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On this feast day of St Thomas we are reminded of not one but two great quotes from today’s Gospel in which we are given, to dwell upon and lead us to a greater faith and relationship with our Lord and saviour Jesus Christ.

First “Happy are those who have not seen and yet believe.”

For those who see with the eyes of faith have seen the Lord. They have Him in their presence. We have also been given a great gift of being able to gaze upon Him in the Blessed Sacrament and for those who have led others who had not yet known Him can attest by their testimony they too had experienced His peace, love and joy while seated in His presence.

Second “My Lord and my God!”

We who have experienced His profound love and mercy have exclaimed with overwhelming joy in our hearts this very words, My Lord and my God! We feel the same way whenever we see the Eucharistic Host lifted over the Eucharistic wine at Mass. Again in Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament. With hope in our hearts we will exclaim it again when we return into His loving embrace at the end of our time here on earth.

My Lord and my God, I firmly believe that you are here; that you see me, that your hear me. I adore you with profound reverence; I beg your pardon for my sins, and the grace to make this time of prayer fruitful. My Immaculate Mother, Saint Joseph my father and lord, my guardian angel, intercede for me. Amen

St Thomas pray for us…

First reading

Ephesians 2:19-22 ·

In Christ you are no longer aliens, but citizens like us

You are no longer aliens or foreign visitors: you are citizens like all the saints, and part of God’s household. You are part of a building that has the apostles and prophets for its foundations, and Christ Jesus himself for its main cornerstone. As every structure is aligned on him, all grow into one holy temple in the Lord; and you too, in him, are being built into a house where God lives, in the Spirit.

Gospel

John 20:24-29

‘My Lord and my God!’

Thomas, called the Twin, who was one of the Twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. When the disciples said, ‘We have seen the Lord’, he answered, ‘Unless I see the holes that the nails made in his hands and can put my finger into the holes they made, and unless I can put my hand into his side, I refuse to believe.’ Eight days later the disciples were in the house again and Thomas was with them. The doors were closed, but Jesus came in and stood among them. ‘Peace be with you’ he said. Then he spoke to Thomas, ‘Put your finger here; look, here are my hands. Give me your hand; put it into my side. Doubt no longer but believe.’ Thomas replied, ‘My Lord and my God!’ Jesus said to him:

‘You believe because you can see me.

Happy are those who have not seen and yet believe.’

Have you ever pondered over what or how does a believer of our Lord Jesus Christ look like? Does your family, colleagues, classmates or anyone else for that matter look upon you and say, “There goes true believer in Jesus!” or in the least they might call you a Christian.

Truly this is not impossible or an insurmountable achievement. Afterall we are all saints in the making, a work in progress. The great St Thomas whose feast we celebrate today had flaws and imperfections. He too did not start out with unwavering faith, but just him we too can be perfected in Christ.

Whom do we know today who is not perfect but walks gently, humbly and even boldly shares the love of Jesus with everyone he meets? I thank God for Pope Francis who is, and the many Popes before him who were shining examples of what it means to be Christians; a true believer of and in Christ.

Lord do thou increase my faith. Amen

First reading

Ephesians 2:19-22 ·

In Christ you are no longer aliens, but citizens like usYou are no longer aliens or foreign visitors: you are citizens like all the saints, and part of God’s household. You are part of a building that has the apostles and prophets for its foundations, and Christ Jesus himself for its main cornerstone. As every structure is aligned on him, all grow into one holy temple in the Lord; and you too, in him, are being built into a house where God lives, in the Spirit.

Gospel

John 20:24-29‘

My Lord and my God!’Thomas, called the Twin, who was one of the Twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. When the disciples said, ‘We have seen the Lord’, he answered, ‘Unless I see the holes that the nails made in his hands and can put my finger into the holes they made, and unless I can put my hand into his side, I refuse to believe.’ Eight days later the disciples were in the house again and Thomas was with them. The doors were closed, but Jesus came in and stood among them. ‘Peace be with you’ he said. Then he spoke to Thomas, ‘Put your finger here; look, here are my hands. Give me your hand; put it into my side. Doubt no longer but believe.’ Thomas replied, ‘My Lord and my God!’ Jesus said to him:‘You believe because you can see me.Happy are those who have not seen and yet believe.’

He thinks he is so Holy and she thinks she is so pious. Just wait and see, it’s all for show and surely their true colours will be unveiled. For the Lord sees into the heart and He will be the judge!

Where are these thoughts and criticism coming from? Jealousy? Insecurity? Surely you cannot think these are from the Lord our God? The only truth in the whole utterance is that the Lord indeed sees into our heart and He alone will be our judge. All of us are truly loved dearly and uniquely by God our Father and if there are any doubts or insecurities it comes from our own lack of understanding of just how much He loves us. We should strive to deepen our relationship with Him through our Lord Jesus Christ. For Christ alone dispels all our fears and doubts. He will surely come in all His glory to lift us up.

By His cross Jesus has broken all barriers, all divisions and united us all of God’s children unto Himself. By His resurrection there is no doubt whatsoever that we have a powerful and loving God. Who conquered death and has brought new life for all, that we might all live and live it to the full! Look and see the example of dearest St Thomas who touched our Lord Jesus Christ and yet himself was touched profoundly by our Lord that he could not contain within himself the words of life, “My Lord, My and my God!” St Thomas then went out courageously into the world to proclaim this for all who would listen . Amen

St Thomas the Apostle pray for us…

First reading

Ephesians 2:19-22 ·
In Christ you are no longer aliens, but citizens like us

You are no longer aliens or foreign visitors: you are citizens like all the saints, and part of God’s household. You are part of a building that has the apostles and prophets for its foundations, and Christ Jesus himself for its main cornerstone. As every structure is aligned on him, all grow into one holy temple in the Lord; and you too, in him, are being built into a house where God lives, in the Spirit.

Gospel

John 20:24-29
‘My Lord and my God!’

Thomas, called the Twin, who was one of the Twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. When the disciples said, ‘We have seen the Lord’, he answered, ‘Unless I see the holes that the nails made in his hands and can put my finger into the holes they made, and unless I can put my hand into his side, I refuse to believe.’ Eight days later the disciples were in the house again and Thomas was with them. The doors were closed, but Jesus came in and stood among them. ‘Peace be with you’ he said. Then he spoke to Thomas, ‘Put your finger here; look, here are my hands. Give me your hand; put it into my side. Doubt no longer but believe.’ Thomas replied, ‘My Lord and my God!’ Jesus said to him:

‘You believe because you can see me.
Happy are those who have not seen and yet believe.’