Reflection for Thursday July 3 Feast of Saint Thomas, Apostle: John 20:24-29

Gospel: John 20:24-29

Thomas, called Didymus, one of the Twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. So the other disciples said to him, “We have seen the Lord.” But Thomas said to them, “Unless I see the mark of the nails in his hands and put my finger into the nailmarks and put my hand into his side, I will not believe.” 

Now a week later his disciples were again inside and Thomas was with them. Jesus came, although the doors were locked, and stood in their midst and said, “Peace be with you.” Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here and see my hands, and bring your hand and put it into my side, and do not be unbelieving, but believe.” 

Thomas answered and said to him, “My Lord and my God!” Jesus said to him, “Have you come to believe because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and have believed.”

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Reflection:

Do we sometimes need an affirmation of our faith in Jesus? That is perfectly OK. It shows that our faith is alive, seeking, and growing. Whenever we long for our faith in Jesus to be affirmed, we simply need to become more sensitive to His gentle movements in our life. 

Each new morning is a gift from Him, a quiet miracle we often overlook. It is not a mere routine that we wake up each day; it is Jesus Himself giving us the grace of new life. If we open our hearts to the quiet stirrings of His presence, we will discover that the dawning of each day is His loving reminder that He is with us. 

Thomas, too, needed an affirmation of his faith from his Lord and Master (John 20:25). He longed to see and touch the wounds of Jesus before he could believe that Jesus had truly risen. In many ways, we are like Thomas. We, too, desire signs from Jesus to strengthen our faith. 

Yet, Jesus has been giving us signs of His presence every day. In the small blessings we receive, in the quiet moments of peace, and even in the challenges we face, He is there, moving and guiding us. We simply need to be sensitive and thankful for these signs, for in them, Jesus is affirming His love and presence in our life. 

May we always be attentive to the gentle movements of Jesus, and may our faith grow deeper as we recognize His hand in the everyday moments of our life. – Marino J. Dasmarinas