- 03 July, 2025
July 3, 2025: The Feast of St. Thomas the Apostle, celebrated on July 3, holds deep significance for pilgrims during the Jubilee Year 2025. Famously known as "Doubting Thomas," his personal journey from skepticism to profound belief mirrors our own spiritual struggles and invites reflection on the path to hope. Pope Francis has emphasised that doubt can be "a path to deeper faith," making Thomas a particularly relevant figure for today’s believers seeking genuine encounters with Christ. His transformation reveals how faith can grow not despite questions, but because of them.
Ten Points of Reflection
1.Spirituality of Honest Questioning
Thomas’s request for proof (John 20:25) represents true spiritual seeking. St. Augustine taught that honest doubt could lead to stronger faith, and Pope Benedict XVI described questioning God as “a form of prayer.” Even Jesus’s cry of abandonment (Mark 15:34) validates human uncertainty, placing Thomas within the contemplative tradition where vulnerability becomes the doorway to grace.
2.Historical Witness to the Resurrection
Thomas appears in all four Gospels and Acts, affirming his credibility. His initial doubt, recorded in John 20:24–29, paradoxically strengthens the authenticity of the resurrection narrative. St. John Chrysostom famously remarked that Thomas’s unbelief benefited us more than the other disciples' belief, providing apologetic weight against claims of fabrication.
3.Transformation Through Encounter
Thomas’s proclamation, “My Lord and my God!” (John 20:28), marks the highest Christological declaration in the Gospels. His journey shows that authentic faith often follows deep struggle. As Henri Nouwen wrote, “Doubt is the path to intimacy with God.” Christ’s personal outreach to Thomas demonstrates God’s initiative in seeking the questioning heart.
4.Missionary Zeal in India
According to ancient tradition, Thomas brought Christianity to India. The St. Thomas Christians of Kerala trace their origins to his mission. His evangelisation exemplifies faith’s universal appeal, respecting and integrating Indian culture. Thomas pioneered inculturation, revealing the Gospel’s adaptability across civilisations.
5.Patron of Architects and Builders
More than physical structures, Thomas built communities of faith. His ecclesial legacy in India aligns with the Jubilee theme of constructing hope in a fractured world. Like an architect, he helped design the apostolic foundations of the Church.
6.Model for Intellectual Faith
Appealing to evidence, Thomas resonates with modern scientific thinking. His rational approach inspired figures like St. Thomas Aquinas and shows that faith and reason coexist. In today’s evidence-driven culture, Thomas validates the intellect’s role in faith.
7.Courage in Adversity
Thomas’s readiness to die with Jesus (John 11:16) and his missionary courage in coming to India display heroic faith. Pope John Paul II highlighted him as an example of “the courage of faith.” His martyrdom represents a life transformed by encounter with the Risen Christ.
8.Universal Hope for Sceptics
Jesus didn’t rebuke Thomas but welcomed his doubts. In an age of disbelief, Thomas becomes a patron for all seekers. Pope Benedict XVI said Thomas represents "everyman's spiritual journey." His story invites the Church to embrace questioners, not reject them.
9.Jubilee Significance as a Pilgrim of Hope
Thomas’s path from uncertainty to faith mirrors the pilgrim experience. His transformation shows that hope arises through struggle. As Pope Francis reminds us, 2025 is a year when “hope does not disappoint.” Thomas embodies God’s mercy embracing our limitations.
10. Mystical Union with Christ
Thomas’s confession reveals a profound mystical awareness, surpassing even Peter’s earlier statements. Spiritual writer Thomas Merton saw Thomas as a model of contemplative seeking. His insight laid foundations for Trinitarian theology and worship.
Final Jubilee Reflection
St. Thomas emerges not as the “doubter,” but the “seeker”—whose honest questioning led to the deepest profession of faith. In this Jubilee Year of Hope, he shows us that hope isn’t blind optimism but a trust born through real encounter with Christ. His missionary legacy in India reminds us that transformation leads to service. As Vatican II proclaimed, the Church must be a home for all seekers, welcoming them as Christ welcomed Thomas. For those facing doubt today, his journey offers solace: Christ meets us in our questions. We are invited to do the same, leading us to proclaim: “My Lord and my God!”
Questions for Reflection
How does Thomas's initial doubt challenge or comfort your own faith journey, especially when God seems silent?
How might your questions and struggles be leading you toward deeper faith, like Thomas?
How can Thomas’s zeal in India inspire your witness of hope among those who struggle to believe?
By Fr. Valerian Lobo
Jamshedpur Diocese
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