The Catholic Calendar for Friday, July 3, 2009
Friday of the Thirteenth Week in Ordinary Time
Saint Thomas, apostle



Scripture from today's Liturgy of the Word:
Ephesians 2:19-22
Psalm 117:1bc, 2
John 20:24-29



A reflection on today's Sacred Scripture:

There is an old saying that "hindsight gives us '20-20' vision."

We hear the gospel of today and wonder how St. Thomas could have doubted the resurrection of Christ. But haven't some of us had doubts about our own belief at times? It is good that we have a "Doubting Thomas" as St. Thomas has been called, so that we might learn from his experience.

We recall from scripture that St. Thomas had not been present when Christ appeared to the apostles the first time in the Upper Room. Christ, as Son of God, knew the heart of Thomas and that he had doubts. Christ reached out to Thomas by having him place his fingers into His wounds, and so Thomas believed.

We can learn from this that Christ will reach out to us when we express our doubts. In order to do this we need to be present to Christ, instead of turning away. Thomas had a choice to make. He could have chosen to abandon the other apostles and their mission, but instead he chose to rejoin the community of apostles and to take his concerns to Christ. We can do this in prayer. Christ is always present to us, ready to listen.

St. Thomas, pray for us.


~ Joan of Jesus, OCDS | email: jmurphy(at)syracuse(dot)net