St. Thomas, Apostle

Today is the Feast of St. Thomas the Apostle, according to the Maronite Calendar of Saints. Mar Thoma has always been my favorite apostle. Everyone gives him grief for doubting the original reports of the resurrection; so tell me – what the heck would you have done?

“Tom! Tom! You’ll never guess! Jesus is alive and well!”

“Sure, guys. And I saw one of those flying chariot wheels from the second heaven up in the sky last night. What have you guys been drinking?”

I’m sorry, but aren’t we supposed to be skeptical about strange spiritual claims? We are not to go run off, following any nut case that claims holiness and a personal experience of God (well, not unless we’re bishops, I guess). We’re to follow the scriptures, and the traditions and teachings of the Church that have been handed down to us from the start. Paul praised the Bereans, not because they believed whatever he said, but checked out what he said, and then believed.

Jesus tells us. “Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” Well, I believe, even though I have not seen – but why do I believe? Not why now, years after the fact, but why was I first willing to believe? I was willing because of guys like Thomas – guys whom I trusted because they weren’t gullible, because they were skeptical, because they wouldn’t believe “six impossible things before breakfast” like the White Queen. Peter, now, he was a little flighty, and John could be downright spooky, but Thomas – if he tells me Jesus is alive, I’m likely to take his word for it. He’s going to check it out.

By the way, St. Thomas is the patron of both those who doubt and theologians. Come to think of it, in this modern world of ours, isn’t that redundant?

Thomas the Apostle (from catholic-forum.com)
Also known as
Didymus; the Twin; Apostle of India; Doubting Thomas
Profile
Apostle. He was ready to die with Jesus when Christ went to Jerusalem, but is best remembered for doubting the Resurrection until allowed to touch Christ's wounds. Preached in Parthia, Persia and India, though he was so reluctant to start the mission that he had to be taken into slavery by a merchant headed that way. He eventually gave in to God's will, was freed, and planted the new Church over a wide area. He formed many parishes and built many churches along the way. His symbol is the builder's square, from an ancient story that built a palace for King Guduphara in India.
Born
unknown
Died
stabbed with a spear c.72 A.D. in India
Patronage
against doubt, architects, blind people, builders, construction workers, Ceylon East Indies, geometricians, India, masons, Pakistan, people in doubt, Sri Lanka, stone masons, stonecutters, surveyors, theologians

Almighty and everliving God, who strengthened your apostle Thomas with sure and certain faith in your Son's resurrection: Grant us so perfectly and without doubt to believe in Jesus Christ, our Lord and our God, that our faith may never be found wanting in your sight; through him who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever.