Feast of St. Thomas, the Apostle

Today, we stop reading Amos for a while because on July 3, the Catholic Church celebrates the Feast of St. Thomas, one of the twelve apostles. From him, comes an English expression, 'doubting Thomas', to describe a person who refuses to believe until he has seen enough proof. Then, St. Thomas must be a patron saint for the empiricists. Empiricists are very pragmatic. They trust in sensory experience more than speculations.
The Synoptic Gospels mention Thomas only once in the Apostles' List. They focus more on Peter, James, John and a little bit of Matthew. The other apostles are simply faceless. Luckily, we have the Gospel of John, which gives us sketches of the personalities of a few more. We have three such sketches of Thomas in John.
In John 11, we have the story of the resurrection of Lazarus. When Jesus heard that Lazarus was sick, he tarried two days more until Lazarus had died before he started his journey to Bethany. At first, he told his disciples that Lazarus had fallen asleep and he was going to wake him out of sleep (John 11:11). The disciples did not understand. So Jesus said plainly that Lazarus had died. Thomas, the first time he appeared in John, joked with the other disciples.
Thomas, called the Twin, said to his fellow disciples, "Let us also go, that we may die with him." (John 11:16)
Obviously, he did not believe and did not understand. Thomas must be a very smart person. He was quick enough to sense that Jesus wanted to raise Lazarus from the dead. But John did not have the story of Jairus' daughter (Mark 5) nor the widow's son in Nain (Luke 6). Therefore, raising the dead was something unknown to Thomas. He might not be the only one who did not believe. But he was the only one candid enough to express his doubt. Without belief, Thomas would not understand the meaning of resurrection. The dead remain dead. So, let us also go, that we may die with him!
In the Last Supper, Jesus told the disciples that he was returning to the Father to prepare rooms for them. Jesus promised that he would return to take them there later. Then Jesus remarked that they knew the way where he was going.
Thomas said to him, "Lord, we do not know where you are going; how can we know the way?" (John 14:5)
Thomas immediately contradicted Jesus, complaining that they did not know where Jesus was going. What Jesus was doing in the Last Supper was to prepare them for the upcoming Passion. Jesus would show us that the proper way to return to the Father was to suffer death in obedience to His will. The truth is, the old self must die before the new self can emerge.
Thomas was frank and humble to confess his ignorance. His candour was rewarded with the famous quotation.
Jesus said to him, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father, but by me." (John 14:6)
As followers of Christ, we should follow his example to die in obedience to God's will. Then and only then can we gain eternal life.
After resurrection, Jesus appeared to the disciples. Thomas was not there. Later, when he joined them, the doubting Thomas showed his true skin of an empiricist.
So the other disciples told him, "We have seen the Lord." But he said to them, "Unless I see in his hands the print of the nails, and place my finger in the mark of the nails, and place my hand in his side, I will not believe." (John 20:25)
But according to the records of all gospels, no disciples except John were present at Jesus' crucifixion. How would Thomas know that a soldier had pierced Jesus' side so that he wanted to place his hand in Jesus' side? He had never seen it. Yet, he accepted this story. He had not seen the risen Lord. Why, then, didn't he accept the story this time? Probably, the soldier's action was a common practice of the day. You don't have to see it before you believe it. But resurrection was such a novel and incredible idea! For the Jews, two witnesses were enough to prove the truthfulness of a case. Now, even 10 witnesses were not enough to convince Thomas! So, all along among Jews, the idea of resurrection was beyond their understanding. Luckily, Jesus was patient enough to prove it to Thomas.
Jesus said to him, "Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet believe." (John 20:29).

My Advocate, without belief, we will never understand Your mystery. Forgive us, for many times, we fake understanding. Pray for us, St. Thomas, that we may be candid enough like you to admit our lack of belief. Amen.