While all of the Evangelists (Matthew, Mark, Luke and John) wrote to inspire belief in
their audience, John did so in a particular way. In the 20th chapter of John, the beloved disciple
writes, “Now
Jesus did many other signs in the presence of the disciples, which are not
written in this book; but these are written that you may believe that Jesus is
the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in his name.” The whole
Gospel is indeed a story about belief versus unbelief.
St.
Thomas the Apostle embodies this dynamic in his own person. We know him well today as Doubting
Thomas because he did not believe Jesus rose from the dead based on the
testimony of the apostles. (Sometimes
I think St. Thomas got a bad rap—would I have believed Peter?) Yet after seeing the risen Christ
himself Thomas declares, “My Lord and my
God!” Some scholars see this
statement as the climax of the entire Gospel according to John as it clearly
reveals Jesus as God.
Something else is powerful
in this passage—Jesus mentions us: “Have
you come to believe because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and have believed.” Here we are nearly 2000 years later,
without having seen Jesus’ human form, but believing in him nevertheless. We thank God for the gift of faith He
has given us!
Through
the intercession of St. Thomas, we also pray for the grace to believe more
fully today.
St.
Thomas the Apostle, pray for us!
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