THE LIFE OF THOMAS THE LIFE OF THOMAS Thomas said to him, “Lord, we don’t know where you are going, so how can we know the way?” Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. John 14:5, 6 Thomas, so frequently remembered as “Doubting Thomas” deserves to be respected for his faith. Would you doubt my word if I say that Doubting Thomas, one of the Apostles of Christ visited India and established Christianity? Don’t. For its true. Among Christ’s 12 apostles, Thomas Didaemus or Doubting Thomas, along with Peter and Paul were pre-eminent. Thomas Didaemus was called Doubting Thomas because he doubted Christ’s word that on the third day after his crucifixion, Christ would rise again. He was doubter, but his doubts had a purpose – he wanted to The Incredulity of Saint Thomas' by Caravaggio. Public Domain know the truth. Thomas did idealize his doubts. He gladly believed when given reasons to do so. He expressed his doubts fully and had them answered completely. Doubting was only his way of responding, not his way of life. He struggled to be faithful to what he knew, despite when he felt. At one point, when it was plain to everyone that Jesus’ life was in danger, only Thomas put into words what most were feeling, “Let us also go, that we may die with him” (John 11:16) we don’t know why Thomas was absent the first time Jesus appeared, to the disciples after the resurrection, but he was reluctant to believe their witness to Christ’s resurrection. Not even 10 friends could change his mind! We can doubt without having to live a doubting way of life. Doubt encourages rethinking. Its purpose is more to sharpen the mind then to change it. Doubt can be used to pose a question, get an answer, and push for a decision. But doubt was never meant to be permanent condition He dint stay in his doubt, but allowed Jesus to bring him to belief. Thomas was a Loyal Follower: When Jesus announced His intention of visiting the recently deceased Lazarus in Judea—a few miles from Jerusalem and dangerously close for someone as unpopular as He—Thomas said to his fellow Sheba Sagar |Page 1 of 4 THE LIFE OF THOMAS disciples: “Let us also go, that we may die with him” (John 11:16). When the worried disciples wanted to keep Jesus from going for fear He would be stoned, Thomas, in a moment of bravery not often expressed by the Apostles before Pentecost, rallied the others to stay by their Master come what may. Thomas, a Curious Student: Later, in John 14:1-5 it was St. Thomas who raised an objection prior to the Last Supper: “Do not let your heart be troubled; believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father’s house are many dwelling places; if it were not so, I would have told you; for I go to prepare a place for you. If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself, that where I am, there you may be also. And you know the way where I am going.” Thomas said to Him, “Lord, we do not know where You are going, how do we know the way?” With the keenness typical of the Twelve, Thomas misunderstands Jesus’ reference to His death and resurrection. Thomas’ question provides Jesus an opportunity to teach one of the most profound and difficult truths of His ministry. Jesus said to Thomas: (John 14:6) “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.” Thomas, Doubting Apostle: Lastly, and more famously, St. Thomas is remembered for being absent from the Upper Room the first time Jesus appeared to the disciples after His Resurrection. Thomas dismissed the accounts of the others by saying, “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”(Luke 20:25). Eight days later Thomas made his act of faith. He fell at the feet of Jesus and said, “My Lord and my God!” and Jesus replied, “Because you have seen me, Thomas, you believed. Blessed are they that have not seen, and yet believe” (John 20:25-29). This incident gave rise to the expression “doubting Thomas.” Thomas, Reluctant Missionary: Narration of Thomas’ missionary activities are unreliable, but the most widely accepted report holds that he preached in India, although he was reluctant to start the mission. According to the Acta Thomae, the apostles divided up the world for their missionary labours, and India fell to Thomas. However, Thomas claimed that he was not healthy enough and that a Hebrew could not teach Indians; even a vision of Christ could not change his mind. Christ then appeared to a merchant and sold Thomas to him as a slave for his master, a king who ruled over part of India. One story suggests that Thomas offered to build a palace for the Indian king that would last forever. The king Sheba Sagar |Page 2 of 4 THE LIFE OF THOMAS gave him money, which Thomas gave to the poor. Asked to show his progress, St. Thomas explained that the palace he was building was in heaven, not on earth. Ultimately, after giving into God’s will, Thomas was freed from slavery. He planted seeds for the new Church, forming many parishes and building many churches along the way. Kerala was home, even at that time, to a Jewish community. A 17th-century work called Thomma Parvam (Songs of Thomas) says that he converted 40 Jews upon his arrival, along with 3,000 Hindus of Brahmin origin. The martyrdom of Thomas, however, took place not on western coast of India, but on the other side of the subcontinent, in the south-eastern city of Mylapore, near Chennai. There, Thomas came into conflict with the Hindu priests of Kali, who killed him for insulting their deity – or simply for converting many of their followers To this day, Saint Thomas is respected as the Apostle of India. In fact, there exists a population of Christians along the Malabar Coast, on the western coast of India, who lay claim to conversion by St. Thomas. Their tradition holds that he built seven churches, was martyred during prayer by a spearing on the “Big Hill” near Madras, and was buried in Mylapore, on the east coast of India. Ultimately, St. Thomas’ remains were transported to Ortona, Italy, where they reside today The San Thome Basilica Mylapore, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India presently located at the tomb was first built in the 16th century by the Portuguese and rebuilt in the 19th century. St. Thomas Mount has been a revered site by Hindus, Muslims, and Christians since at least the 16th century. Strengths and Weaknesses and Lessons for his life Vital Statistics accomplishments mistakes •One of Jesus’ 12 •Along with the •Jesus does not •Where: Galilee, disciples others, reject doubts that Judah, Samaria •Intends both in abandoned Jesus are honest and •Occupation: doubt and belief at his arrest. directed toward Disciple of Jesus •Was a loyal and •Refuse to believe belief •Contemporaries: honest man the other’s claims •Better to doubt Jesus’ other to have seen out loud than to disciples, Herod, Christ and disbelief in silence Pilot demanded proof •Struggled with a pessimistic out look Sheba Sagar |Page 3 of 4 THE LIFE OF THOMAS Key verses Then He said to Thomas, “Reach your finger here, and look at My hands; and reach your hand here, and put it into My side. Do not be unbelieving, but believing.” And Thomas answered and said to Him, “My Lord and my God!” John 20:27, 28 All the four Gospels gave an account of Thomas. He is also mentioned in Acts 1:13 Life Application: Take encouragement also from the fact that countless other followers of Christ have struggled with doubts. The answers God gave them may help you too. Don’t settle into doubts, butc move on from them to decision and belief. Find another believer with whom you can share your doubts. Silent doubts rarely find answers. PRAYER: Dear Lord, I thank you for a new day like this. I thank you for the gift of life, and also for the true love you are showing and nothing can stop you from loving me. Guide me through temptation,c do not let me fall into temptation. If there is any way I have doubted you Lord, forgive me. Lord, give me the strength to overcome fear and doubt. Build my faith in you. And let me be strong in you in a way that fear and doubt will have no space. Amen. The tomb of St. Thomas the Apostle St. Thomas Cathedral Basilica, Chennai Sheba Sagar |Page 4 of 4 .