Thursday 3 July 2025 – Solemnity of St. Thomas,
Apostle of India
Mass
Readings: Acts 10:
24-35 Ps 42 1 Pt 1:3-9 Jn 20:24-29
Key Verse to
Meditate: Thomas
answered him, "My Lord and my God!" (Jn 20:28).
Dear Brothers and Sisters in the Lord,
Today,
in union with the Universal Church, the Church in India joyfully celebrates the
Solemnity of St. Thomas the Apostle, the great missionary disciple of
Jesus and the Apostle of India. According to ancient Christian
tradition, it is believed that St. Thomas was martyred in AD 72 at St.
Thomas Mount (Parangimalai) in Chennai, and that his body was buried at Mylapore,
where the Santhome Cathedral Minor Basilica now stands. This Basilca is one
of only three churches in the world built over the tomb of an apostle—the
others being St. Peter's in Rome and St. James’ in Santiago de Compostela,
Spain.
Some of St. Thomas’s relics were later taken to Edessa (modern-day Urfa, Turkey) and eventually to Ortona, Italy, where they are venerated today in the Basilica of St. Thomas. In July 2023, St. Thomas Mount celebrated the 500th anniversary of the original church built by the Portuguese. This year, the St. Thomas Mount National Shrine is being elevated to the status of a Minor Basilica—a moment of great pride and grace for the Church in India."
Though historical details vary, both canonical and apocryphal sources, including The Gospel of Thomas and The Acts of Thomas (2nd century), provide valuable insights into the apostolic mission of St. Thomas. While not part of the official biblical canon, these texts have helped preserve a cherished belief: that St. Thomas preached the Gospel in India, particularly in Kerala and Tamil Nadu. The enduring presence of the St. Thomas Christians in India is a living testimony to his legacy. His name continues to be a beloved and widespread Christian name in India, reflecting our deep connection with his life and martyrdom.
Liturgy
of the Word: A Message for All Nations
In the
First Reading (Acts 10), we see Peter, moved by the conversion story of
the Gentile centurion Cornelius, proclaim, "I truly understand
that God shows no partiality, but in every nation anyone who fears him and does
what is right is acceptable to him" (Acts 10:34-35). This vision of a
Church open to all nations beautifully prefigures the mission of St. Thomas in
India.
In the
Gospel, we encounter the familiar scene of the Risen Christ revealing
Himself to Thomas, who had earlier declared that he would not believe
unless he saw and touched the wounds of Jesus. Jesus gently responds to his
doubt with compassion, saying: “Blessed are those who have not seen and yet
have believed” (John 20:29). This passage serves as a profound
encouragement to all who believe without seeing—a message especially relevant
to us who have received the faith passed down from Thomas himself.
St.
Peter, too, echoes this theme of faith without sight: "Although you
have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you
believe in him and rejoice with an indescribable and glorious joy” (1 Peter
1:8-9). This “invisible faith” bears fruit in the salvation of our souls.
Was
Thomas Really a Doubter?
Thomas,
also called Didymus ("twin"), is often unfairly labeled as
“Doubting Thomas.” However, a closer examination of the Gospels shows that he
was no more doubtful than the other apostles—perhaps even less. He was a bold
and courageous disciple who was willing to follow Jesus even unto death.
In John
11:16, when Jesus speaks of returning to Judea despite threats on His life,
it is Thomas who courageously declares, “Let us also go, that we may die
with him.” This is no timid doubter, but a faithful follower ready for
martyrdom.
In John
14:5, when Jesus speaks of going to the Father, it is Thomas who honestly
voices his confusion: “Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we
know the way?” This question paves the way for Jesus’ profound response: “I
am the way, and the truth, and the life.”
Finally,
in John 20:24-29, we see the iconic scene of the Risen Christ appearing
to Thomas. Thomas demands to touch the wounds of Christ before he will
believe—but when Jesus appears, Thomas does not touch Him. Instead, he
proclaims the most explicit confession of Christ’s divinity in all the Gospels:
“My Lord and my God!”
Faith
That Seeks Understanding
Thomas
teaches us that a sincere question can lead to a deeper faith. His was
not a rebellious doubt but a truth-seeking heart. And Jesus, full of mercy,
does not rebuke him but meets him where he is. Thomas’ journey from doubt to
faith mirrors the path of many believers who struggle with uncertainty yet
desire a deeper relationship with Christ.
Jesus’
wounds became the healing for Thomas’ doubts. His confession, “My Lord and
my God,” has echoed through Christian history as one of the most profound
declarations of faith. Tradition tells us that Thomas went on to proclaim this
faith in India with great zeal and ultimately gave his life as a martyr,
bearing witness to the Lord he once doubted.
“My
Lord and My God” (Jn 20:28)
After
hearing the voice of the Master, Thomas made his world-famous declaration of
faith: "My Lord and my God!" (Jn 20:28). Many Scripture
scholars consider this utterance the most profound Christological proclamation
in all the Gospels. What St. John begins in the prologue of his Gospel—“In
the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God”
(Jn 1:1)—reaches its climactic revelation in the personal confession of Thomas:
“My Lord and my God.”
This
moment marks a radical transformation in Thomas. From the earlier skepticism—“Unless
I see... I will not believe”—he moves to a heartfelt confession of Jesus’
divinity. His words mirror the honest cry of the father of the possessed boy in
the Gospel of Mark: “I do believe; help my unbelief” (Mk 9:24). Both
confessions come from hearts wrestling with doubt but longing for faith.
Jesus’
Patience and Thomas’ Surrender
Jesus
did not abandon Thomas in his struggle to believe. Instead, He returned—a
week later—to meet Thomas with love, mercy, and understanding. This second
appearance reveals the gentleness and patience of the risen Lord. He meets
Thomas not with rebuke, but with an invitation: “Put your finger here...
Reach out your hand.” Yet Thomas does not touch. He believes without
it—his doubt has been overcome by the sheer presence of the Risen Lord.
Thomas’
response is not only a theological statement but an act of total surrender
to the love of Jesus. His faith proclamation flows from a personal encounter—a
deep awareness that the crucified and risen Jesus is indeed the Lord and God of
his life.
In
response, Jesus affirms a blessing for all future believers: “Have you
believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet
have come to believe” (Jn 20:29). This beatitude includes each of us who
believe without having seen Him in the flesh. Like Mary Magdalene and the other
disciples, Thomas' life was transformed by his encounter with the Risen
Christ—and he became a fearless evangelizer in India.
Faith
Community: A Space of Encounter
Today's
Gospel also highlights the importance of being part of a faith community.
When Jesus first appeared, Thomas was absent. Because of his absence, he missed
the shared experience of the Resurrection. His doubt was not merely
intellectual but also relational—a result of being disconnected from the
believing community.
It was
within the community, gathered in prayer with Mary and the apostles, that Jesus
revealed Himself again. This shows that faith is often nurtured and
strengthened in communion with others. When we distance ourselves from
the Church, we risk missing the presence of Christ in the breaking of the Word
and in the witness of others. But when we return, like Thomas, Christ meets us
with patience, drawing us into deeper belief.
Thomas
was not faithless—he was faith-filled. And his confession, made without
touching the Lord’s wounds, demonstrates a mature, personal, and living faith.
His surrender shows us that faith is not merely believing facts, but entrusting
oneself to the living person of Christ. The more we believe in God’s
goodness, the more we run toward Him without delay or doubt.
Points
for Personal Reflection
The life and martyrdom of St. Thomas the Apostle
offer profound inspiration for our journey as Christian disciples. His story
reminds us that:
- Doubt
can be a doorway to deeper faith when we bring it honestly to Jesus.
- Faith
is both a gift and a personal response of the heart.
- Witness to
Christ means being ready to proclaim, even suffer, for the Gospel.
Reflect on these questions:
- What is my personal faith creed in Jesus?
- How do I respond to the proclamation: “My Lord
and my God”?
- Do I recognize the presence of the Risen Christ
in my daily life?
- Is my faith rooted in the mercy and love of
Jesus like Thomas’ was?
- Do I value and cherish the gift of faith
passed down to me?
Conclusion:
A Legacy of Faith for India
·
Today we celebrate St. Thomas as the Apostle of
India. He served as a vital bridge between Jesus and India, playing a pivotal
role in bringing the Christian faith to our motherland nearly two thousand
years ago.
·
As we celebrate the feast of St. Thomas today, we
are reminded that our faith is apostolic, handed down to us at great
cost and with deep love. Our land is blessed to be associated with an apostle
of Christ himself. Let us honour this legacy not just with devotion but by
living as bold witnesses of Christ in our families, communities, and society.
·
Let us pray for the grace to say with Thomas—not in
hesitation, but in certainty and joy—“My Lord and my God.” May St.
Thomas intercede for us and for the Church in India, that we may be faithful to
the Gospel he preached and the mission entrusted to us.
May St. Thomas, Apostle of India, intercede for us
that we may grow in faith, walk in courage, and proclaim with conviction: “My
Lord and my God!”
