Saint Thomas, Apostle (Feast)

"Blessed are those who have not seen 

and yet believe."

Thomas was one of the twelve and also know as "the Twin." He was a pessimist, he refused to believe that Christ had risen from the dead until he could see and touch his wounds. After Jesus resurrection, he came amidst His beloved disciples and he offered his side for the disbelieving Thomas to touch, held out his hands, and showing the scars of his wounds which in turn healed the wound of Thomas disbelief. Touching Christ wounds, he cried out: "My Lord and my God" and Jesus said to him, "Because you have seen me, Thomas, you have believed." After Pentecost, he is said to have travel to the east to preached and proclaim the good news to the people of India.

Saint Thomas is the patron saint for against doubt, people in doubt, architects, blind people, builders, construction workers, geometricians, India, masons, Sri Lanka, surveyors and theologians. Saint Thomas feast is celebrated on 3 July. His life teaches us to trust in everything the Lord has promised us so that we, too, can rise to new life, as Jesus did.

Grant, almighty God, 

that we may glory 

in the Feast of the blessed Apostle Thomas, 

so that we may always 

be sustained by his intercession and, 

believing, may have life 

in the name of Jesus Christ your Son, 

whom Thomas acknowledged as the Lord. 

Who lives and reigns with you

in the unity of the Holy Spirit, 

one God, for ever and ever.

AMEN.

Wednesday, 3 July, 2013
St. Thomas, Apostle (Feast)

Reading

Ephesians 2: 19 - 22
19	So then you are no longer strangers and sojourners, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God,
20	built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone,
21	in whom the whole structure is joined together and grows into a holy temple in the Lord;
22	in whom you also are built into it for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit.

Psalm

Psalms 117: 1 - 2
1	Praise the LORD, all nations! Extol him, all peoples!
2	For great is his steadfast love toward us; and the faithfulness of the LORD endures for ever. Praise the LORD!

Gospel

John 20: 24 - 29
24	Now Thomas, one of the twelve, called the Twin, was not with them when Jesus came.
25	So the other disciples told him, "We have seen the Lord." But he said to them, "Unless I see in his hands the print of the nails, and place my finger in the mark of the nails, and place my hand in his side, I will not believe."
26	Eight days later, his disciples were again in the house, and Thomas was with them. The doors were shut, but Jesus came and stood among them, and said, "Peace be with you."
27	Then he said to Thomas, "Put your finger here, and see my hands; and put out your hand, and place it in my side; do not be faithless, but believing."
28	Thomas answered him, "My Lord and my God!"
29	Jesus said to him, "Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet believe."