Saint Thomas the Apostle

The Collect
Everliving God, who strengthened your apostle Thomas with firm and certain faith in your Son's resurrection: Grant us so perfectly and without doubt to believe in Jesus Christ, our Lord and our God, that our faith may never be found wanting in your sight; through him who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

The Psalm
126

The Readings
Habakkuk 2:1-4     +     Hebrews 10:35-11:1     +     John 20:24-29

"I will stand at my watchpost, and station myself on the rampart; I will keep watch to see what he will say to me, and what he will answer concerning my complaint."
~Habakkuk 2:1

That the apostle we commemorate today has been popularly assigned the moniker "Doubting" Thomas is understandable, but unfortunate. He is the same Thomas who, earlier in John's Gospel encouraged the other disciples to return with Jesus to Judea, despite the threat of death (John 11:7-8, 14-16). According to tradition, Thomas travelled widely to proclaimed the gospel, reaching as far east as India, and finally did meet with a martyr's death (his symbol is a spear, indicating the means of his execution). Yet, we don't remember him as "Courageous and devoted to Christ unto death" Thomas.

It does seem that today's Gospel from John 20 is meant primarily as an exhortation to have faith, and not as a tale about how doubting is all well and good. And yet, we know that doubts, questions, wonderings, are inevitably part of any rigorous life of faith. Thomas here simply desires to experience what the other disciples had: to see and know the risen Lord. And Jesus meets that desire. And Thomas' faith is strengthened from an experience that grew from his own honest complaint, an experience that issues in the most powerful proclamation of who Jesus is: "My Lord and my God!" 

As we fast approach Christmas, a season full of miracles, stand at the watchpost--look and listen intently. Allow yourself to wonder, even if it means engaging doubts. Station yourself there and wait upon the Lord, and see what the Lord will answer.

Closing Prayer
Lord Jesus, may our devotion to you be so sincere that we do not rest content with the stories of others, but desire nothing less than you, your very self revealed to us. Amen.