FEAST OF ST. THOMAS, Apostle

July 3, 2025 Feast of St. Thomas Apostle John 20:24–29 There are days in my priesthood when I find myself standing exactly where St. Thomas once stood—not in defiance, but in deep longing. Longing for clarity. Longing for proof that God has not forgotten us in the silence. I remember one particular night after comforting a grieving family at the bedside of a dying loved one, I sat in my chapel alone. I had just finished praying the rosary, but my heart was heavy. I whispered into the silence, “Lord, where are You?” And in that moment, I realized—I was not far from Thomas. Thomas was not a doubter in the shallow sense. He was a man who loved deeply and expected honestly. He had given everything to follow Jesus, and when He saw the others rejoice at the Resurrection, he wasn’t stubborn—he was broken. He needed to touch the wounds because he himself was wounded. I understand that now more than ever. In my own moments of grief—especially when I lost my mother to cancer—I longed not just for theological answers but for a real encounter, something tangible. Like Thomas, I wanted to reach out and say, “Let me touch You, Lord, before I fall apart.” But what amazes me, and gives me comfort to this day, is that Jesus did not scold Thomas. He came to him—gently, personally, intimately. “Put your finger here,” He said. Not to shame him, but to embrace his humanity. That moment changed everything. And every time I stand before the altar, every time I hold the broken host and whisper, “My Lord and my God,” I know I am standing with Thomas again—wounded, yes, but found. I pray that like him, I may always have the courage to be honest in my faith, and the humility to recognize Jesus when He comes, even through the veil of my doubts. Blessings Fr. Jhack