Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Vatican City (Agenzia Fides) - During his weekly audience in Saint Peter’s Square this morning Pope Benedict XVI addressed some 30,000 visitors resuming his catechesis on the twelve men Jesus chose to be his Apostles. Focussing this time on Thomas, the Pope said the name has a Hebrew root ta’am meaning “paired, twin” but that St John in his Gospel frequently refers to Thomas as "Dydimus", which in Greek means "the twin-one", although why he does is not clear.
Among the elements of the Gospels which describe the principal traits of Thomas’ personality the Pope mentions the time when Jesus decides to go to Bethania to call Lazarus back to life drawing dangerously close to Jerusalem and Thomas says: ‘Let us go too and die with Him. “This determination to follow the Master is truly exemplary - the Pope said - and is a valuable lesson for us: it reveals total willingness to follow Jesus even to identify one’s destiny with His and want to share with Him the supreme trial of death”.
Another time when Thomas speaks was at the Last Supper, when, “warning them of his imminent departure, Jesus says he is going to prepare a place for the disciples that they may be there where He is; and explains: ‘You know the way to the place where I am going”. Thomas’ question, ‘Lord we do not know where you are going, how can we know the way?’ prompts the response of Jesus: ‘I am the way, the truth, the life. “Every time we hear or read these words - the Pope said -, we can in thought be next to Thomas and imagine the Lord is speaking to us too”. We too often fail to understand Jesus and so we too have the courage to say: “Lord, I do not understand you, listen to me, help me understand”.
Familiar to all is the scene of Thomas who doubts after the resurrection of Jesus. “Thomas thinks that the qualifying signs of Jesus’ identity are principally his wounds, which reveal to what point he loved us. In this the Apostles is not mistaken. As we know eight days later Jesus appeared again among his disciples, this time Thomas was present. It is Jesus who addresses him first: ‘'Put your finger here; look, here are my hands. Give me your hand; put it into my side. Do not be unbelieving any more but believe.' Thomas replied with the most magnificent proclamation of faith of the whole of the New Testament, 'My Lord and my God!’.” The evangelist continues with Jesus’ last word to Thomas: ‘You believe because you can see me. Blessed are those who have not seen and yet believe’. “This phrase can be put in the present - the Pope said -: ‘Blessed are those who do not see and yet believe’. Here Jesus pronounces the fundamental principle for the Christians who will come after Thomas, so for us too. The case of Thomas is important for us for at least three reasons: first because it comforts us in our uncertainty; secondly because it demonstrates that every doubt can reach a happy conclusion removing all uncertainty; and lastly because what he says to Jesus reminds us of the full meaning of mature faith and encourages us to go ahead despite the difficulties on our path to follow Him”.
The last time John mentions Thomas is as a witness to the Risen Lord following the miraculous catch of fish at Lake Tiberias. “We recall - the Pope concluded - that, according to ancient tradition, Thomas evangelised first Syria and then Persia (this was said as early as Origen, and reported by Eusebius of Cesarea) and then went to western India, from where Christianity spread also to southern India. In this missionary perspective we end our reflection expressing the hope that the example of Thomas may strengthen our faith in Jesus Christ, our Lord and our God.” (S.L.) (Agenzia Fides 27/9/2006, righe 44, parole 646)
