SAINT THOMAS, APOSTLE (FEAST)

Bring your hand and put it into my side. 

Amazing. Jesus had already appeared to the other apostles, to Mary Magdalene, and to two disciples traveling on the road to Emmaus.   He had shown himself to be alive over and over again, but Thomas wasn’t having it.   He wouldn’t believe unless he could see Jesus just as they had—and touch him, too!

And what did Jesus do?   He yielded to Thomas’ demands and appeared again.   Not only that, but he was willing to let Thomas probe and examine his body so that he could finally believe.

Typically, when we think about this story, we focus on Thomas’ doubts or weak faith.   But today, let’s focus instead on Jesus’ response.   Just as he had done in the Incarnation, just as he had done during his “hidden years” as a carpenter, and just as he had done when he washed his disciples’ feet and allowed himself to be crucified, here again Jesus humbled himself and gave himself over to the hands of men.   He cared more about meeting Thomas’ need than he cared about how reasonable or appropriate Thomas’ demand was.

And the result of such humility?   Thomas was so moved that he made the greatest and most personal proclamation about Jesus in all the Gospels:   “My Lord and my God!” (John 20:28).

Jesus will always help us to know him better.   He probably won’t appear physically, as he did for Thomas, but he will “show up” in countless other ways.   In our prayer, in his word, in the love of a friend, in the whispers of our conscience—in these and many other ways, Jesus humbly comes to us.   And of course, the humblest way of all is when he places himself in our hands in the gift of the Eucharist.

Wherever he traveled as an apostle, Thomas probably told the story of how Jesus let him touch him.   Let him tell you the same thing today: “Jesus is standing before you right now.   He is inviting you to reach out and touch him.   Let him show you that he truly is your Lord and your God.”

“Thank you, Jesus, for humbling yourself so much just to save me.”

Ephesians 2:19-22
Psalm 117:1-2