09/03/2025
St Thomas is often the Saint Condemned for his lack of belief, but Thomas was one of the most courageous and loyal by willing to stand by Jesus in dangerous times.
When Jesus announced His intentions of visiting the recently deceased Lazarus in Judea - a few miles from Jerusalem and dangerously close to where they tried to stone him. The other worried disciples wanted to keep Jesus from going for fear he would be stoned, Thomas though in a moment of bravery not often expressed by the other Apostles, rallied the others to stay by their Master. It is this statement that makes St Thomas stand out beyond the rest showing he was both passionate and loyal, and later in His ministry revealed even unto death.
“Let us go, that we may die with him” (John 11:16)
St Thomas is remembered for being absent from the Upper room when Jesus appeared to the disciples after His Resurrection. Thomas dismissed the accounts of the others by saying,
“Unless I see the mark of the nails in His hands and put my finger into the nail marks, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe.”
(Luke 20:25)
Why did Thomas doubt the Resurrection of Jesus?
He had not seen the risen Christ for himself and was unwilling to accept the testimony of others without personal , physical evidence.
His response reflects the common human tendency to demand proof before belief, even in the face of credible witnesses.
Thomas’s demand was not a mere expression of doubt, it was a refusal to believe unless the specific conditions were met. He was present when Jesus foretold His death and resurrection (Mark 8:31; John 14:28), yet in grief and confusion, he could not reconcile those promises with the reality of crucifixion.
Eight days later, Jesus appeared again, this time with Thomas present: “Then He said to Thomas, ‘Reach your finger here, and look at My hands; and reach your hand here, and put it into my side. Do not be unbelieving, but believing” (John 20:27)
Jesus repeated Thomas’s exact words, showing He had heard him even in absence! He offered the very proof Thomas demanded, not in anger, but in mercy. This encounter exposed the condition of Thomas’s heart and called him to move from doubt to faith.
Thomas’s response is one of the most powerful confessions in the Gospels:
Thomas made his act of faith as he fell at the feet of Jesus proclaiming “My Lord and my God!”
He no longer merely accepted the resurrection, he acknowledged Jesus as both Master and Deity. His earlier skepticism made his confession all the more profound.
Jesus replied,
“Because you have seen me, Thomas, you believed. Blessed are they that have not seen, and yet believe.” (John 20: 25-29)
This statement extends beyond Thomas to every future believer. Faith that trusts God’s Word without visible evidence is honored by Christ. Thomas’s experience affirms that doubt can be overcome, but faith without sight is the standard for disciples of Christ.
Later on St Thomas founded 7 Churches in India and was martyred during prayer by a spearing on the “Big Hill” near Madras, and was buried in Mylapore, on the east coast of India. Ultimately, St Thomas’ remains were transported to Ortona, Italy, where they reside today. However, many of his relics are also in India.
Just as every believer doubt is real, but is not permanent. Jesus will meet you in your weakness, correct you in love, show you the truth as he did Thomas and show you mighty things if you just believe.
Let us ask St Thomas to pray for us that our faith may be strengthened in believing the promises of Jesus even when our eyes cannot see.
