The Apostle Thomas

Well-known by his skepticism of the risen Christ, Thomas, one of Jesus' twelve disciples, is often known as "doubting Thomas."  Of course Thomas no longer doubted after Jesus appeared to him. [1], [2]

The apostle Thomas was the lawyer who wanted to see evidence of the nail marks in Jesus' hands, he was the doctor and the scientist who wanted proof of the wounds and actually touch them and he was every ordinary man who is naturally suspicious of anything extraordinary.

Thomas represented all of us.  Christ appeared to him specifically to resolve his doubt and by doing so ought to have resolved ours.  That is not the case, however.  We still doubt.  We cannot let go.  We need to be in control of our lives.  We will not let go and put our lives in the hands of God.

We doubt that God would take care of us, wherever we are asked to go, but go true believers do, sometimes kicking and screaming, and rewarded they are, with an inner peace, the peace that Christ referred to when He said, "Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid." [3]

Non-believers, hypocrites and minions of Satan do not go the way of Christ.  Some walk off and are burdened with the true weight of their crosses. [4]  Others turn the corner, creating the impression that they are still on the path of Christ.  They bear a heavy and unshakeable weight upon their conscience, perhaps not immediately, but at some point they will.  Still others walk against the path of Christ.  Aligned with the interests of Satan, these malignant ones will know their place when Satan shows its true contempt for them, when Satan will shed not even a tear when their souls are suffering in eternity.

Believe in the resurrection through Thomas, the apostle, and follow Christ and the Virgin Mary to Heaven.


[1] See http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+20:24-29:

Now Thomas (also known as Didymus), one of the Twelve, was not with the disciples when Jesus came. So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord!”
But he said to them, “Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe.”
A week later his disciples were in the house again, and Thomas was with them. Though the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!”  Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe.”
Thomas said to him, “My Lord and my God!”
Then Jesus told him, “Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”

[2] Not until today did I realize that Thomas the disciple of Jesus went as far as Malabar, India, according to some accounts.  See http://www.syromalabarchurch.in/syro-malabar-church.php and http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/115623/Christians-of-Saint-Thomas
[3] See http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+14:27
[4] Those who love God are willing and happy to carry that burden.  They are accustomed to it and miraculously it becomes unnoticeable.