The Apostle St.Thomas was born in the Galileian city of Pansada and was a
fisherman. Hearing the good tidings of Jesus Christ, he left all and
followed after him.
*St.Thomas in the Gospels*
The fourth Gospel makes his personality clearer to us than that of some
others of the Twelve. His name occurs in all the lists of the Synoptists
(Matthew 10:3; Mark 3:18; Luke 6, cf. Acts 1:13), but in St. John he plays a
distinctive part. First, when Jesus announced His intention of returning to
Judea to visit Lazarus, "Thomas" who is called Didymus [the twin], said to
his fellow disciples: "Let us also go, that we may die with him" (John
11:16). Again it was St. Thomas who during the discourse before the Last
Supper raised an objection: "Thomas said to him: Lord, how can we know the
way?" (John 14:5). But more especially St. Thomas is remembered for his
incredulity when the other Apostles announced Christ's Resurrection to him:
"Except I shall see in his hands the print of the nails, and put my finger
into the place of the nails, and put my hand into his side, I will not
believe" (John 20:25); but eight days later he made his act of faith,
drawing down the rebuke of Jesus: "Because thou hast seen me, Thomas, thou
hast believed; blessed are they that have not seen, and have believed" (John
20:29). He made what is certainly the most explicit statement of faith in
the New Testament: My Lord and My God! ( John 20:24-28) and, in so
expressing his faith, gave Christians a prayer that will be said till the
end of time. He also occasioned a compliment from Jesus to all later
Christians: Have you come to believe because you have seen me? Blessed are
those who have not seen and have believed (John 20:29).
*The work of St.Thomas*
According to various Church Traditions, the holy Apostle Thomas founded
Christian churches in Palestine, Mesopotamia, Parthia, Ethiopia and India.
Preaching the Gospel earned him a martyr's death. For having converted the
wife and son of the prefect of the Indian city of Mylapore. The holy apostle
was locked up in prison, suffered torture and finally pierced with five
spears he died.
*The message of St.Thomas*
St.Thomas should be well known for his courage. Perhaps what he said was
impetuous, since he ran, like the rest, at the showdown, but he can scarcely
have been insincere when he expressed his willingness to die with Jesus. The
occasion was when Jesus proposed to go to Bethany after Lazarus had died.
Since Bethany was near Jerusalem, this meant walking into the very midst of
his enemies and to almost certain death. Realizing this, Thomas said to the
other apostles, Let us also go to die with him (John 11:16b).
We can learn a lot of courageous lessons from the Life of St.Thomas. The
first message is never to despair in adverse circumstances, never to retreat
from going to the most dangerous places even though the sky may appear black
and the prospects seem bleak. When it was precarious and perilous to go to
Judea with Jesus, only Thomas was ready. I have tried it in my own life by
opting to work as a missionary priest in Northeast India although am
originally from Kerala. I have learned it from him.
St.Thomas was more than willing to forgo everything, to die, to be killed,
to be murdered for Jesus. The words of St.Thomas Let us also go that we may
die with him is a powerful testament off a courageous follower of Jesus.
Thomas loved Jesus more than anyone, more than himself. So he was ready to
go to Judea and face death. It is this same love for Jesus that made him to
come to India to preach the Gospel and to shed his blood for Jesus.
St.Thomas used the plural, Let us go that we may die with him. He urged
other disciples, instilled his courage and zeal into them and led them to
Judea. This is indeed a wonderful gesture of human solidarity. We can
imitate this good quality of St Thomas our patron by encouraging, inspiring
and appreciating our brothers and sisters by enhancing and heightening the
good in others, the good they can do, by our words, deeds and loving
persuasion borne of faith.
*PRAYER IN HONOUR OF ST.THOMAS *
O Lord God! We thank and praise you for sending St.Thomas the Apostle, in
your divine providence to India, for proclaiming the good news that Jesus is
our Lord and Saviour. He not only confessed Jesus as his Lord and Saviour,
he also sealed his faith with his blood, and became the first martyr of the
Indian Church. We glorify you Lord, for inspiring us through the courageous
witness of St.Thomas.
May St.Thomas, our patron obtain for us, through his powerful intercession,
the grace to bear witness to you in the challenges of our life. May his
constant intercession fulfill the needs of all those who are gathered here
in faith and devotion.
We pray in a special way through the powerful intercession of the Apostle,
that all of us may be filled with the gifts of the Spirit to proclaim the
Good News and to experience a new Pentecost in our lives.
We make this prayer in the precious name of Jesus who lives and reigns with
you and the Holy Spirit, one God forever and ever. Amen
PRAISE GOD
BLESSED BE THE ONE WHO COMES IN THE NAME OF THE LORD
fisherman. Hearing the good tidings of Jesus Christ, he left all and
followed after him.
*St.Thomas in the Gospels*
The fourth Gospel makes his personality clearer to us than that of some
others of the Twelve. His name occurs in all the lists of the Synoptists
(Matthew 10:3; Mark 3:18; Luke 6, cf. Acts 1:13), but in St. John he plays a
distinctive part. First, when Jesus announced His intention of returning to
Judea to visit Lazarus, "Thomas" who is called Didymus [the twin], said to
his fellow disciples: "Let us also go, that we may die with him" (John
11:16). Again it was St. Thomas who during the discourse before the Last
Supper raised an objection: "Thomas said to him: Lord, how can we know the
way?" (John 14:5). But more especially St. Thomas is remembered for his
incredulity when the other Apostles announced Christ's Resurrection to him:
"Except I shall see in his hands the print of the nails, and put my finger
into the place of the nails, and put my hand into his side, I will not
believe" (John 20:25); but eight days later he made his act of faith,
drawing down the rebuke of Jesus: "Because thou hast seen me, Thomas, thou
hast believed; blessed are they that have not seen, and have believed" (John
20:29). He made what is certainly the most explicit statement of faith in
the New Testament: My Lord and My God! ( John 20:24-28) and, in so
expressing his faith, gave Christians a prayer that will be said till the
end of time. He also occasioned a compliment from Jesus to all later
Christians: Have you come to believe because you have seen me? Blessed are
those who have not seen and have believed (John 20:29).
*The work of St.Thomas*
According to various Church Traditions, the holy Apostle Thomas founded
Christian churches in Palestine, Mesopotamia, Parthia, Ethiopia and India.
Preaching the Gospel earned him a martyr's death. For having converted the
wife and son of the prefect of the Indian city of Mylapore. The holy apostle
was locked up in prison, suffered torture and finally pierced with five
spears he died.
*The message of St.Thomas*
St.Thomas should be well known for his courage. Perhaps what he said was
impetuous, since he ran, like the rest, at the showdown, but he can scarcely
have been insincere when he expressed his willingness to die with Jesus. The
occasion was when Jesus proposed to go to Bethany after Lazarus had died.
Since Bethany was near Jerusalem, this meant walking into the very midst of
his enemies and to almost certain death. Realizing this, Thomas said to the
other apostles, Let us also go to die with him (John 11:16b).
We can learn a lot of courageous lessons from the Life of St.Thomas. The
first message is never to despair in adverse circumstances, never to retreat
from going to the most dangerous places even though the sky may appear black
and the prospects seem bleak. When it was precarious and perilous to go to
Judea with Jesus, only Thomas was ready. I have tried it in my own life by
opting to work as a missionary priest in Northeast India although am
originally from Kerala. I have learned it from him.
St.Thomas was more than willing to forgo everything, to die, to be killed,
to be murdered for Jesus. The words of St.Thomas Let us also go that we may
die with him is a powerful testament off a courageous follower of Jesus.
Thomas loved Jesus more than anyone, more than himself. So he was ready to
go to Judea and face death. It is this same love for Jesus that made him to
come to India to preach the Gospel and to shed his blood for Jesus.
St.Thomas used the plural, Let us go that we may die with him. He urged
other disciples, instilled his courage and zeal into them and led them to
Judea. This is indeed a wonderful gesture of human solidarity. We can
imitate this good quality of St Thomas our patron by encouraging, inspiring
and appreciating our brothers and sisters by enhancing and heightening the
good in others, the good they can do, by our words, deeds and loving
persuasion borne of faith.
*PRAYER IN HONOUR OF ST.THOMAS *
O Lord God! We thank and praise you for sending St.Thomas the Apostle, in
your divine providence to India, for proclaiming the good news that Jesus is
our Lord and Saviour. He not only confessed Jesus as his Lord and Saviour,
he also sealed his faith with his blood, and became the first martyr of the
Indian Church. We glorify you Lord, for inspiring us through the courageous
witness of St.Thomas.
May St.Thomas, our patron obtain for us, through his powerful intercession,
the grace to bear witness to you in the challenges of our life. May his
constant intercession fulfill the needs of all those who are gathered here
in faith and devotion.
We pray in a special way through the powerful intercession of the Apostle,
that all of us may be filled with the gifts of the Spirit to proclaim the
Good News and to experience a new Pentecost in our lives.
We make this prayer in the precious name of Jesus who lives and reigns with
you and the Holy Spirit, one God forever and ever. Amen
PRAISE GOD
BLESSED BE THE ONE WHO COMES IN THE NAME OF THE LORD
We hope this post was useful for you, please visit MERCY HEALS regularly for more interesting posts. You may also subscribe to our latest posts via email. Click for Email Subscription to receive updates in your email Inbox as soon as they are posted online.
Like & Share!
Daily Prayers
Search this blog for more interesting posts.
Comments
Post a Comment