Friday, July 3, 2026

 

Feast of Saint Thomas, apostle

(Ephesians 2:19-22; John 20:24-29)

Earlier in his gospel as in today’s reading, John says that Thomas is also called “Didymus.” This is the Aramaic version of the Greek name “Thomas.”  In both languages the words mean “twin.” John’s explanation of the name does not seem to be parenthetical.  Rather he may be suggesting that we identify with him.  We are Thomas’ twin.  Like Thomas, we are on a journey to know the Lord.  Of course, our journey is spiritual where Thomas is both physical and spiritual.

Thomas is introduced in the gospel as Jesus decides to return to Judea to raise Lazarus from the dead.  When the other disciples warn Jesus of the danger of the return, Thomas enthusiastically proclaims, “Let us also go to die with him.” As young men and women the thought of dying for Christ was attractive to us as well.  We thought of ourselves as becoming heroes praised by the people and assured of a martyr’s reward.  But aging often wears the soul as well as the body.  We become more cautious not wanting to cut short the years remaining to us.  Thomas becomes skeptical of Jesus’ resurrection.  He will not believe when the other disciples tell him that they have seen the Lord.  In the same vein, we begin to doubt the value of martyrdom. However, when the risen Jesus appears to him, Thomas professes faith that he is Lord.

Not because we have seen the risen Lord but because we have witnessed his glory, we profess faith in the Resurrection and the Lordship of Jesus.  What have we observed?  We have heard stories of the saints and have known holy men and women whose lives manifested an uncompromising love of Christ. We have noted how Christian doctrine quite sensibly coordinates both Scripture and experience.  And who of us has not prayed to Jesus and not found our requests honored?  We know that the Lord Jesus lives and follow the road he marked for us in the gospels.  If God calls us to martyrdom, we will not run away from it.

Thursday, July 3, 2025

 

Feast of Saint Thomas, Apostle

(Ephesians 2:19-22; John 20:24-29)

A story about St. Thomas Aquinas may assist in appreciating today’s marvelous gospel passage.  Fellow students told Aquinas that there were pigs flying outside the window.  Thomas went to the window to see what they were talking about.  When the students laughed at his naivete, he declared.  “I would rather believe that pigs can fly than that my brothers would lie to me.”  Unfortunately, Aquinas’ namesake was not so trusting.

Thomas Didymus not only didn’t believe his fellow disciples, he disregarded what Jesus taught and the evidence of the empty tomb.  He might have remembered that Jesus told his disciples he was going beforehand to find places for them in his Father’s house.  Although the empty tomb could not prove Jesus’ resurrection, it does point in that direction.  Thomas, however, prefers skepticism to belief, even when it means breaking faith with his companions.

We should be more discreet.  We do not have to accept everything that people say, but we need not be readily dismissive.  Regarding such fundamental truth such as Jesus’ Resurrection, we must not give way to saying with materialists, “It is impossible.”  Rather we should consider the testimony of the event through the ages, what Jesus said and did, and our own motives - both good and selfish – for believing.  Doing so, we are likely to find solid ground for believing and living in the new creation which the Resurrection heralds.

Friday, July 3, 2020

Feast of Saint Thomas, apostle

(Ephesians 2:19-22; John 20:24-29)

A debate in the philosophy of science centers on the question of the existence of spiritual being.  Some philosophers hold that matter is all that there is.  They try to reduce the mind to the material functions of the brain.  More classical thinkers respond saying that the elements of matter cannot account for the intricate capacity of thought.  They understand the mind as a spiritual substance dependent upon matter for its formation but having a reality apart from it.  In today’ gospel St. Thomas seems to be a materialist until he meets the risen Lord.

When Thomas is told that the other disciples have seen Christ after he was crucified, he demands to touch Jesus’ body before accepting the fact of his resurrection.  Jesus gives him the opportunity to do it. Does Thomas actually go ahead with the experiment?  The Scripture does not say so.  In fact, it indicates that he does not. Jesus says that Thomas believes only with seeing as the other disciples.

The passage ends with Jesus giving later Christians a blessing for believing in the resurrection without ever seeing the resurrected one.  Because our times challenge such belief, we have to support one another in the faith of the resurrection.  Orthodox Christians do this by a ritual statement and response.  “Christ is risen,” says the priest.  “He is risen indeed,” answer the people.

Wednesday, July 3, 2019

Feast of Saint Thomas, apostle

(Ephesians 2:19-22; John 20:24-29)

Although St. Peter and perhaps St. John are the most important apostles, St. Jude and St. Thomas are the ones with whom most people identify.  St. Jude is known as the patron of hopeless causes.  Both saints and more retrograde sinners have considered their situations as impossible.   St. Thomas doubted the resurrection when he heard about it from his confreres.  Like him most people wonder if the apostles were “just seeing things.”

Today’s gospel passage seems to have been written to dispel such doubts.  In its initial section Thomas demands physical proof that Jesus has risen.  He says, "Unless I see the mark of the nails in his hands…I will not believe."   Then Jesus appears again and shows Thomas his hands.  The response goes beyond belief in the resurrection to belief in Jesus’ divine nature.  Thomas responds, “My Lord and my God!”

We have to believe in both Jesus’ resurrection and divinity without physical proof.  But there is plenty of circumstantial evidence attesting to the claims.  His teachings and example have allayed passions and promoted human welfare.  The Church he established and identified as his living body continues to thrive.  Most of all, he continues to speak in our hearts assuring us of his love and exhorting us to love one another.

Monday, July 3, 2017

Feast of Saint Thomas, apostle

(Ephesians 2:19-22; John 20:24-29)

A debate in the philosophy of science centers on the question of the existence of spiritual being.  Some philosophers hold that matter is all that there is.  They try to reduce the mind to the material functions of the brain.  More classical thinkers respond saying that the elements of matter cannot account for the intricate capacity of thought.  They understand the mind as a spiritual substance dependent upon matter for its formation but having a reality apart from it.  In today’ gospel St. Thomas seems to be a materialist until he meets the risen Lord.

When Thomas is told that the other disciples have seen Christ after he was crucified, he demands to touch Jesus’ body before accepting the fact of his resurrection.  Jesus gives him the opportunity to do it, but does Thomas actually go ahead with the experiment?  The Scripture does not say so; in fact, it indicates that he does not. Jesus says that Thomas believes only with seeing as the other disciples.

The passage ends with Jesus giving later Christians a blessing for believing in the resurrection without ever seeing him.  Because our times challenge such belief, we want to support one another in the faith of the resurrection.

July 3, 2015

Feast of St. Thomas, Apostle

(Ephesians 2:19-22; John 20:24-29)

Like Thomas some of us might question the resurrection of Jesus.  We might speculate that life would be simply neater if death were the end of our existence.  We could then set forth our own goals in life – be they making a million dollars, helping the poor, or raising a family – without having to consider the knottier question of whether we are working for salvation by assenting to the promptings of the Holy Spirit.

The gospel today, however, asserts unreservedly that Jesus rose from the dead.  He appears not only to those inclined to believe but to a man who gives no credibility at all to the word of witnesses but insists on touching the wounds of the crucified before acknowledging him as alive.  This skeptical empiricist, of course, then turns into the person who makes the boldest claim of faith in all the gospels.  Thomas’ final words, “My Lord and my God” are always taken to mean that Jesus is not only God’s son, whatever that means, but God himself!

Of course, we can deny the historicity of Jesus’ appearance to Thomas.  We can say that this is just a pious story fabricated to get simple people to believe.  But does not such a stance deny our experience?  There is plenty of evidence to show that people of faith live fuller, happier lives facing hardship with less turmoil and recovering from setback more resiliently.  Likewise, when we call upon the resurrected Jesus, “My Lord and my God,” we experience the assurance of his guiding hand.

Thursday, July 3, 2014

Feast of Saint Thomas, apostle

(Ephesians 2:19-22; John 20:24-29)

Mortimer Adler was the quintessential Jewish intellectual – prolific and deep.  He was a devotee of St. Thomas Aquinas, but for a long time resisted becoming a Christian.  He said that he did not have the gift of faith.  Finally, however, he submitted to what his mind was telling him.  He was baptized an Episcopalian and ultimately joined the Catholic Church.  He, like today’s saint, came to admit that he was mistaken.

For all the doubt he harbored, St. Thomas can be credited with a genuine change of heart.  He doesn’t have to express belief in Jesus’ resurrection from the dead.  Calling Jesus, “Lord” and “God” transcends acceptance of the other apostles’ testimony.  True, as the gospel passage testifies, he has the benefit of seeing the resurrected Jesus, but he gives up all pretension about having to touch Jesus’ wounds in order to believe.  Such a grossly physical act would nullify faith as it comprises empirical proof.

The story about Thomas indicates that the disciples of Jesus did ask themselves the question if they were seeing things.  They prove themselves not visionaries but practical men who were willing to die for what they saw and heard.  We too must act on our belief that Jesus has risen.

Wednesday, July 3, 2013

Feast of Saint Thomas, apostle

(Ephesians 2:19-22; John 20:24-29)

A debate in the philosophy of science centers around the question of the existence of spiritual being.  Some philosophers hold that matter is all that there is.  They try to reduce the mind to the material functions of the brain.  More traditional thinkers respond saying matter alone cannot account for the marvelous capacity of thought.  Of course, the question bears heavily on faith which Jesus addresses in today’s gospel.

Thomas appears to be a materialist demanding to touch the body of Jesus before accepting his resurrection as fact.  Jesus gives him the opportunity to do so, but does Thomas actually go ahead with the experiment?  Although Caravaggio in a famous painting portrays Thomas as probing the Lord’s side, the Scripture does not say so.  Indeed the passage indicates that he does not when Jesus says that Thomas believes only with seeing as the other disciples.

The passage ends with Jesus giving Christians through the centuries a blessing for believing in the resurrection without even seeing him.  Because our times more than most challenge such belief, we need to support the faith of one another.

Tuesday, July 3, 2012

Feast of Saint Thomas, apostle

(Ephesians 2:19-22; John 20:24-29)

Mortimer Adler was the quintessential Jewish intellectual – prolific and deep. He was a devotee of St. Thomas Aquinas, but for a long time resisted becoming a Christian. He said that he did not have the gift of faith. Finally, however, he submitted to what his mind was telling him. He was baptized an Episcopalian and ultimately joined the Catholic Church. He, like today’s saint, came to admit that he was mistaken.

For all the doubt he harbored, St. Thomas can be credited with a genuine change of heart. He doesn’t have to express belief in Jesus’ resurrection from the dead. Calling Jesus, “Lord” and “God” transcends the acceptance of his associates’ testimony. True, as the gospel passage testifies, he has the benefit of seeing Jesus resurrected. Nevertheless, he gives up all pretension about having to touch Jesus’ wounds in order to believe. Such a grossly physical act would nullify faith as it comprises experimental proof.

The story about Thomas teaches us that the disciples of Jesus did ask themselves the question if they were “seeing things.” They prove themselves not visionaries but practical men who were willing to die for what they saw and heard. We too must act on our belief that Jesus has risen.

Homilette for Friday, July 3, 2009

Feast of St. Thomas, Apostle

(Ephesians 2:19-22; John 20:24-29)

Like Thomas some of us might question the resurrection of Jesus. We might speculate that life would be simply neater if death were the end of our existence. We could then set forth our own goals in life – be they making a million dollars, helping the poor, or raising a family – without having to consider the knottier question of whether we are working for salvation by assenting to the promptings of the Holy Spirit.

The gospel today, however, asserts unreservedly that Jesus rose from the dead. He appears not only to those inclined to believe but to a man who gives no credibility at all to the word of witnesses and insists on touching the wounds of the crucified before acknowledging him as alive. This skeptical empiricist, of course, then turns into the person who makes the boldest claim of faith in all the gospels. Thomas’ final words, “My Lord and my God,” are always taken to mean that Jesus is not only God’s son, whatever that means, but God himself!

Of course, we can deny the historicity of Jesus’ appearance to Thomas. We can say that this is just a pious story fabricated to get simple people to believe. But does not such a stance deny our experience? There is plenty of evidence to show that people of faith live fuller, happier lives facing hardship with less turmoil and recovering from setback more resiliently. Likewise, when we call upon the resurrected Jesus, “My Lord and my God,” we experience the assurance of his guiding hand.

Homilette for Thursday, July 3, 2008

Feast of St. Thomas, the Apostle

(John 20:24-29)

Like Thomas sometimes we wonder about the resurrection of Jesus. We may think that life would be neater if death were the end. We could congratulate those who accomplished their goals in life – be they earning a million dollars, helping the poor, or raising a family -- and would not have to consider whether they accepted Christ in love to merit eternal life.

But all that is wishful thinking. The gospel today asserts that Jesus rose from the dead. He appears to a man who did not give credibility to the word of witnesses but insisted on touching the wounds of the crucified if he was alive. The doubter then turns into the person expressing the deepest faith in all the gospels. Thomas’ final words “my Lord and my God” express not only Jesus’ divine sonship but his equality with the one God.

Of course, we can deny the truth of Jesus’ appearance to Thomas. We can say that this is just a pious story fabricated to get simple people to believe. But such a stance denies our experience. People of faith seem to live fuller, happier lives facing hardship with less turmoil and recovering from setback more easily. Likewise, when we call on the resurrected Jesus -- “my Lord and my God,” we experience the providence of his guiding hand.