St. Thomas: Doubt to Belief – Jul 03 – Homily – Fr John Lawrence

 

Fr John Lawrence gives the homily at Bloomington, IN on Jul 03, 2023, on the life of St Thomas the Apostle, the meaning of his name, the words he said, his doubt that ended in his faith, and led to our faith and through his apostolic efforts lead to the belief of people in India where he was martyred.

Praise be to Jesus and Mary. This homily is about St. Thomas, an apostle and fisherman, recognized as "the twin" or "Didymus" in Aramaic and Greek respectively. Likely named Jude or Judas, this name distinction helped separate him from the other apostles bearing similar names.

St. Thomas was a martyr for our Lord, displaying his zealous and courageous nature in instances like when Christ decided to raise Lazarus, despite the imminent danger (John 11 - https://bible.usccb.org/bible/john/11). Thomas, filled with confusion during the Last Supper when Jesus spoke of his departure, elicited the beautiful words from Jesus, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me" (John 14:6 - https://bible.usccb.org/bible/john/14?6).

We find value in Thomas' infamous doubt of Jesus' resurrection, as it led to the concrete affirmation of Jesus' human and divine nature when he touched the wounds of Christ (John 20:27 - https://bible.usccb.org/bible/john/20?27). St. Gregory the Great posited that Thomas' disbelief provided us with a solid foundation for our faith.

St. Thomas, following the reception of the Holy Spirit, evangelized extensively across Parthia and into India. This journey is thought to have included the baptism of the Magi (Matthew 2 - https://bible.usccb.org/bible/matthew/2). The Thomas Christians in India today are believed to be direct descendants of those evangelized by St. Thomas.

St. Thomas was martyred in a manner similar to Christ, pierced by a lance, and his relics are now venerated by the Thomas Christians in India. In the face of current-day persecution, we entrust these faithful to the protection of St. Thomas. Praise be to Jesus and Mary, now and forever.

00:00 – Introduction
00:10 – Etymology and Significance of the Name "Thomas"
01:31 – Appointment as an Apostle and his Zeal
02:26 – The Last Supper: Thomas and Jesus's Dialogue
03:08 – Doubt of St. Thomas: Impact and Consequences
05:06 – Evangelistic Work of St. Thomas
06:05 – The Baptism of the Magi by St. Thomas
06:21 – The Malabar Coast & "Thomas Christians" of India
06:51 – The Martyrdom of St. Thomas

Ave Maria!

Mass: St. Thomas the Apostle - Feast - http://www.catholic.org/saints/saint.php?saint_id=410
Readings:  - http://usccb.org/bible/readings/070323.cfm
1st: eph 2:19-22
Resp: psa 117:1, 2
Gsp: joh 20:24-29

More on the Readings: https://airmaria.com/r?m=1100

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