3rd
July is the feast day St. Thomas the Apostle
Thomas was
a dedicated but impetuous follower of Christ. For example, when Jesus said he
was returning to Judea to visit his sick friend Lazarus, Thomas immediately
exhorted the other Apostles that they should all accompany Jesus on the trip
even though such a gesture would draw attention and heighten danger in the face
of the mounting hostility of the authorities.
And at the
Last Supper, when Christ told his disciples that he was going to prepare a
place for them to which they also might come because they knew both the place
and the way, it was Thomas who spoke up and said that they did not understand.
And so Jesus gave Thomas that beautiful reassurance that Christ is the Way, the
Truth, and the Life.
St. Thomas is, of course, best known
for his role in verifying the Resurrection of the Lord. At first Thomas had
been unwilling to believe that the other Apostles had seen their risen Lord on
that first Easter Sunday, which is why ever since he has been called ‘doubting
Thomas.’ But eight days later, on Christ's second apparition, Thomas was gently
rebuked for his scepticism and given with the evidence he had demanded - seeing
in Christ's hands the mark of the nails. Thomas even put his fingers in the
nail holes and his hand into Christ's side to make sure. After verifying the
wounds of Christ St. Thomas became convinced of the reality of the Resurrection
and exclaimed, ‘My Lord and My God,’ and that faith in the divine Lord would
sustain him in his own long journey of sharing the Gospel to martyrdom in
India. St Thomas is the patron saint of architects
