“When Thomas saw and touched, why was he told: You have believed because you have seen me? Because what he saw and what he believed were different things. God cannot be seen by mortal man. Thomas saw a human being, whom he acknowledged to be God, and said: My Lord and my God. Seeing, he believed; looking at one who was true man, he cried out that this was God, the God he could not see.” (St. Gregory)

As we celebrate the Feast of St. Thomas the Apostle, we can step into his shoes at the moment of this resurrection experience. Why did he question the other apostles’ account of seeing the risen Lord? Did he feel hurt that he wasn’t present? Did his rational mind demand more than their words? Whatever the reason, Jesus uses Thomas’ initial disbelief for a greater purpose. After Jesus invited him to touch his wounds, the doubting disciple was the first to publicly acknowledge the Messiah as both God and Man. Each time we gaze on the consecrated host, we, like Thomas have an opportunity to proclaim, “My Lord and my God.” We see bread, we profess the person of Jesus.