July 3: Feast
of St Thomas, Apostle
Theme: Faith culminating in self-surrender and service
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Readings:
Eph 2:19-22; Jn 20:24-29
Dear
friends in Christ, today, the Church celebrates the feast of St Thomas, one of
the twelve apostles of Jesus. When the disciples of Jesus dispersed on account
of persecution in Jerusalem, Thomas travelled to India and preached the gospel
of Jesus fearlessly among the Hindus beginning from 52 A.D., establishing seven
Christian communities (known later as “St. Thomas Christians”). In A.D 72, he suffered
martyrdom, using his blood to bear witness to the faith he proclaimed by words
of his mouth.
Whenever the
name of Thomas the apostle is mentioned, the first thing that comes to the mind
is his doubt when he heard that Jesus visited the other disciples at the upper
room after His resurrection. However, looking beyond Thomas' doubt, we will see
someone who never wanted to base his knowledge of the risen Lord solely on the
testimony of others, but rather wanted to enrich his faith through a personal
encounter with Him, as well as a man whose faith culminated in his
self-surrender to Jesus and heroic service to the Gospel.
When Thomas
finally encountered the risen Jesus personally, he exclaimed, “My Lord and my
God,” thereby enlightening the other disciples about the divinity of Jesus: He
is not only Master/Lord or Son of the living God, but God Himself. Hence, Thomas
gifted the early Church with what would become the true identity of Jesus.
Dear friends,
St Thomas challenges us to desire to know and encounter Jesus personally, to
allow such encounter with Him to transform our beliefs and our lives, and to
use such encounters to transform the lives of the people around us, bearing
witness to Jesus with everything we have.
St Thomas,
pray for us
Fr Isaac
Chima
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