Fr. Sanctus Mario
Inspiration and Bible Reflections

Ten Good Things about Saint Thomas. Feast of Saint Thomas

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Breakfast With the Word Feast of Saint Thomas July 3rd

 John 20:24-29

 

Today the Mother Church celebrates the feast of Saint Thomas the apostle. The gospel of today concentrates much on Him. Saint Thomas, the apostle, is widely known as the doubting one. 

 

 

Whenever you hear that someone answers doubting Thomas, know that He is what an Igbo man will call Ahunanya Ekwe (seeing is believing). 

 

In fact, whenever we hear the name Thomas, many will immediately begin to think about that man that doubted that Jesus has resurrected. The man that later believed when Jesus appeared to assure Him that He has risen. 

 

 

It is always normal to criticise and talk about this apostle. The reason is that he refuses to believe that Jesus resurrected. He says until He sees Him face to face and confirms that He is Jesus by putting his hands in the side, otherwise, he will not believe. 

 

Jesus reproves this attitude and then goes further to bless those who did not see but believe.

 Despite these, there are ten good things about Saint Thomas the Apostle we have to note through that encounter. They are: 

 

1. Always Willing to Know.

 

 

We do not know much about Saint Thomas in the bible. The little information we know about him is in John 11 when Lazarus died. The other apostles were unwilling to follow Jesus. They tell Jesus that if Lazarus is sleeping, he will soon get better. So, there is no need to go to Bethany to wake him up. 

 

 

It is Thomas who encourages the rest of the Apostles that they should go and die with Lazarus. He is willing to know the reason Jesus asks them to go to Bethany.

 

 He is also the person who asks Jesus in John 14:5, How can they know the way to the Father? All these may be the reason he wants to know if Jesus has risen or not.

 

 In Saint Thomas, we see someone who is always passionate to encounter God. In John 11, He is eager to see the sleeping Lazarus and encounter the miracle of raising Him from the dead. 

 

 

Also, in John 14:5, he is eager to know the way to the Father, and in today’s gospel, he is eager to encounter the risen Lord.

 

The apostle teaches us to always be willing to know our faith, know more about the way to God, about God that we worship and willing to obey whatever Jesus says.

 

 

2. The Hunger for an Encounter.

 

 

When the other apostles tell Saint Thomas that His master has resurrected and has visited all the apostles, he doubted. 

 

Many people criticise him a lot for this, but I do not think that Saint Thomas is different from the other apostles who stay in fear and lock themselves up. 

 

Thomas is not also different from the other apostles, who when Mary Magdalene reports to them that the Lord had risen, they doubt (Mark 16:11). 

 

Remember also that the Emmaus disciples were slow to believe ( Luke 24:25). Even when the disciples of Emmaus encountered the Lord and reported to the apostles, they also did not believe ( Mark 16:13). 

 

When Jesus appeared to them in person, his apostles doubted if it was truly Jesus (Luke 24:38). Even when they saw him and worshipped Him, yet they did not believe ( Mathew 28:17). 

 

So, there is nothing new between these people and Saint Thomas. Sincerely, when you look critically at Saint Thomas, you will see this hunger and thirst to have an encounter with the Risen Lord and to meet the Lord one on one. 

 

In every Christian, there should be this hunger to encounter God daily. If every Christian develops the hunger for an encounter, the thirst and desire to feel the presence of God in our lives, there will surely be a change. 

 

Today we only go to church but lack that sincere desire to know God and encounter Him in our lives. In each of us should be the hunger to find God, know Him and encounter Him. We can encounter Him through the Word and the Holy Eucharist.

 

3. The Way to Find the Truth.

 

 

Saint Thomas also teaches us that in seeking, questioning and in trying to find the truth, we shall surely find the truth. Saint Thomas teaches us to seek God with all our hearts. 

 

 

When we truly seek Him, we shall surely find Him. Because of His quest to see Jesus, Jesus appeared again to assure Him that He is alive. 

 

 

In Jeremiah 29:13, God says, “you will seek me and find me when you search me with your whole heart”. Therefore, if we seek God entirely with our whole hearts, we shall find Him. 

 

Thomas teaches us the way to seek God with all our hearts. His eagerness to meet the Lord came out of a sincere and burning desire. This is like the Journey of St. Augustine who in trying to find the truth ended up being converted.

 

 

4.God can Show up When You least Expect.

 

Saint Thomas the apostle teaches us that if we have the hunger for God if we search for Jesus if we try to know whether He is real or not, He will surely show up when you least expect.  

 

 

Also, if you do not give up on God, but stay in faith, refute any negative voices around you, God can still answer your prayers when you least expect. God will use many experiences and situations to prove to you that He truly exists.

 

 

 Am not promoting doubt, but I am promoting that hunger to find God, meet and encounter Him. When Thomas was told that Jesus had resurrected, he did not just doubt but declared His desire to see Jesus also. 

 

 

The apostles may think that Jesus would not appear again, and Thomas has lost His opportunity. But to assure Thomas that He has risen, Jesus appeared when they did not expect.

 

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 In this way, there may be times people may lose hope in you or think that your opportunity to make it in life is gone. God can still show up when you least expect it. Never lose hope. Anything can happen in the future. 

 

 

So, through Saint Thomas, we learn that when others lose hope that you have lost your opportunity, refute it, until God says the same. He is the God of the eleventh hour. 

 

 

Like Thomas, refute any negative and self-destructive claims and negative suggestions and stay in the expectation that one day, your own time will come. 

 

 

5. The Product of an Encounter.

 

 

Through today’s encounter, Saint Thomas professes the divinity of Jesus Christ. You can bear witness to how Thomas professes faith immediately because He had an encounter. 

 

 

Thomas shouted “my God and My Lord “. This is simply a product of an encounter, as the profession of one whom God saved when He least expected. The truth then is that we can never encounter Jesus and remain the same. Through any encounter we have with the Lord, our faith will increase all the more

 

 

6. The Impossible Can Happen.

 

During the time of the apostles, it was never heard that any person can resurrect from the dead. It was never heard in Jewish history that any person has ever resurrected from the dead. So, to hear that Jesus Christ has resurrected may sound very impossible to Thomas. 

 

 

It is the reason He says “Until I see the holes in His hands and can put my finger into the holes they made, and until I can put my hand into his side, I refuse to believe”. 

 

 

So, Jesus’ appearance is an assurance to Thomas that what we think is impossible can happen. With man, everything may not be possible but with God, all things are possible (Matthew 19:26).

 

 

7. Special Privilege From God.

 

 

When Jesus appeared, He allowed Thomas to touch Him. By this, Thomas became the first apostle to touch the risen Lord, an opportunity Jesus could not even grant to Mary Magdalene, who saw Him first (John 20:17). Thomas also became the only apostle that touched Jesus after His resurrection. No one else did. 

Here, we see a clear manifestation of ask, and you shall receive. Through Saint Thomas, we can learn that God can grant a special gift to anyone who seeks it. 

 

 

It was recorded that Saint Nicholas of Tolentino, spent most of His time asking the Holy Spirit for the special gift of wisdom. He was granted such privilege that His words can touch even the most hardened souls.

 

 

 In Luke 11:13, Jesus says “If you then, who are evil, know how to grant good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!

 

 

8. What God expects From Us.

 

 

Through Saint Thomas, we have come to know what God expects from us. When Jesus appeared to the apostles, Jesus said to Thomas “doubt no longer but believe”. He also goes on to bless those who though have not seen but believe. 

 

 

Through Saint Thomas, Jesus teaches us that every Christian should live in faith. This injunction reiterates what Saint Paul says in 2 Corinthians 5:17, that we do not live by what we see. We walk by faith and not by sight. It is a command. 

 

 

Christians should have more faith and not more doubt. Without faith, it is impossible to please God (Hebrews 11:6). Therefore when you say your prayers, attend masses, and visit the Blessed sacrament, always believe that what you do is real. 

 

We do not do them only to fulfil a mere obligation. When you go to church, believe that it is God that you are going to meet and nothing more. Make it real. Do not doubt but believe is a guiding principle for all of us.

 

 

9. The Extent God Loves Us When We become His Own.

 

 

What Jesus did today is simple proof of how He can do anything for His disciples. Because of Saint Thomas, Jesus appeared again and gave him the privilege to touch Him.

 

 To save us, God allows His son to pass through great torture and tribulation. 

To make us have freedom, Jesus undergoes suffering, crucifixion and death. Here, we see a sign of someone willing to go through the worst to make us right. He died so that we may live. 

 

Today, He goes to the extreme only to assure Thomas that He is alive. Through this encounter, We know the extent to which God loves us when we become His own. 

 

Therefore, through Saint Thomas, we have known that God is willing to do anything to strengthen our faith. 

Sometimes He brings difficult experiences into your life to bring you back to Him. Secondly, God is willing to go to any extent to make us better again. He is willing if we can stay strong

 

 

Read More

 

Jesus is ready to forgive.

 

Bring the Problem to Jesus. Thursday 13th Week Ordinary Time

 

We need the Presence of Jesus

 

Fidelity to God. Solemnity of Ss Peter and Paul June 29

 

What It Means To Be A Follower of Jesus Christ

 

When You Need Healing From God, Do These

 

 

10. The Fate of Those Who Believe.

 

 

Through Saint Thomas, Jesus extends His blessings to us as well. He says; happy are those who though have not seen but believe. Therefore, to become a true believer is a blessing.

 

 

May God bless you and give you the grace to develop a hunger for Him, that we may fully come to a knowledge of Him. Amen

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37 Comments
  1. Emmanuel Obinna says

    Fr thanks for this teaching about St. Thomas. But Thomas never touched Jesus but he was granted the access of touching the Master.

    Thanks

    1. Sanctus Mario says

      There are signs that He did. Jesus says “put your finger here… Jesus again says “‘Put your finger here; look, here are my hands. Give me your hand; put it into my side… there is the possibility that he did, an opportunity that was not granted to anybody.

  2. Adichie Lilian Chizoba says

    Amen

    And bless you too

  3. Charles Ndubuisi says

    Amen. May he bless and Grant all our heart desires

    1. Catherine Sekyi says

      Thank you Father,
      May the Lord grants us the grace to always hunger for Him. Amen!

    2. UCHEM AUGUSTA DABERECHI says

      May God grant us the grace to always be eager to feel His presence and seek the truth.

      Thank you very much Father for these wonderful lessons from the life of St. Thomas.

      No. 4 is really thoughtful and encouraging (when people lose hope in us, God can show up when we and they least expect); wonderful!

  4. Ogbonna Lynda says

    Even though he doubted, Jesus still granted his wish…may he have mercy on us that even with our little doubt he will still grant our request… Amen

  5. Ifeoma Ugwueze says

    Amen, may God also give me the grace to believe in Him without doubt in Jesus name, amen

  6. Nwaroh Ifeoma says

    AMEN!

  7. Sr. Catherine Nzekwe says

    Amen. Gracias Padre.

  8. Ugwu obianuju Gladys says

    God, give me grace to know you more through Christ our Lord, Amen

  9. Mary says

    Amen! Lord increase my faith and trust in you.

  10. Mary says

    Amen

  11. Blessing Chilo says

    Amen. May God increase our faith in him.

  12. Nonye Maduka says

    Amen

  13. Omeke Kelechukwu Philomena says

    Amen
    May God grant me the grace to always hunger for Him and to always have an encounter with Him.

    Thank you Fr. for always feeding us with the spiritual food.

  14. Ekwem Emmanuela says

    Amen

  15. Marvelous Egbebike says

    Amen

  16. Eririogu Fidelia says

    Amen. I learned new things today.

  17. Rosemary says

    Amen

    1. Anujue Ifeanyichukwu Godwin says

      Amen.May God grant us the grace to believe in Him and always seek Him

  18. Ochuba Ebuka says

    Amen!

    Really a great read!
    I’m just wondering where Thomas actually went to fearlessly and boldly while the rest of the Apostles and Our Mother Mary were together in the Upper room

    Many blessings
    Padre

  19. Bibiana Uche Unachukwu and family says

    Amen and thanks Fr

  20. Eze Nnedinso Blessing says

    Lord please have mercy on me and answer me as I seek your face, for I need an encounter with You

  21. Rosemary says

    Amen🙏🙏

  22. Solomon Williams says

    Amen
    Tanx Fr for sharing
    God bless you

  23. Okeke Juliet Nneka says

    Amen 🙏. Please Lord, help my unbelief

  24. Mirabel Ogochukwu says

    Amen 🙏

  25. Bibiana Uche Unachukwu and family says

    A powerful Amen. Let me digest this no 4 very well, even no 9 . Thanks for sharing Fr Sanctus.

  26. Oby Okpalaeke says

    Amen 🙏

  27. Dr Nick Onyia says

    Amen and amen 🙏 Remain richly blessed, fr.

  28. Mbewu Francisca Amarachi says

    Amen🙏 thank you so much padre

  29. Mbama Christiana says

    Amen. Thank you fada for this inspiring message.

  30. Mariajacinta Ivoke says

    Amen

  31. Dr. Julie says

    Amen!

  32. Grace Yina says

    Amen

  33. Gabriel-Martin says

    Amen Fr

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