Wednesday, July 3, 2013

Saint of the Day - St. Thomas the Apostle









We know the names of Christ’s Twelve Apostles because the list is found in the Gospels.  Some are well known to us for good (St. Peter) and bad (Judas Iscariot) reasons.  Peter’s personality especially comes across vividly in the scriptural accounts; and we also know something of the personalities of James and his brother, John – the Sons of Thunder.  Some are remembered for the method of their calling, such as Andrew and Matthew.  Some are known by little more than their names, such as Jude and Thaddeus.

Today’s saint, St. Thomas is known to us from a few references and one vivid incident following Christ’s resurrection.  Other than his identity as an Israelite, nothing is known of Thomas’ origins.  In the gospels, he is referred to as “Didymus” or the “the twin” (the name Thomas itself has been interpreted as twin.)  Not even apocryphal literature identifies who was Thomas’ twin.  As a one of the Twelve, Thomas was one of Jesus’ most intimate companions, traveling with him, witnessing his miracles, and absorbing Jesus’ teaching about Himself and the Kingdom of God.  It is astounding to us today to imagine what it must have been like to be in the daily presence of Jesus; and to be witness to the revelation of Christ as Son of God and Redeemer of Mankind.  And yet these simple men were chosen to be the first heralds of the Good News, and to lay the foundations of God’s Church on earth.  And while we struggle in vain to penetrate through the millennia to know something of these special men; perhaps, in the end, it is enough that Christ knew them and chose them, and that their words, deeds and teachings, through the grace of the Holy Spirit, have come down to us today.



Despite their frequent inability to truly comprehend Jesus and his teachings; there is little doubt that the apostles were on fire with the Love of God.  The first time we hear Thomas speak is following the death of Lazarus.  Despite the apostles’ misgivings, Jesus is preparing to return to Lazarus’ home in Judea, where it is feared He will be stoned.  It is Thomas who speaks in this instance, saying to his fellow apostles, “Let us also go, that we may die with him."  This genuine devotion to Jesus would be put to the test during His passion and found wanting.  That the apostles did not fully comprehend the nature of Christ and his mission is reflected in their reaction to His suffering and death.  This is voiced by Thomas at the Last Supper, when Jesus speaks of His Father’s House.  When Jesus says that He will go before them; Thomas, not understanding asks, “Lord, we know not whither thou goest; and how can we know the way?”  Jesus’ answer is a revelation of Himself, “I am the Way, the Truth and the Life.  No man cometh to the Father, but by me.”



Like all the apostles, Thomas deserted Jesus during his Passion.  When Jesus appeared to the twelve following His resurrection, Thomas was not there.  Informed by his fellow apostles that Jesus has truly risen, Thomas is skeptical, “Except I shall see in his hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and thrust my hand into his side, I will not believe.”  Eight days later, Jesus again appeared to the Twelve, this time with Thomas.  Jesus invites Thomas to examine his wounds, and the spirit of revelation washed the scales from Thomas’ eyes and caused him to exclaim, “My Lord and My God!”  Along with the other apostles, Thomas was commissioned to preach the gospel to whole world.



After this, what we know of Thomas comes from tradition, some of which is reliable and some which is not.  Some apocryphal documents state that Thomas was the only witness to the Assumption of Mary – although most scholars discount this.  Other traditions hold that when dividing up the mission fields, Thomas was assigned what was then Persia and India.  The apocryphal Acts of Thomas states that Thomas was reluctant to go, and that in order that God might fulfill His Will in him, Thomas was made and slave and thus taken to India.


It is likely that Thomas was the apostle to Persia and India, probably arriving there around 52 AD.  He made conversions and performed baptisms despite strenuous opposition (indeed, descendants of these early Christians, known as St. Thomas Christians, or Nasranis, still live in India today.)  His preaching and conversions aggravated the local shamans, and he was forced to flee to what is now called St. Thomas Mount, west of Mylapore, India.  His persecutors pursued him, and it was on this Mount, that Thomas – the original “Doubting Thomas” – gave full testament to his faith in Jesus Christ by suffering martyrdom by being run through with a lance.  The present Basilica of St. Thomas was built on the spot.



Pope Gregory the Great and other commentators have highlighted the significance of Thomas’ story – that faith is not always a brilliant moment of acceptance or an uninterrupted assent, but rather often a winding path, subject to the whims of our own human frailty.  Having experienced doubt after a personal association with Jesus, St. Thomas is a powerful intercessor for those who struggle with belief, especially in an increasingly secular world.  And his martyrdom is a vivid reminder that Jesus calls us to the cross; and that neither accommodation with the world or false compassion can ever be preferred to the Truth.

V. Holy St. Thomas the Apostle, pray for us,
R. That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ!



No comments:

Post a Comment