Subj : July 3rd - St. Thomas, Apostle To : All From : rich Date : Tue Jul 02 2019 08:45:50 From: rich July 3rd - St. Thomas, Apostle Little is factually known about Thomas. His Greek name was Didymus, which means twin. We don't know where he was born, if he had a family, what kind of work he did or any other facts. Although, according to one apocryphal writing, he was a carpenter. What we do know is that he met Jesus and accepted His invitation. Matthew 10:3 lists Thomas as one of the twelve Apostles, but most of what we know about Thomas comes from the Gospel of John. We know that he must have loved Jesus very much because, when Lazarus was dying, the other apostles were afraid to go to Judea for fear of persecution, but according to Jn 11:16, "Thomas (called the twin) said to his fellow disciples, 'Let us all go along with the teacher, so that we may die with Him'..." In spite of Jesus' teaching and his own experiences, Thomas still d= id not really understand who Jesus was and what His mission was really all about. He asked the question many of us might also have asked, "Lord we do not know where you are going so how can we know the way to get there?" (Jn 11:5) Jesus answer is the whole basis of our Christian faith, (Jn 11:6) "I am the Way, the Truth and the Life; no one goes to the Father except through me..." Chapter 20, verses 24-29 of St. John's Gospel are probably some of the best remembered verses in John's Gospel. After the crucifixion of Jesus, Thomas refused to believe that the other disciples had seen Him alive and talked with Him. This is probably where the phrase, "Doubting Thomas," originated and it is probably the response which so endears Thomas to us today. Jesus response needs no explanation. (Jn 20:26-29) "A week later the disciples were together again indoors and Thomas was with them. The doors were locked, but Jesus came and stood among them and said, 'Peace be with you.' Then He said to Thomas, 'Put your finger here, and look at my hands; then reach out your hand and put it in my side. Stop your doubting and believe!'...' Thomas answered Him, 'My Lord and my God.' Jesus said to Him, 'Do you believe because you have seen me? How happy are those who have not seen me and believe.'..." Thomas was a witness with Peter, Nathanael, James and John and two other disciples at Lake Tiberias, when Jesus had them cast out the net again and then cooked some of the fish they had caught.(Jn 21:10-14) In the first Chapter of Acts, Thomas is also listed with the other apostles and Jesus mother Mary and some of the other women in the upper room at Pentecost. This is all we know for certain about Thomas. Eusebius tells us that Thomas evangelized the areas around Persia. Another tradition tells us that he went to India and was martyred there. There is a tradition from the Malabar coast of India which tells us that St. Thomas evangelized their ancestors. There is a large body of "Christians of St. Thomas," living today in this area. They are made up of Jacobites, Syro-Malabarites, Syro-Malankaraites, Reformed Syrians and Nestorians. We don't have a lot of historical information about Thomas. We know that he was a disciple of Jesus and ultimately one of the twelve apostles. He most likely preached the Word of God after Pentecost to the Gentiles and probably was martyred about the year 72 A.D. We perhaps remember Thomas more because he was an ordinary person like us, he had his doubts, his confusions, his misunderstanding, but he was open to God's grace and ultimately was able to say to Jesus, "My Lord and my God", as hopefully we too will say one day. Saint Quote: We must pray without tiring, for the salvation of mankind does not depend on material success; nor on sciences that cloud the intellect. Neither does it depend on arms and human industries, but on Jesus alone. --St. Frances Xavier Cabrini Bible Quote: And he spoke also to them a similitude: Can the blind lead the blind? do they not both fall into the ditch?=C2 The disciple is not above his master: but every one shall be perfect, if he be as his master.=C2 (Luke 6:39-40) <><><><> Christ King of Glory (Christus Vincit) Christ Lord of glory, Christ Prince of nations, Christ our King of kings! Christ Jesus, hear us. Perpetual safety and welfare to the Church of God. Redeemer, Savior; Assist and strengthen her. O Mary blessed Mother;=C2 Assist and strengthen her. Joseph holy guardian;=C2 Assist and strengthen her. Blessed Michael patron;=C2 Assist and strengthen her. Blessed Saint Patrick;=C2 Assist and strengthen her. All repeat: Christ Lord of glory, Christ Prince of nations, Christ our King of kings! --- NewsGate v1.0 gamma 2 * Origin: News Gate @ Net396 -Huntsville, AL - USA (1:396/4) .