A Model of Faith - so human and so consoling!
Celebrating St Thomas, the Apostle - 3rd July, 2017
Eph 2: 19-22; Jn 20: 24-29
St. Thomas always comes across as a saint so human and so close to us in his experience! He is not of that crop of saints who prove so super natural that, though we esteem them, we find it difficult to emulate them in our day to day life. Thomas, like Peter, is one saint who comes very close to us in our daily experience of limitation and struggle. There are three elements in Thomas that stand out for us to consider and imitate.
Thomas was burdened with doubts, we too are. At times of struggle and pressures of life, we begin to doubt if the Lord is truly around. How many people have this kind of a feeling, a long list of questions and endless issues they are battling with - are they to be entirely blamed for the doubts that arise in their minds?
Thomas was attached to Jesus, what about us? Thomas, the Apostle placed all his trust in the person of Jesus. Though he was not very sure of who or what Jesus was, he was able to say, 'come let us go with him and die'. It was this attachment to Jesus that pulled him out of all the mire doubts that surrounded him. When Jesus appeared to him, after the Resurrection, he surrendered absolutely. The presence of the person of Risen Jesus was an overwhelming experience for Thomas and he confesses his faith profusely.
Thomas saw the Lord, as we wish to0! You believe because you have seen; Blessed are those who have not seen yet believe. Seeing the Lord is a special gift anyway. To see the Lord in our daily experience, in our moments of doubts, in our dire needs and difficulties, is a special gift of faith we need to grow in.
In all these, Thomas seems to give us an example that is so human because it is so filled with limitations and struggles. His example is a great source of consolation letting us feel the Lord close to us, in spite of our unworthiness. Let us celebrate our faith!
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