St. Thomas, the Apostle. A HEALING DISBELIEF

   

Some persons are of the opinion, perhaps through experience, that those who repented from a terrible and sinful way of life, love God more than those who have been pure all through their lives, and those who once doubted a particular idea or truth, believes with greater strength, once they are convinced. This, as history has proven, is not always the case. We have the lives of such figures like St. Theresa of the child Jesus and St. Catherine of Siena as prove against the idea. However, this seems to be the case with the Holy Apostle, St. Thomas.

    Thomas is popularly known as a doubter but rather he should be known as an honest man. He does not want to admit that he believed when he did not believe. In truth, Thomas is not to be blamed for his doubts. His fellow apostles told him what has never happened in history. A man that was arrested, imprisoned, scourged and crucified, a man that is certainly dead. How can one easily believe that he is alive? It is indeed hard to believe. St Gregory the great puts it that it is not by chance that Thomas was absent during the former visit of the Lord. It was planned and arranged by God to effect his divine plans.

    The scripture records that at the second visit of the Lord. Thomas was there and Jesus went to him and addressed his doubts saying "put your finger here; look, here are my hands. Give me your hand; put it into my side. Doubt no longer but believe." What emotions and sentiments would have arisen in the heart of Thomas? How the Lord immediately addressed the doubts he(Thomas) made in his absence. He felt the presence of the divine. Thus, Thomas cried out "My Lord and my God". He acknowledged the Divinity of Jesus. Thus, this did not only bring about belief in the resurrection, even more, it brought about believe in the divinity of Christ. 

    The disbelief of Thomas has resulted in a greater faith for us. Since he doubted and later believed, he has become a model for all who will doubt in future. As St. Gregory the great puts it, "The disbelief of Thomas has done more for our faith than the faith of the other disciples. As he touches Christ and is won over to belief, every doubt is cast aside and our faith  is strengthened. So the disciple who doubted, then felt Christ's wounds, becomes a witness to the reality of the resurrection.

    The result of his doubt did not only bring about a greater faith in the resurrection, more so, it  brought  about a load of blessings for us who did not meet Jesus in the flesh. Jesus told him, "You believe because you can see me. Happy are those who have not seen and yet believe." This blessing is directed to us only on the condition that we have faith in the divinity and resurrection of the risen Lord. But of what good will our faith be if it is not accompanied by good works. St. James tells us that Faith without good works is dead just as body without soul is. Let us, then, live our lives like the children of the resurrection. Let our faith in the risen Lord instill in us a joyful hope of our own resurrection. Let us bear the turmoil of this life, the difficulties of trying to live a holy life and burdens our fallen nature heaps on us. Let us do all this bearing in mind that "If we have died with him, then we shall live with him. If we persevere, then we shall reign with him." (2 Tim. 2:11)

    St. Thomas, the apostle, according to tradition, preached the Gospel in India and was martyred. He is called the 'Apostle of India'