from without evidence to without doubt
“I will never believe it without…” —John 20:25
Most of us are familiar with the term “Doubting Thomas.” St. Thomas is remembered for doubting the Resurrection of Jesus. He would not “believe it without” tangible evidence of Jesus being alive (Jn 20:25). St. Thomas wasn’t the only follower of Jesus who doubted. At the closing scene of St. Matthew’s Gospel, some doubted among the eleven apostles (Mt 28:17).
I once went to a Mass in which the priest who celebrated Mass mentioned that he was born in India in a town where St. Thomas evangelized. This priest witnessed that the devotion to St. Thomas is alive and well in India. India is several thousand miles from Jerusalem. Thomas traveled a long way to reach India. He evangelized those who would never be able to see Jesus.
Surely Thomas told the people of India about his former doubts, and many came to enduring, deep-rooted faith through both his witness and his preaching. Thomas surely told them they were blessed, as Jesus said to him, because they had not seen Jesus, but believed (Jn 20:29). His witness endured and bore great fruit (Jn 15:16).
We would be thrilled to see the next several generations of our families persevere in faith. Well, St. Thomas has had two-thousand years of generations persevere in faith because of his witness.
Jesus overcame Thomas’ doubts. So tell the Lord your doubts. Let Him transform them into a witness that bears lasting fruit (Jn 15:8) throughout the ages.
Prayer: Father, give me the grace to believe in Jesus without a doubt (see Mk 9:24).
Promise: “You form a building which rises on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus Himself as the Capstone.” —Eph 2:20
Praise: “My Lord and my God!” (Jn 20:28)
Reference: (This teaching was submitted by a member of our editorial team.)
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