase alone, Thomas should become our model. After all, all of us have doubts at a certain period in our Christian Life.
Some people consider doubt as the beginning of knowledge. In fact, the famous English philosopher Francis Bacon said, “If a man will begin with certainties, he shall end with doubts, but if he will be content to begin with doubts he shall end in certainties.” Yet, Jesus repeated many times in the course of His teaching that we must believe and not doubt. Let us therefore pray, that even if we doubt sometimes, we may always end up like Thomas saying to Jesus, “My Lord and my God”.