Thursday 3 July 2025

Psalm 31:1-6

Background
Today, the Church celebrates the feast of St Thomas. In the gospels of Matthew, Mark and Luke, Thomas only appears as a name in each of the lists of the 12 apostles (Matthew 10:3, Mark 3:18; Luke 6:15). It is John's Gospel which not only tells us something of him, but notes that he is the central character in glorifying Jesus.

When Jesus' friend Lazarus was seriously ill, Jesus waited two days before heading back to Judea to see him. Why? Because the people there wanted to stone Jesus to death. The other disciples urged him not to go, for fear of what might happen (John 11:6-8). But who is it who fearlessly says "Let us also go, that we may die with Jesus" (John 11:16)? Thomas!

When Jesus tells the disciples that he's going to prepare a place in heaven for them, saying "You know the way ... where I am going", who is it asking the question no one else dares voice, "Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?" (John 14:1-5) Thomas!

And who is it that is missing when Jesus first appears to his disciples after his resurrection (John 20:19-23) and doubts their sanity? Thomas!

It was perfectly understandable that Thomas wanted proof. He was prepared to stand up to the ten apostles who had seen Jesus come back to life and tell them he wanted more than a wishful happy-ever-after fairy-tale. He needed to be convinced.

Yet who was it who was the first person to recognise that Jesus was no mere prophet, no mere teacher or miracle-worker, no mere Messiah … but Emmanuel, God-with-us? Thomas!

In his quest for certainty, Thomas has been dubbed 'doubting'. Actually, it would be more appropriate to call him 'Believing Thomas'. For it was Thomas who was the first to say to Jesus, "My Lord and my God!" (v. 28)

To Ponder:

• Is it OK to doubt? What proof do we need to be certain of faith?
• When have you had to 'eat your words' because you got things wrong? How does that help you to help others to discover the truth?

[Previously published in 2022]