Is It Time To Ask St. Thomas To Intercede For Us?

Today, I want to take a look at the Apostle Thomas. What are the two aspects to Thomas that immediately come to mind when we speak of him? First, we believe that he was a twin (the Gospels state he was called “Didymus” or ‘the twin’). Second, he is forever linked to the name “doubting Thomas” because he did not believe the apostles when they told him they had seen the resurrected Christ.

I want to give Thomas some credit here. The term “doubting Thomas” has a negative ring to it, and I am not sure Thomas deserves fully the attachment. Yes, he did doubt (and was rebuked handily by our Lord for it) but we don’t link a negative name to Peter (that would be a long list) or the “Sons of Thunder” who wanted to rain fire down from the heavens. And what about the apostles discussing who should have the best seat in Heaven? Now that’s a classic.

Thomas is, of course, a saint. When he did meet the resurrected Jesus, he proclaimed, “My Lord and my God”. I would say he realized his mistake. And why wasn’t he in the upper room the first time Christ appeared? The apostles were all huddled together behind locked doors in fear that they would soon be following in Jesus’ footsteps to a cross of their own.

Why wasn’t Thomas there? Had he washed himself of this whole Jesus business? I don’t think so given that he was in the room again for Jesus’ second appearance. Had he gone back to fishing? I doubt it since it would be pretty soon after Christ’s crucifixion to pick up the nets again.

Maybe everyone was hungry and he was the only one who was brave enough to go down to the market and get some groceries. Maybe he was taking a walk around town to see what was happening or maybe he was praying off by himself, as he had seen Jesus do many times before.

It is all speculation, of course. I don’t claim to have any idea as to Thomas’ absence in the upper room when Christ first appeared to the apostles. I do, however, think it is interesting food for thought.

It is reported that Thomas went on to evangelize and made his way into the East. I commend him for this and it gives me hope that even though he had his doubts, there was resurrection to new life for him as well.

My brothers and sisters in Jesus Christ, we all have our doubts from time to time. This is a part of our human nature. However, we cannot let these doubts overshadow the great promise that we have been given! Jesus the Christ has risen from the dead and comes to each of us with the offer of peace in our lives. This is our hope. This is our story. We look to those first apostles, human as they were, to help us understand how we too may become apostles of Jesus Christ.

If I might be so bold, I might suggest we sit down with St. Thomas for a few moments this week and discuss with him our doubts in our own faith journeys. We should ask for his intercession in our lives to help guide us toward a closer relationship with Jesus Christ. It may be the beginning of a wonderful journey in our lives. We never know where it will take us!