Readings – Eph. 2:19-22; Ps. 117:1, 2; Jn. 20:24-29.

Some Notes on St. Thomas the Apostle

1. St. Thomas the Apostle was born in the 1st century AD in Galilee and died in 72 AD in India, according to tradition. He is mentioned in all the lists of Apostles in the Synoptics (Mt. 10:3; Mk. 3:18; Lk. 6; see also Acts 1:13). His name means “twin” or “didymos.” He is commonly known as “doubting Thomas” because he initially doubted the resurrection of Jesus. He famously said to the other Apostles who had reported the Resurrection, “Unless I see in his hands the mark of the nails and put my finger into the nail marks, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe” (Jn. 20: 25).

2. He is mentioned in the Gospels at other times. When Jesus said he was returning to Judea to visit Lazarus at a time when the Jews were getting more hostile to him, it was Thomas who said to his fellow disciples, “Let us also go to die with him” (Jn. 11:16).

Again, it was Thomas who, during the Last supper, objected, “Master, we do not know where you are going; how can we know the way?” (Jn. 14:5).

This question elicited an answer that is most profound and true about our discipleship, “I am the Way, the Truth and the Life; no one comes to the Father except through me” (Jn. 14:6). His act of faith after finally seeing the Risen Jesus is for the ages, “My Lord and my God” (Jn. 20: 28). This is the clearest declaration of Jesus’ divinity in the Gospels. Finally, Thomas is also mentioned in another miraculous post-Resurrection event, the miraculous haul of fish at Lake Tiberias (Jn. 21:2).

3. Outside the Gospels, what we know of him comes from tradition and from apocryphal writings dating back to the 3rd century AD. These are of Gnostic origin, such as the “Gospel of Thomas,” the “Acts of Thomas” and the “Infancy Gospel of Thomas.”

One most notable legend says the other Apostles were miraculously transported to Jerusalem to witness the Virgin Mary’s death. Thomas was left in India. But after her burial, he was transported to her tomb, where he witnessed her bodily assumption into heaven from which she dropped her girdle. It was now the turn of the other Apostles to doubt Thomas’ story, until they saw the empty tomb and Mary’s girdle.

4. According to tradition, Thomas preached the Gospel in Palestine, Mesopotamia, Parthia and Ethiopia. The tradition of the St. Thomas Christians of Kerala, India, who trace their origins to St. Thomas, says he traveled beyond the reaches of the Roman Empire through southern India in the modern states of Kerala and Tamil Nadu in 52 AD.

5. He started the Church in the East in Syria, Persia, in the regions of Upper Mesopotamia, modern day southern Turkey, presumably between mid-late 30s and 40s. He spent many years evangelizing Jews and pagans in the area before heading further east in the late 40s.

6. Many churches in the Middle East and southern Asia, besides India, also mention the Apostle Thomas in their historical traditions, including Sri Lanka, as being their first evangelist. One legend says that he met and baptized the Magi on his way to India.

Early Christian writers, such as Ephrem, Syrus, Ambrose, Paulinus, Jerome and later Gregory of Tours, said that Thomas had indeed preached in India.

7. For having converted the wife and son of the prefect of the Indian city of Meliapur (Melipur), Thomas was imprisoned, tortured, and was finally pierced with five spears, martyred for his faith in the Lord. Parts of his relics are in Chennai, India where he was martyred. Other parts are in the Basilica di San Tommaso in Ortona, Italy. His skull ended up on the Greek island of Chios in the 13th century. St. Thomas is the Patron Saint of Architects.

8. Prayer — Almighty Father, as we honor Thomas the Apostle, may we always experience the help of his prayers. Grant us, we pray, eternal life by believing in Jesus, whom Thomas acknowledged as Lord and God, for he lives and reigns for ever and ever. Amen.

Prayers, best wishes, God bless!