Feast of St. Thomas, Apostle

A homily on the Gospels from St. Gregory the Great, pope

"Dearly beloved, what do you see in these events? Do you really believe that it was by chance that this chosen disciple was absent, then came and heard, heard and doubted, doubted and touched, touched and believed? It was not by chance but in God’s providence. In a marvellous way God’s mercy arranged that the disbelieving disciple, in touching the wounds of his master’s body, should heal our wounds of disbelief. The disbelief of Thomas has done more for our faith than the faith of the other disciples. As he touches Christ and is won over to belief, every doubt is cast aside and our faith is strengthened. So the disciple who doubted, then felt Christ’s wounds, becomes a witness to the reality of the resurrection.

"Touching Christ, he cried out: My Lord and my God. Jesus said to him: Because you have seen me, Thomas, you have believed. Paul said: Faith is the guarantee of things hoped for, the evidence of things unseen. It is clear, then, that faith is the proof of what can not be seen. What is seen gives knowledge, not faith. When Thomas saw and touched, why was he told: You have believed because you have seen me? Because what he saw and what he believed were different things. God cannot be seen by mortal man. Thomas saw a human being, whom he acknowledged to be God, and said: My Lord and my God. Seeing, he believed; looking at one who was true man, he cried out that this was God, the God he could not see."

"What is seen gives knowledge, not faith."  So many ask for proofs, evidence of the God invisible.  And yet, He is so present in our lives.  Well known story of "doubting Thomas" is invaluable in helping us bridge the gap between our experience and our faith. Must we see to believe?  And what exactly must be seen to believe? What is it going to take to believe for one who doubts and is skeptical?  Would it be better then to believe without seeing?

My Lord and My God, I do believe! Help my unbelief!