THOMAS

Today's Reflections 

      

THOMAS

Jn 20:24-29

²⁴Thomas, called Didymus, one of the Twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. ²⁵So the other disciples said to him, “We have seen the Lord.” But he said to them, “Unless I see the mark of the nails in his hands and put my finger into the nailmarks and put my hand into his side, I will not believe.” ²⁶Now 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.” ²⁷Then 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.” ²⁸Thomas answered and said to him, “My Lord and my God!” ²⁹Jesus said to him, “Have you come to believe because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and have believed.”

I WILL NOT BELIEVE. If Simon Peter is the holder of the keys, Judas Iscariot the betrayer, John the beloved disciple, Thomas is known as the doubter. At first he claims that he is ready to die with Jesus when they return to Judea (cf Jn 11:16), but when Jesus is arrested, he runs away along with the other disciples. Probably overwhelmed by his weakness, he separates himself from the group so that he is not present when Jesus appears to them after his resurrection. He then persists that he will not believe unless he sees the marks of crucifixion in Jesus’ body. When Jesus appears again, he addresses this doubt of Thomas who, in response, declares, “My Lord and my God!” Jesus then proclaims the beatitude: “Blessed are those who have not seen and have believed.”

Doubt is something that affects everyone. We have doubts on our dignity and destiny as human beings. We doubt if there is a God, or if God has concern for us at all. Doubt is not necessarily absence of faith. It is part of faith’s journey that we go on trusting in God’s providence despite appearances to the contrary. Paul says that “we walk by faith, not by sight” (2 Cor 5:7). Thomas the doubter is given the gift to see, touch, and hear the risen and glorified Lord. His experience is for all who will believe without seeing.

“Although you have not seen him you love him;

even though you do not see him now

yet believe in him…” (1 Pt 1:8).