Today ( July-03 ), we remember the life and works of  St.Thomas the Apostle. St.Thomas the Apostle is called Didymus (meaning “Twin,” as does “St.Thomas” in Aramaic”). He had an ardent love for the Lord, and was willing to risk his life for him. When Jesus announced His intention to return to Judea to visit his sick friend Lazarus, St.Thomas immediately urged his fellow disciples to accompany Jesus on the trip because of the danger to the life of Jesus.

 

When Jesus told His apostles at the Last Supper that He was going to prepare a place for them, St.Thomas asked, “Lord, we know not whiter thou goest; and how can we know  the way? (John 14:5). However, he is best remembered for his disbelief when the other Apostles reported that Christ had risen. He said: “Except I shall seen his hands the print of the nails, and put my fi nger into the place of the nails, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe” (John 20:25). For this he came to be called Doubting St.Thomas. Eight days later, when Christ appeared for the second time, He asked St.Thomas to put his fi ngers into His wounds and to believe. At this, St.Thomas proclaimed, “My Lord and my God!”

 

Tradition says that St.Thomas preached in India, Persia and Parthia. It is believed that he was captured and sold as a slave to Gundafor, a King of India, who had heard of his mastery in architecture. He was ordered by the king to build a magnificent palace. When the king left, St.Thomas distributed the money for construction to the poor. On the king’s return, he asked to see the new palace but St.Thomas answered: “You cannot see it now, but only when you have left this world.” Gundafor was about to skin him alive but was prevented by his brother who told him that he had seen in a vision the palace that St.Thomas had prepared for him in heaven. St.Thomas was freed and the king was converted together with many of his people. St.Thomas journeyed all over India to preach until he got into trouble with King Misdai for converting his wife and his son. He was killed in Mylapur, India, about 72 AD. His relics was later moved to Edessa, Mesopotamia, and then to Ortona, Italy, in the 13th century.

 

As we celebrate the Feast Day of  St.Thomas the Apostle, let us learn from his teachings and examples. Let the experience of St.Thomas humble us. May we learn how to accept our mistakes and be courageous in correcting that mistake.