Today is the feast of St. Thomas the Apostle, the saint who doubted that Christ had appeared to the other disciples after the Resurrection while he was away. We know the story well; eventually Christ appears to them again and Thomas is invited to place his hand into the wound made by the lance, a scene forever immortalized by Caravaggio's masterpiece (above).
So what do you think? Did Didymus get a bad rap?
I certainly think so!
Like Thomas, we believe in all that Jesus has said and done; at times, though, it's hard to believe that such miraculous things as the Resurrection happened---and still occur. One only need go to Mass and see common bread and wine transubstantiated into the Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity of Jesus to understand how hard it was for Thomas to believe that the one who had been crucified, died, and buried, should rise again and appear before them.
It's actually a good thing, then, that Thomas doubted. Now we have a patron to lead us in the midst of our own skepticism, our doubting of what God can and will do in the midst of our lives.
In a marvelous way God's mercy arranged that the disbelieving disciple, in touching the wounds of his master's body, should heal our own wounds of disbelief. The disbelief of Thomas has done more for our faith than the faith of the other disciples. As he touches Christ and is won over to belief, every doubt is cast aside and our faith is strengthened. So the disciple who doubted, then felt Christ's wounds, becomes a witness to the reality of the Resurrection.
This great saint who doubted at first eventually went on to proclaim the Gospel, as tradition holds, as far as India, so great was his faith after having seen the risen Christ. That should set the record straight; he's not "Doubting Thomas" but "Believing Thomas"!
From Thomas' faith and the continual graces which let us know that Christ is here with us now and forever, we too must go forth and spread the Gospel far and wide. So if you doubt what we profess as Catholics, pray to Jesus to allow you to feel His presence and know His Truth. Ask Thomas, too, to intercede for you. He's been down the dubious road several times before!
Happy feast day, fellow believers!
PHOTO CREDIT: Caravaggio, The Incredulity of St. Thomas
