July 3, 2026 Saint Thomas the Apostle Gospel: John 20:24-29
Today is Friday of the Thirteenth Week in Ordinary Time, and the Church celebrates the Feast of Saint Thomas the Apostle. Pope Benedict XVI introduced this Apostle to us in these words: Saint Thomas (first century), called the “Twin,” is chiefly remembered for doubting the reality of the Resurrection until he saw the Lord for himself. Once he was satisfied, he made a heartfelt profession of faith: “My Lord and my God.” Saint Thomas, who probably suffered martyrdom as a result of preaching the Gospel in India, comforts us when our faith is weak, encourages us to persevere, and demonstrates that “every doubt can lead to an outcome brighter than any uncertainty.”
Today, the passage from the Gospel of John presents the narrative of the encounter between the doubting Thomas and the risen Lord Jesus Christ. I would like to take this opportunity to offer some reflections.
John first tells us about the dialogue between the Apostles, who had seen the risen Lord, and Thomas. At that time, they said to Thomas, “We have seen the Lord.” But Thomas said to them, “Unless I see the mark of the nails in his hands and put my finger into the nail marks and put my hand into his side, I will not believe.” (cf. John 20:24-25)
We can see ourselves in Thomas. For when we hear our brothers and sisters proclaim to us that they have seen the Lord, we too, like the disciples of Jesus, may think that Jesus has “come back to life” rather than “risen,” and we may even, like Thomas, consider what they say to be like a fable, difficult to accept. Our difficulty in accepting this is because we often view it according to the world’s understanding of life; according to our own reasoning, they seem to have seen the ghost of Jesus. But Jesus has truly risen. Those who saw him no longer looked upon Jesus with physical eyes, but with the eyes of faith.
Today, Jesus himself appears to Thomas and invites him to touch the sacred wounds he bears for love of us. He says, “Put your finger here and see my hands, and bring your hand and put it into my side, and do not be unbelieving, but believing.” (cf. John 20:27) Thomas immediately chooses to believe—not because of Jesus’ wounds, but because he no longer understood Jesus’ Resurrection and the risen Lord before him according to merely human reason belonging to this world. At that moment, he viewed all this with the eyes of faith befitting a true child of God. No longer did he understand God as the Pharisees, Sadducees, Herodians, priests, scribes, lawyers, or elders of the people did at that time. His reason told him that the god spoken of by the Pharisees, Sadducees, Herodians, priests, scribes, lawyers, and elders was illusory, whereas the God proclaimed by Jesus is the true God. Feeling the warmth Jesus brought him, he responded in the only way he could express: “My Lord and my God!” (cf. John 20:28) After Jesus ascended into heaven, he left the Roman Empire, passing through Kerala and Tamil Nadu in southern India, and even reaching Muziris (present-day North Paravur and Kodungallur). He founded Eastern Catholic Churches in regions around what is now Van Province, Edessa, and Hakkari in Upper Mesopotamia (southeastern Turkey). Sometime between the mid-30s and his mid-40s, he spent years evangelizing Jews and pagans in that region before advancing further east in the late 40s. Finally, he rested in the Lord in the year 72.
Today, as the Church solemnly celebrates the Feast of Saint Thomas the Apostle, she invites us to imitate the virtues of Saint Thomas. Under the light and guidance of the Holy Spirit, we are called to discern carefully the unique vocation God has given to each of us, to follow in the footsteps of Saint Thomas the Apostle, and to fulfill our own vocations worthily.
Grant, almighty God, that we may glory in the Feast of the blessed Apostle Thomas, so that we may always be sustained by his intercession and, believing, may have life in the name of Jesus Christ your Son, whom Thomas acknowledged as the Lord. Who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, for ever and ever
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