Jn 20:24-29
24Thomas, called Didymus, one of the Twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. 25So the other disciples said to him, “We have seen the Lord.” But he said to them, “Unless I see the mark of the nails in his hands and put my finger into the nailmarks and put my hand into his side, I will not believe.” 26Now a week later his disciples were again inside and Thomas was with them. Jesus came, although the doors were locked, and stood in their midst and said, “Peace be with you.” 27Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here and see my hands, and bring your hand and put it into my side, and do not be unbelieving, but believe.” 28Thomas answered and said to him, “My Lord and my God!” 29Jesus said to him, “Have you come to believe because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and have believed.”
THOMAS, CALLED DIDYMUS: The name “Thomas” is a Greek transliteration of the Hebrew word to’am (Aramaic to’ma’), which means “twin.” The Greek-speaking Christians would not readily understand “Thomas,” but would certainly understand its Greek equivalent “Didymus.”
We do not know who the “twin” of Thomas was. And since “Thomas” seems to be a designation, what is the actual name of the apostle? A tradition contained in the Acts of Thomas assigns him a common Judean name “Judas”; he would then be “Judas Thomas.”
Because of his incredulous attitude towards the resurrection of Jesus, as shown in today’s Gospel, he has won the characterization as “doubting Thomas.” And people who express doubts are called “doubting Thomases.”
On the evening of the day of the resurrection, Jesus appears to the fearful disciples and shows them his hands and his side to dispel their unspoken but real doubts and to assure them that he is not a ghost but the self-same Jesus of Nazareth, their Master. For the disciples, “seeing is believing,” and no one asks to touch and verify the wounds. But Thomas, who was not around, wants to probe Jesus’ body to confirm the miraculous. But when confronted the following week, Thomas backs off. What conquers Thomas is Jesus’ direct response to his disbelief, not his examination of Jesus’ body. His confession “My Lord and my God!” conveys his deep shame and reverence at seeing Jesus’ divine glory and the strong personal sense with which he yields to Jesus’ invitation: “Do not be unbelieving, but believe.”