FRIDAY 3RD JULY 2020
FEAST OF ST THOMAS THE APOSTLE
Ephesians 2:19-22, John 20:24-29
Thre are some people who are very
realistic and simple about almost everything they do. They want to be very sure
about what they are doing, thus they ask questions to be sure before they
commit themselves. When such people say yes, they mean yes and do not turn back
to say no.
St Thomas can be likened to such
a person. Many people refer to him as doubting Thomas, but he was one of the
most honest Apostles of Jesus. He is known to always say his mind, always
making his opinion known. He loved Jesus his master so much that when the other
Apostles were afraid that Jesus would be killed on his way to Bethany to raise
Lazarus, he said he would not mind dying
with Jesus.
When Jesus spoke in parables to
his disciples and they do not understand, Thomas always asked to be clarified.
It was the question of Thomas to Jesus to show them the way to the father that
made Jesus to make the declaration that he is the way, the truth and the life.
When Thomas was told that Jesus
had appeared, he asked to see him before believing. This was not a lack of
faith, but a mark of one who is very realistic. He saw Jesus captured and
killed by the Jews. One cannot expect that Thomas would just believe that he
appeared to the other Apostles. If we put ourselves in his position, we will
understand that Thomas was a real man. When Jesus appeared again and showed
himself to Thomas, he made the best declaration in the Christian faith,
"My Lord and my God". Thomas therefore, was the first person to refer
to Jesus as God.
In the Apocryphal writing,
"The Act of Thomas", he is said to have preached among the Persians
and Indians where he is patron saint today.
We have a lot to learn from the
person of Thomas today. We ask for his intercession as we embark on our own
faith journey, that we may also be able
to continually acclaim Jesus as our Lord and God. God help us. Amen.
Fr Michael Osatofoh Eninlejie MSP
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