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VERSION:2.0
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CALSCALE:GREGORIAN
METHOD:PUBLISH
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTAMP:20260705T193832Z
UID:68-1080081@christchurchpelham.org
DTSTART:20291221T150000Z
DTEND:20291221T153000Z
CLASS:PUBLIC
CREATED:20260629T163418
DESCRIPTION:The Gospel according to John records several incidents in which
  Thomas appears\, and from them we are able to gain some impression of the
  sort of man he was. When Jesus insisted on going to Judea\, to visit his 
 friends at Bethany\, Thomas boldly declared\, “Let us also go\, that we 
 may die with him” (John 11:16). At the Last Supper\, he interrupted our 
 Lord’s discourse with the question\, “Lord\, we do not know where you 
 are going\; how can we know the way?” (John 14:5). And after Christ’s 
 resurrection\, Thomas would not accept the account of the women and the ot
 her apostles\, until Jesus himself appeared before him\, showing him his w
 ounds. This drew from him the first explicit acknowledgment of Christ’s 
 divinity\, “My Lord and my God!” (John 20:28).\nThomas appears to have
  been a thoughtful if perhaps literal-minded man\, inclined to skepticism\
 ; but he was a staunch friend when his loyalty was once given. The express
 ion “Doubting Thomas\,” which has become established in English usage\
 , is not entirely fair to Thomas. He did not refuse belief: he wanted to b
 elieve\, but did not dare\, without further evidence. Because of his goodw
 ill\, Jesus gave him a sign\, although Jesus had refused a sign to the Pha
 risees. His Lord’s rebuke was well deserved: “Blessed are those who ha
 ve not seen and yet believe” (John 20:29). The sign did not create faith
 \; it merely released the faith that was in Thomas already.\nAccording to 
 an early tradition mentioned by Eusebius and others\, Thomas evangelized t
 he Persians. Syrian Christians of India cherish a tradition that after his
  mission to Persia\, he continued East and brought the Gospel to India. Th
 e site of his burial\, in present-day Chennai\, has been a shrine and plac
 e of Christian pilgrimage since antiquity.\nThomas’ honest questioning a
 nd doubt\, and Jesus’ assuring response to him\, have given many modern 
 Christians courage to persist in faith\, even when they are still doubting
  and questioning.
LAST-MODIFIED:20260629T163418
LOCATION:
SUMMARY:Saint Thomas' Day
URL;VALUE=URI:https://christchurchpelham.org/events/saint-thomas-day/2029-1
 2-21
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