Please read the Scripture passage before the homily.
The Roman Church celebrates the Apostle Thomas on the third of July. Thomas was absent when the Jesus had appeared to the rest of the Twelve on the day Christ rose from the dead. He therefore seems to have missed receiving the gift of the Holy Spirit and the commission to forgive sins (see John 20:19-23).
Thomas was not the only one who had doubted the Lord’s resurrection, but he is remembered in a special way as doubting. Nevertheless, despite his doubts and despite having missed the gifts the Lord Jesus gave the Twelve on the day of the resurrection, Thomas made the clearest statement in all the gospels of who the risen Jesus is, when he exclaimed, “My Lord and my God.”
According to St Paul, no one can call Jesus Lord except in the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians, 12:2). Apparently, Thomas must have received the gift of the Holy Spirit so that he could acknowledge Jesus as Lord and God. The risen Lord Jesus accepted Thomas’ confession of faith but blessed those who have come to believe in Christ without having seen what Thomas saw.
This episode cautions me not to condemn or reject those who do not profess their faith as I do. At a time when people hold extreme positions regarding faith or the outward practice of their beliefs, it is good to know that Jesus respected the faith of Thomas as he moved from unbelief to fullness of belief.
I see some challenges presented to us by this story of Thomas. How does the Holy Spirit speak and act through people of other religions, be they Christian religions or non-Christian? How does the Holy Spirit direct the lives and actions of people who favor killing unborn children by abortion or killing born children by not providing healthcare and nourishment to their families? How does the Holy Spirit act through the lives of those who experience sexuality and interpersonal relationships in non-binary ways?
Thomas was slow to believe, but the Lord accepted him. The rest of the world may be slow to believe as I do, but the Lord accepts them as well as me.