The Touch that Transformed
Imagine that intimate, unforgettable scene in John’s Gospel (20:24–29):
The Risen Christ stands before His disciples, but Thomas was not there the
first time. When the others tell him, he boldly says, “Unless I see… unless I
touch… I will not believe.”
A week later, Jesus returns. He does not rebuke Thomas. Instead, with mercy and tenderness, He invites: “Put your finger here… stretch out your hand and touch…” And Thomas, overwhelmed by this grace, utters one of the greatest declarations of faith in all of Scripture: “My Lord and my God!”
This touch transformed his heart. It was not merely the physical contact, but the encounter with the living Christ—wounded, risen, real—that changed doubt into devotion, fear into faith, and a disciple into a missionary.
For us too, this image speaks. This one moment—this touch—is not just
the image of one man’s conversion. It is the image of our human journey. Like
Thomas, many of us need to see, touch, ask, think, and question. Jesus does not
reject that. He gently leads Thomas from questioning to belief, from fear to
faith, from doubt to mission. We are not scolded for our questions. Like
Thomas, we are invited to seek, to touch, to believe. This scene is our story—a
journey from distance to intimacy, from hesitation to conviction.
Faith That Sees Beyond
The life of St. Thomas, as seen in the Gospels, reveals a deeply human apostle—courageous in action, sincere in questioning, and committed to seeking truth. Among the apostles, he stands out for his bold willingness to die with Jesus saying, "Let us also go, that we may die with Him" (Jn 11:16), his honest openness in moments of uncertainty. It was St Thomas who had the simplicity and honesty to ask Jesus, "Master, we do not know where you are going, how can we know the way?", and the Lord had responded "I am the Way, the Truth and the Life"(Jn 14:5).
Thomas insisted on personal encounter before belief in the Resurrection,
"Unless I see the mark of the nails in His Hands and put my finger into
His side, I will not believe" (Jn 20:25). Far from being merely a
"doubter," Thomas reflects the spiritual journey of many—those who
struggle, question, and long for authentic experience. His story consoles those
with spiritual anxieties and inspires all to approach God with simplicity and
conviction. Once his doubts were dispelled, he became a missionary of great
zeal, travelling far to bear witness to Christ, ultimately laying down his life
in martyrdom. In him, we find a model of faith that is tested, thoughtful, and
transformative—a beacon for all who seek true commitment and certainty in
following the Lord.
St. Thomas did not stay where it was comfortable. Thomas’ journey is the journey of India’s faith. He did not remain in comfort or stay back in Jerusalem. He dared to travel to faraway lands with courage, conviction and committment. He left Jerusalem, travelled far, and arrived on the shores of India—possibly in Kerala around AD 52. He brought the light of the Gospel to our soil, to our people. His message was not just about religion. It was about relationship—a faith that integrates truth, love, and life. He preached, healed, taught, baptized, and built up communities of faith—especially among Brahmins and others who were open to dialogue. Tradition tells us he was martyred in Mylapore, Chennai.
His was not a faith of easy slogans—it was a tested and thoughtful faith. His journey to India shows that authentic faith is never passive—it acts, it moves, it crosses borders—geographical, cultural, and spiritual.
Therefore, Thomas’ doubt was not weakness. It was the doorway to a deeper truth. His honest questions led him to the ultimate answer—Jesus Christ. And this shows us something powerful: Faith is not blind. It is a decision to trust what we have seen, what others have shown, and what the Spirit has revealed.
Besides, Faith is not private. It is shared. It builds community. It is like the body of Christ—the Church—a family, a house of unity where each member lives in faith and love, contributing to one another’s growth.
Thomas teaches us that faith has three dimensions:
- Seeing –
recognizing Christ in the wounds of our people, in the poor, the broken,
the marginalized.
- Judging –
reflecting critically, asking questions, engaging with reason and
tradition.
- Acting – courageously living out the Gospel in our own time, as witnesses of truth and love. So did many missionary priests and nuns who followed in his steps
As Pope John Paul II reminded us: “Faith and reason are like two wings on which the human spirit rises to the contemplation of truth.” Thomas used both: he doubted, he questioned, and then he witnessed—even to the point of death.
His contribution to India is not merely historical but spiritual:
- He planted a Church
that survived centuries.
- He modeled a faith
that dialogues with culture.
- He exemplified a
Church that respects differences and embraces truth.
In a time when religion is sometimes used to divide, Thomas calls us to a faith that unites—across castes, creeds, and communities. His journey mirrors the Indian spirit of seeking truth through openness, just like our sages, saints, and seekers—Gandhi, Nehru, Kesab Chandra Sen, Brahmabandhav Upadhaya, and many others—all who believed in truth through dialogue.
“My Lord and My God” – A Cry of Wonder and Conviction
Thomas’ confession is not just doctrinal—it is emotional, existential, and intimate. He does not say, “You are the Lord” but “My Lord and My God!” It’s a cry from the heart—a cry of surrender, a cry of wonder. A sigh of awe. He saw, he touched, and then he believed. That is faith—not just accepting ideas, but encountering a Person—Jesus.
It is also a faith born from experience—not second-hand, not imposed. And that makes his profession even more powerful. Thomas needed to touch. And Christ allowed it. Why? Because faith does not mean ignoring our questions. It means being brave enough to bring them to Jesus. We may come with questions. We may come with wounds. But we are invited to touch the living Body of Christ—in the poor, in the broken, in the Church.
In India today, as young people face conflicting ideologies, as minorities face marginalization, as consumerism replaces contemplation, Thomas reminds us to seek authenticity—to say with conviction: “I believe, not because it is easy, but because I have encountered Christ in life.”
St. Thomas’ faith grew stronger through his doubts. So too, our own struggles can lead us to greater trust. This feast reminds us that faith is freedom—freedom to be, to believe, and to belong. Not blind belief, but a faith that is open, searching, and alive—in dialogue with others, like Gandhi or Nehru sought through interfaith understanding.
Let this be our cry too—in the midst of suffering, confusion, or joy:
“My Lord and My God!” A whisper of awe, a shout of faith, a sigh of
wonder. Not blind obedience, but a faith that sees, thinks, and acts.
Concrete Applications in Our Indian Context:
- Interfaith Dialogue:
Like Thomas who came into a land of multiple beliefs, we are called to
respect others while bearing witness to Christ’s love. Let us promote
dialogue, not division—listening and learning from one another.
- Faith and Reason:
Encourage our youth to not fear questions. Use platforms like YCS/YSM
(“See, Judge, Act”) to build critical, committed Christians—open-minded,
but firm in faith.
- Community Building:
In a society fractured by caste and class, let us build the Church as a
“spiritual sanctuary”—a home for all. Let each parish, each small
Christian community, become a place where Christ is touched through love,
service, and solidarity.
- Faith as Public
Witness: Faith is not private. Like Thomas, our witness must reach the
streets, schools, and struggles of the people. In political, educational,
and social spheres, let Christians be known not for fear, but for fearless
love.
Conclusion:
Let us remember the the fearless and courageous young military man who refused to be a bartender because he was meant to serve the country, and stood firm in his convictions. He was misunderstood. So too, St. Thomas was misunderstood—but Christ honoured his integrity and gave him a mission.
Let us be such Christians: not ashamed to ask, not afraid to act, and
not hesitant to believe. Let us be inspired by Thomas, whose journey from fear
to faith, from Jerusalem to India, gave birth to a Church that still lives in
our hearts and lands today.
Help us echo your words each day—not with lips alone but with lives transformed by grace:
“My Lord and My God!”
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