ACI Prensa Staff, Jul 3, 2024 / 15:35 pm
On July 3, the Church commemorates St. Thomas the Apostle, who doubted that Christ had risen from the dead until the Lord himself appeared to him. While a lack of faith, according to three great saints, Thomas’ doubt actually had the benefit of confirming Christians in their faith.
The Gospel of St. John relates that when the risen Christ appeared to his disciples, Thomas was not present. When they told him they had seen the Lord, the apostle said that he would not believe until he touched the wounds of Jesus on his hands and side. Eight days later the Lord appeared to them again. This time Thomas was present and Jesus told him to touch his wounds, exhorting him: “Do not be unbelieving, but believe.”
St. Gregory the Great
For St. Gregory the Great, what happened was not by chance but the work of divine mercy “so that while the unbelieving disciple felt the wounds on his Master’s body, he would heal those wounds of our infidelity in us.”