dad's twins
"Thomas said in response, 'My Lord and my God!' " —John 20:28
"Thomas (the name means 'Twin') said to his fellow disciples, 'Let us go along, to die with Him' " (Jn 11:16). Thomas also said in reference to Jesus' resurrection: "I will never believe it without probing the nailprints in His hand, without putting my finger in the nailmarks and my hand into His side" (Jn 20:25). To the risen Christ, Thomas said: "My Lord and my God!" These three statements of Thomas show that he had a flair for the dramatic.
Thomas may have been somewhat impulsive, and he showed signs of instability and insecurity for he had to "eat his words" on more than one occasion. He even abandoned Christ before His crucifixion (see Mk 14:50). Thomas may have tried to mask his insecurity and unfaithfulness by being a "take charge" type of guy (see Jn 14:5). Jesus suggested that Thomas' insecurities would be changed only by coming to know God as Father (Abba). Jesus said to Thomas: "I am the Way, and the Truth, and the Life; no one comes to the Father but through Me" (Jn 14:6).
Thomas has a twin (Jn 20:24) who is also doomed to insecurity and unfaithfulness. In a spiritual sense, we all are twins of Thomas. Like Thomas, we need a new Pentecost when we will be confirmed by the Holy Spirit in Abba's love (Gal 4:6; Rm 8:15). Then we will not just pronounce great statements of faith, but we will practice what we preach and be like St. Thomas, a missionary and martyr.
Prayer: Father, free me from being a scared little child under all my bravado.
Promise: "This means that you are strangers and aliens no longer. No, you are fellow citizens of the saints and members of the household of God." —Eph 2:19
Praise: St. Thomas' skepticism resulted in an exclamation that would resound throughout all history (Jn 20:28).
Nihil Obstat: Reverend Ralph J. Lawrence, December 29, 2002
Imprimatur: †Most Reverend Carl K. Moeddel, Vicar General and Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, December 31, 2002