Daily Advent Reflection: The Feast of St. Thomas the Apostle
Feast of St. Thomas the Apostle
Morning Prayer: Psalms 23 & 121, Job 42:1-6, 1 Peter 1:3-9
Evening Prayer: Psalm 27, Isaiah 43:8-13, John 14:1-7
O Radiant Dawn, splendor of eternal light, sun of justice: come and shine on those who dwell in darkness and in the shadow of death. O Antiphon (December 21)
St. Thomas was a Jew and probably a Galilean of humble birth, but we are not told that he was a fisherman or the circumstances in which our Lord made him an apostle. His name is Syriac, and means the ‘twin;’ Didymus, as we know he was also called, is the Greek equivalent. This apostle is especially remembered for his incredulity after our Lord suffered, had risen from the dead, and on the same day appeared to His disciples to convince them of the truth of His resurrection. This is the story we hear in today’s Gospel passage.
St. Thomas, like many of us, had doubts. In the Gospel passage he struggled to see the Lord in his presence and needed proof that it was him. Thomas believed because he saw the Lord and was able to put his finger in his side and his wounds, but Jesus said, “blessed are those who have not seen, and yet have learned to believe.” There is probably a little bit of Thomas in each one of us, but we must “walk by faith and not by sight.”
During this season of Advent, we have been called to open our hearts in joyful expectation. First, for the second time Christ will come into our lives, when He will return in all his glory. Like the servants of the Gospel on the first Sunday of Advent, we “must keep awake – for we do not know when the master of the house will come.” Thomas did not seem to heed this warning. Even when his fellow disciples said that they had seen the Lord, he doubted! It was not until Christ spoke to him and showed him his wounds, that he believed.
Second, nearing the end of this season of Advent we turn our attention to the first time he came into our lives, specifically in the incarnation. Yesterday, we heard the story of the angel Gabriel appearing to Mary and she too had doubts and was perplexed by his words. After Gabriel explained that she had been found in favor and that “nothing will be impossible with God,” Mary released those doubts and let all things happen to her according to his words.
As we remember St. Thomas and celebrate these final days of Advent, let us let the splendor of eternal light come and shine on us who dwell in the darkness of doubt and in the shadow of death. Christ may not be physically present to us, but God sends others into our daily lives to help alleviate doubts as we journey in faith.
We may struggle with a pandemic, cancer, unemployment, troubles within our families, a co-worker, a breakdown with a significant other or just plain doubt. But “nothing will be impossible with God.”
So, Everliving God, who strengthened your apostle Thomas with firm and certain faith in your Son’s resurrection: Grant us so perfectly and without doubt to believe in Jesus Christ, our Lord and our God, that our faith may never be found wanting in your sight; through him who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
Scott W. Eakins, MA
St. Aidan’s Episcopal Church, Hartford