Thomas Learns the Rewards of Faith

This is one of the reasons why I like the Daily Office: the readings make such sense as a coherent whole, an ongoing, everlasting journey through faith. Today we interrupt a long series of Advent ferias to celebrate the feast day of St. Thomas, which by the way, means I had to put away my blue prayer mat and get the red one for the first time in two weeks.

Lesser Feasts and Fasts (2003) offers a reading about the life of St. Thomas, acknowledging the gospel attributed to him, and making the point that his reputation as a "doubter" is oversimplified. Rather than simply doubting, he wanted desperately to believe but held out for a higher standard of evidence than most. The experience of seeing proof did not create faith in Thomas, it unlocked it.

The Daily Office Lectionary directs us today in Morning Pryer to 1 Peter 1:3-9, which is an eloquent passage about the rewards of faith:

⁸Although you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and rejoice with an indescribable and glorious joy, ⁹for you are receiving the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls.

Enjoy the feast of St. Thomas, and this break in the Advent ferias, and this break in the winter Ember days. Peace.