The Character of Thomas - All Unbelievers

So the other disciples told him, "We have seen the Lord." But he said to them,"Unless I see in his hands the mark of the nails, and place my finger into the mark of the nails, and place my hand into his side, I will never believe." John 20: 25

The disciples were witnessing the Lord to Thomas. This is one of the early and most effective models of evangelism: Those who "saw" the Lord, witnessed Him to the rest. In this most solemn scene, Thomas becomes the representative of the "rest" who have not (yet) seen the Lord. Thomas, even though unintentionally, becomes the voice of all those who do not believe.

Thomas says it best. "I will never believe unless I see myself, unless I touch Him myself" It is the plain truth. At a very crucial point in life where doubt and unbelief challenges and threatens the faith, one has to be able to "see" with the inward eye, "touch" with the spiritual hand and "feel" the presence of the
Lord in order to believe. And to experience that is bliss, that experience is a grace, a gift, which needs to come from above, which no amount of theology can really teach.

St. Thomas represents all unbelievers

Thomas's words must inspire us to be able to "look" for the Lord - the very same Lord is available to us to see - in the Holy Church - during the Holy Sacraments. Thomas's words must inspire us to be able to "touch" and experience the Lord - when the Holy elements are placed into our mouths and when they touch our tongues and become part of our body - the very same Lord becomes one with us in Holy Qurbana so that He then works with us from the inside. Because, very truly, just as Thomas said - unless we are able to "See in his hands the mark of the nails" and are able to touch Him, experience Him - we will not be able to believe. That spiritual experience is crucial, and for that the physical participation is important. The spiritual experience often follows the physical.

- and so the Holy Church was inspired by the Holy Ghost to place the Holy Sacraments in the world - so that we all get transformed, just like our Father Thomas, from being an unbeliever to be a believer, being able to "see" and experience the Lord, in our present times and in our present lives. Praise the Lord.


Character of Thomas :  Integrity


Src: ICON