Many know the Apostle Thomas as the "Doubting' Thomas. I like the more Eastern title: The Apostle of Certitude. Thomas came through his doubt to faith, unlike many who graciously accepted faith … sometimes blindly. There is much to admire in Thomas, especially in today's age of relativism, indifference, and irrational skepticism. He went through the valley of religious doubt and it got the best of him, but unlike so many who couldn't handle it he was still able to proclaim boldly that Jesus the Risen Christ was his Lord and God (John 20:28).

Sunday's Gospel, John 20:19-31, consisted of two "scenes' or mini-narratives. The first dealt with sending of the disciples and the second, Thomas' ascent to faith in Christ's peace. But the story is a part of a larger picture that John was trying to write as I will try to demonstrate.

The first scene (John 20:19-23) begins with the disciples' fear of the Jews. The doors were locked, yet Jesus came to stand in their midst. His first words were, “Peace be to you.” I cannot overlook the liturgical connection of this greeting. In the Byzantine Divine Liturgy, the opening greeting is, “Peace be with you” before the Prokeimenon. At the beginning of the Eucharistic banquet/liturgy the celebrant again greets us with, “Peace be with all!” before the Profession of Faith. In both cases, John 20:19 is used as a reference to the greeting. In the Latin tradition, Ruth 2:4 (“The Lord be with you&#8221) is used. This tradition is a carryover from the synagogue where that peace greeting was a call to the remembrance of the Law of Moses. Forgiveness of sins (v.23) becomes the remedy for fear.

This peace was a gift given to the disciples. Unfortunately, Thomas was not there. During his first visit, Jesus commissions his disciples or sends them on a mission from God. Another gift, the Holy Spirit, is given to them to amplify the gift of peace. Again, there is another liturgical connection in Jesus' breathing over the people. We see this at the Blessing of the Waters and the Initiation Mysteries, whereby the GIFT of the Holy Spirit is given.

Then comes Thomas, called Didymus. There are two people and one event that happens: there is Thomas and our Lord; Thomas also “sees.” At first, Thomas challenges the disciples with his apparent lack of faith (v.25), but there is a follow-up on that lack of faith with a confirmation of faith (v.28). Thomas' test to see the mark of nails in his HANDS and to put his FINGER into his side may lead him to BELIEVE (v.25b). Jesus asks him to do such a thing. Our Lord asks him to put his FINGER into his HANDS and his hand into his side in order to BELIEVE (v.27). In the midst of this, our Lord greets Thomas and the others present with, “Peace be with you.” Again, peace!

In both scenes, our Lord Jesus came and stood before the disciples; it was daytime in both cases and the doors were locked. Jesus showed his hands and his side (20:19-20a // 20:26-29). In both scenes, the disciples rejoiced at seeing Jesus (20:20b // 20:24-25). Between both events, Jesus sends his disciples, gives them the gift of the Holy Spirit and the authority to forgive sins (20:21-23). All in all, it is a beautiful story of immediate faith and faith attained after some doubt. There are role models for us all.

But our Sunday reading seems to conclude what all of this was about. We learn of the purpose of the Gospel in John 20:30-31. That purpose was to believe in Jesus and have life:

“Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of his disciples that are not written in this book. But these are written that you may come to believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that through this belief you may have life in his name.”

For fun, read John 21:1-14 and compare it to John 20:24-29. In addition, read John 21:15-25 and compare it to John 20:19-23. What do you learn from this?

To emphasize what I state on a recent post, our liturgies convey this wonderful Gospel message in our stichera. At Psalm 140 during Vespers, we sing:

“When the doors were closed and the disciples were gathered together, You suddenly appeared in their midst, O Jesus our Almighty God. You granted them peace and filled them with the Holy Spirit.” (1st sticheron; Tone 1)

“Eight days after your Resurrection, O Lord, You appeared to your disciples in the room … saying: Peace be with you!” (2nd sticheron)

Did Thomas' doubt make him unworthy or bad? Nope. Our stichera continues:

“You did not deem him unworthy for his lack of faith, but in your goodness, You confirmed his faith …” (3rd sticheron)

So, is doubt a virtue or vice? What value can we place on it?

“How wonderful is this doubt of Thomas! It brought the hearts of believers to the knowledge of God.”

The disciples were commissioned to be sent out to proclaim the Gospel message. What was that message?

“Standing in the midst of them, He (Jesus) said to Thomas: Come and touch my wounds and see the marks of the nails; do not persist in your unbelief, but with faith, proclaim my Resurrection from the dead.” (At the Litija; after the doxology)

This was the message. Christ is Risen from the dead!

Like Thomas, we should not let doubt persist to the point of breaking us. We should pray for faith when weak. Our school of prayer teaches us:

“O Christ, strengthen me on the unshakable rock of your commandments.”

Christ's commandments, the New Law, is the rock that should strengthen us. We are reminded of these rock-based commandments at Vespers when we sing the Hymn of Glorification:

“Blessed our You, O Lord, teach me Your commandments.”
“Blessed are You, O Master, make me understand Your commandments.”
“Blessed are You, O Holy One, enlighten me with Your laws.”

This is the core of this particular hymn. It will keep us from sin. We ask in the beginning of the hymn for our Lord to “vouschafe” us from the evening without sin. For some reason, our Vesper Book and a good number of pastors, don't like the word “vouschafe” and have deleted it. Vouschafe means to grant or deign. The celebrant prays to God a prayer before the altar (prior to the reading of the Gospel) to “Instill in us also a fear of your blessed commandments, so that trampling upon all the desirers of the flesh, we may begin to lead a spiritual life, both thinking and doing all that is pleasing to you.”


What are some things that instill doubt in believers?

How can we overcome doubt with a faith in Jesus Christ who is Risen and the rock of our faith?

Is Thomas a patron saint of contemporary believers?


Cantor Joe Thur

[ 04-07-2002: Message edited by: J Thur ]

I may have something to say regarding this great topic later, since this week in particular, college is not being so nice...even still, I don't want this thread to escape without my maybe saying something or other about our father the Apostle Thomas.

Don't let that stop the rest of you from contributing for now...

This offering from Joe has stirred up a lot of thoughts with me - some of which may seem to be somewhat irrelevant but I see a reason for sharing them with you . Please bear with me for a bit as I explain.

Last Friday I was with my Director, and among other things we were discussing my problems with prayer . Fr John was administering a mild telling off and went on to suggest I should be more 'persistent' and 'dogged'. He then used Mary of Magdala to illustrate his meaning. She was with the Disciples when they first visited the tomb and found it empty , they saw the angel and went away realising the truth of the event, however Mary in her distress stayed there and could not be comforted until the Lord , whom at first she did not recognise, rewarded her persistence in prayer by His presence.

We talked more and I realised what he was trying to say to me - the more I put myself in His presence , the more I will feel His Presence.

I now move on to Sunday and the Gospel - I was there on the Altar [ having read the First lesson as a Reader for the first time]listening as this passage was read and it triggered some more thoughts about prayer - why did Thomas refuse to believe - was it similar to Mary's desire to know what had happened to Her Lord ? Once he had accepted the proof of Our Lord's Resurrection - he believed like Mary Was this disbelief or was it, as I am wondering, persistence in Prayer which was rewarded by His Touch.

Just a thought

Angela