“Becoming Christians of conviction and certainty, and – like St Thomas – to firmly cry out, in joyful acclamation, ‘My Lord and My God!’”

(Based on the Solemnity of St Thomas, the Apostle of India)

An incident is told about the great English actor Charles Macready and an eminent preacher.

This preacher, once asked Macready a doubt:
“What is the reason for the difference between you and me?

You are appearing before crowds night after night with fiction…
… and the crowds come wherever you go.

I am preaching the essential and unchangeable truth…
… and I am not getting any crowd at all.”

Macready’s answer was this: “This is quite simple.

I can easily tell you the difference between us.

I present my fiction as though it were truth…
… whereas you present your truth, as though it were fiction.”

Thoughts and words that emerge from true conviction are contagious and impactful!

And true commitment and steadfast faithfulness in life requires the power of convictions and certainty!

Today we celebrate the Feast of St Thomas – who is popularly (or rather infamously) called as the “Doubting Apostle”.

He was probably considered by others as being “adamant” and “proud”…
• It was his search for convictions in life that made him seek for a proof for the Lord’s appearance
• It was his desire for certainty in life that caused him to doubt at the words of his companions over the Lord’s Resurrection.

The Lord realized the worth of this young man- as having a courageous character of convictions!

When we go through the life of St Thomas as seen in the Gospels, we encounter a person constantly displaying courage, expressing commitment and seeking for convictions.

St Thomas indeed stands out among the other apostles…

1. It was probably St Thomas who first expressed his desire to give up his life for the Lord and His Kingdom…
   “Let us also go, that we may die with Him” (Jn 11: 16)

St Thomas becomes a motivation for all those who follow Christ, to be bold and brave and even to give up one’s life for the Lord and His Kingdom

2. It was St Thomas who had the simplicity and the openness to ask Jesus when the Lord had declared that “Where I am going you know the way..” and the Lord had responded “I am the Way, the Truth and the Life”…
   “Master, we do not know where you are going, how can we know the way?” (Jn 14:5)

St Thomas becomes a consolation to all those who face genuine uncertainties in spiritual life and encourages to remain like a child – in openness, simplicity and frankness.

3. It was St Thomas who refused the trust the words of his companions on the issue of the Jesus’ Resurrection.

He knew that many of his companions had impulsive reactions and therefore, could not be believed for their words.

Therefore, he insisted that his belief in Christ’s Resurrection would depend only on His personal experience with the Lord
“Unless I see the mark of the nails in His Hands and put my finger into His side, I will not believe” (Jn 20:25)

St Thomas becomes a refuge for all those who grapple with spiritual anxieties – lack of consolation in prayer life, deep longing to experience God and many confusions regarding spiritual teachings and faith experiences

In St Thomas, we have a saint who is very human and with whom we – who are often prone to mistakes and frail in weaknesses – can easily connect.
• He was brave, but also had his moments of feeling lost
• He was courageous, but also had his moments of seeking answers for doubts
• He was enthusiastic, but also had his moments of staying away from the faith-community

St Thomas is a shining beacon of courage.

He had his doubts.
But once cleared, he became a person of immense conviction.

This conviction made him to travel across many lands to give witness to Jesus, His Lord and Master… and even to give up His life, in martyrdom!

As Christians, we need to truly examine our life: Am I able to attract people to the Love of Jesus?
If the answer is in the negative…
… then perhaps, we need to deepen our convictions of our Faith!

Yes, true commitment and steadfast faithfulness in life requires the power of convictions and certainty!

Thoughts and words that emerge from true conviction are contagious and impactful!

May St Thomas help us, with his intercession and inspiration, to become Christians of conviction and certainty and to firmly cry out, in joyful acclamation, “My Lord and My God!”

Happy Feast of St Thomas, the Convinced Disciple of Christ!

Happy Feast of Faith and Belief, Boldness and Courage to all!

God Bless! Live Jesus!

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📖 Discovering the beauty of the Catholic Church through the Catechism
WHO CAN RECEIVE BAPTISM AND THE BAPTISM OF ADULTS
Catechumens “are already joined to the Church, they are already of the household of Christ, and are quite frequently already living a life of faith, hope, and charity.”

“With love and solicitude mother Church already embraces them as her own” (CCC # 1249)

(Based on Amos 9:11-15 and Mt 9:14-17– Saturday of the 13th Week in Ordinary Time, Year 2)

A little boy once came to his mother, saying, “Mummy, I am as tall as Goliath! I am nine feet high!”

“How do you say that?” asked his surprised mother.

“Well, I made a little ruler of my own and measured myself with it and I am just nine feet tall.”


The little fellow considered himself to be huge and tall…
… but by having a measuring scale that he himself had devised – which he had adjusted in such a way, that he would be made to look tall!


How often is our own styles of assessment and measure the same!

We make “our own” yardsticks to measure others actions, and to find a way of criticising others!
We make “our own” measuring tapes to determine the deeds of other people, and thus find ways to put down other people!


The Gospel of the day is an invitation to examine this our tendency of assessing others’ manners and conduct based on “standards and measurements” that are set by we ourselves.

· Do I evaluate the action of another person based on my own “prejudiced” mindset… or do I measure it with the yardstick that God uses?

· Do I critically analyze other people’s attitudes from my own “biased” perspective… or do I gauge it with the benchmark that God proposes?


In the Gospel, we see the disciples of John who come to Jesus with a critical query:
“Why do we and the Pharisees fast, but your disciples do not fast?” (Mt 9:14)


It is interesting the reason that the disciples of John use here, in order to ask put forward their question…

It would be something like this…
“We, the disciples of John… we follow our Master in leading an ascetic and hard life.
>> We fast often times during the week… we live a hard life.

Look at the Pharisees too… they fast twice a week, which is more than the stipulated requirement of the Law.
>> We engage ourselves in so much of fasting.


But look at your disciples…
They are only found to be enjoying life!

Why don’t they fast… like we do… ??”


They had perhaps made “their own” yardsticks to measure the actions of the disciples and found a way of criticizing them!

They had perhaps made “their own” measuring tapes to determine the deeds of the disciples, and thus found ways to put them down!


But the Lord asks them to change this their “yardstick” and “measuring scale” of judging other people.


Jesus gives an example of the bridegroom and the context of a marriage.

Marriage is the time of joy and celebration… not of mourning or being sad.

It is a time of feasting… and not fasting!
… a time of feasting on God’s tremendous Providence and Grace!
… a time of feasting on the Love and Compassion shown by the Lord!

The Lord makes a challenge….
… consider and evaluate situations from the “eyes of God” – in the way that God sees.
… assess and measure people in the “manner of God” – with the approach that God takes.


It is said that when God measures a person, “He puts the tape around the heart, and not the head!”


May we also grow in our following of God… looking at people and situations in His style:
… a style that integrates compassion with sincerity
… a style that incorporates love with genuineness


God Bless! Live Jesus!

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📖 Discovering the beauty of the Catholic Church through the Catechism
WHO CAN RECEIVE BAPTISM AND THE BAPTISM OF ADULTS
>> The catechumenate, or formation of catechumens, aims at bringing their conversion and faith to maturity, in response to the divine initiative and in union with an ecclesial community.
>> The catechumenate is to be “a formation in the whole Christian life… during which the disciples will be joined to Christ their teacher.
>> The catechumens should be properly initiated into the mystery of salvation and the practice of the evangelical virtues, and they should be introduced into the life of faith, liturgy, and charity of the People of God by successive sacred rites.” (CCC # 1248)
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