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Welcome to
the third week of Advent! And this week
we take a short pause from the penitential time of purple to light the pink
candle on the advent wreath – the Shepherd Candle. Rejoice!
Christmas is coming… soon!
We
also have a very important Saint to discuss this week, one of the most
important, and one that is perfectly suited to our highly skeptical age of
doubt – Saint Thomas. Known throughout
history as “Doubting Thomas” this moniker is a bit harsh and unfair. Having questions is no sin and Christianity
is not a faith that requires blind belief but one that opens honest inquiry. The example of Thomas proves this point.
After
Jesus showed Thomas his wounds Thomas believed, immediately declaring Jesus as
Lord and God! He had had questions. He had had doubts and the Lord answered those
questions and doubts. Honest skepticism
is no match for Jesus.
So,
what happened to Thomas after this story?
Well…, he went from being full of doubts and questions to being the
Apostle that traveled the furthest of them all, all the way to India to share
his faith, ultimately dying for his belief in Mylapore India in 72 AD.
Today,
the Saint Thomas Christians in India can claim to be one of the oldest
continuing Christian communities in the world tracing their origins back to the
Evangelical mission of Saint Thomas two thousand years ago, who should be
remembered as Thomas the Brave instead of Doubting Thomas.
This
week will be a fascinating episode as we explore the amazing journey of Saint
Thomas from a skeptical doubter in that upper room in Jerusalem to the Apostle
that Evangelized the East! It is an
incredible tale and you certainly won’t want to miss it.
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