On the occasion of the Feast of Saint Thomas the Apostle
By Carlos Enrique Castro Medina
When Words Are Not Enough
We live in an age of scepticism, where words have become fragile amid the noise of the world. On social media, in the media, and in everyday conversations, discourses, opinions, and partial truths abound. In this sea of information and confusion, many wonder: whom can we trust? What truly carries weight? Where can authenticity be found?
For many people, faith is no longer passed on through traditional religious discourses. Repeated formulas, theological arguments, and even biblical quotations often fail to reach a wounded or indifferent heart. Something more is needed: a living, concrete, incarnate experience. People need to see in order to believe... just as Thomas asked.
And yet, even seeing with our eyes is not always enough. We live in a world where the visible can be manipulated. This is why, as believers, we are called to offer a testimony that speaks not only to the eyes, but to the heart.
The Journey of Thomas and the Challenge of Testimony
The figure of the Apostle Thomas has often been reduced to that of the “doubter”. But his story is far deeper. He did not doubt out of whim, but because he loved sincerely. He did not want a second-hand faith, but a personal experience of the Risen One. His request — “Unless I see the mark of the nails in his hands…” (Jn 20:25) — reveals his desire for an incarnate, tangible, close faith.
Jesus does not rebuke him harshly but responds with love: He appears to him, invites him to touch, and in the end, Thomas proclaims one of the most profound confessions of faith in the Gospel: “My Lord and my God” (Jn 20:28).
In Thomas, we discover the importance of experience, encounter, and testimony. What convinces is not so much what is said, but what is lived. True Christian testimony is not limited to words; it is lives that make Christ visible. It is concrete love, active compassion, and daily coherence that reveal to the world the face of the Risen One.
Today, as then, we ask to see in order to believe. But what we seek is not spectacular miracles, but credible lives. We seek people who live what they preach, who love unconditionally, who accompany without judging, who serve without expecting anything in return.
Being a Testimony in Daily Life
In a world thirsty for authenticity, our greatest argument of faith is testimony. We do not need grand stages or elaborate speeches. What the world needs is to see disciples of Jesus who live with the eyes of the heart, able to discover Christ in others and make Him visible through their lives.
Thus, celebrating Saint Thomas also means renewing our commitment as witnesses. Where and how can we bear witness today? Here are a few simple yet powerful keys:
• Coherence: Let what we say and do reflect the same Gospel. • Closeness: Listen more than speak, accompany more than instruct. • Joy: Show through our lives that following Christ is not a burden, but fulfilment. • Commitment: Engage with the reality of those who suffer, being a presence of hope. • Prayer: For no one can truly bear witness without first having encountered the Risen One in the intimacy of their own life.
Like Thomas, we are all on a journey. We too doubt, question, and seek. But if we live with the eyes of the heart open, we will be able to see God’s presence in the everyday and be a sign of His love for others.
Today more than ever, the Church needs men and women who, like Thomas, are not satisfied with words but seek the encounter. Who may doubt, yes, but continue to seek. Who are not afraid to touch the wounds of the world. Who, in seeing, believe. And in believing, live in such a way that others too may see the living God.