~~~

Jerusalem, the Holy Land 
 
 
Master  –  with Jesus  
 
In the Gospel this disciple 
is not often seen or named, 
but clearly three times Thomas speaks in John  
words that all have learned 
 
The first, an impulse at the time,
defines Disciple Thomas and his spirit:
“Let us go with him and die”  [i]
– as Apostle later, this he did  
 
When he could not see the Kingdom
he asked his Teacher in frank speech,
“How shall we know the way?”  [ii]
to Jesus’ famous answer: “I am the Way.”   
 
And finally, this Doubter told his friends,
“Unless I see the wounds and touch with hands, 
his Rising I cannot believe.”  [iii]
But when he saw and touched: “My Lord and God !” 
 
“You have believed because you have seen,” 
said Jesus, supplying Thomas’ theme
for all his life and travels  [iv] 
where hallowed hands spread blessings far.


 
[i]  John 11:16  –  “So Thomas, called Didymus, said to his fellow disciples, ‘Let us also go to die with him.’  ”  

[ii]  John 14:5-6  –  “Thomas said to him, ‘Master, we do not know where you are going; how can we know the way?’  Jesus said to him, ‘I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.’  ”

[iii]  John 14:25-28  –
“So 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 nail marks and put my hand into his side, I will not believe.’
Now 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.’ 
Then 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.’  Thomas answered and said to him, ‘My Lord and my God!’  ” 

[iv]  The main source for this poem, difficult to obtain at this time:  D’Souza, Rt. Rev. Herman. In the Steps of St. Thomas. Madras 7, India: Diocesan Press, Fourth Edition, 1983.  This useful guide was prepared for tourists and pilgrims visiting shrines in Madras. Each edition from 1952 increased the scholarly references, especially the Second Edition (done for the 19th Centenary of the Apostle in 1972), the major revision.
         Also, see:  Ainy. “Índia on St Thomas”.   iStampGallery.com. {https://istampgallery.com/st-thomas-19th-death-centenary/} (accessed December 1, 2021).  This is an example of a short, clear summary for the history of St. Thomas in India, found among many confirming sources, including topical websites and articles in Wikipedia. 
                                           

His Cross stands upon a Trinity of Steps