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Today's Gospel + short theological explanation

July 3rd: Feast of Saint Thomas, Apostle
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Gospel text (Jn 20:24-29): (…) Thomas answered and said to him, “My Lord and my God!” Jesus said to him, “Have you come to believe because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and have believed.”

St. Thomas, apostle. Doubts of faith

EDITORIAL TEAM evangeli.net (based on texts by Benedict XVI) (Città del Vaticano, Vatican)

Today, we will focus our attention on Thomas, ever present in the four lists compiled by the New Testament. The proverbial scene of the doubting Thomas that occurred eight days after Easter is very well known. At first he did not believe that Jesus had appeared in his absence: «Unless I see…, I will not believe».

Basically, from these words emerges the conviction that Jesus can now be recognized by his wounds rather than by his face. Thomas holds that the signs that confirm Jesus' identity are now above all his wounds, in which he reveals to us how much he loved us.

—The Apostle Thomas' case is important to us for at least three reasons. First, because it comforts us in our insecurity; second, because it shows us that every doubt can lead to an outcome brighter than any uncertainty; third, because the words that Jesus addressed to him remind us of the true meaning of mature faith and encourage us to persevere along our journey of adhesion to him.