St. Thomas the Apostle

Although you have not seen him, you love him

Today's edition of /slantwise/ is brought to you from beautiful Sausalito, California.

Because the hotel where I am staying is across from a marina, I have the words of the song "Brandy" running through my mind, especially the verse about the sailor.

He came on a summer's day
Bearing gifts from far away

But he made it clear he couldn't stay
No harbor was his home

After Jesus' resurrection, according to Christian tradition and legend, Thomas traveled far and wide, even as far as the Indian subcontinent, where the Mar Thoma Church bears his name. I wonder whether Thomas also felt that "no harbor was his home." Whether that's true or not, I do believe that he found a true anchor in the Lord Jesus Christ.

That confidence -- Thomas' unshakable conviction that Jesus is Lord and God -- led to his ministry of witness and evangelism. People coming after Thomas, even though they had never seen Jesus themselves, came to know him as their Lord, too.

We ourselves are the fruits of the witness given by Thomas and the men and women who were the first apostles of the resurrection. Their confidence, their unshakable conviction, has spread the message of Christianity across the world.

"Although you have not seen him, you love him," wrote Peter to his early congregation. "And even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and rejoice with an indescribable and glorious joy, for you are receiving the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls" (1 Peter 1:8-9).

I hope that you, too, in this season of hope, will find your confidence strengthened and your heart made joyful, for through the gifts we have received from Thomas and his companions we have come to know Jesus as our Lord and God.