Doubting Thomas

Caravaggio's rendition of the Doubting Thomas

Today we honor St Thomas, one of the apostles of Christ, who will always be remembered for his doubting traits. When Jesus appeared to the apostles after the Resurrection, at first Thomas was not there, and told his friends that he would not believe that Jesus was alive, unless he saw with his eyes, and touched with his own hands the wounds of Jesus. Of course the second time, Thomas not only believed, but uttered one of the most quoted phrases in the entire Gospel, "My Lord and my God." This is a phrase that is frequently repeated by many people at the time of the elevation of the Eucharist.  Tradition says that St Thomas went to India where he introduced Christianity, and where his remains were preserved, until they were transferred to Mesopotamia in 232 AD, a ceremony organized by an Indian King, out of respect to the great Apostle. 
Thomas' wound of disbelief was healed by touching and seeing Jesus' wounds. So it wasn't by chance that Thomas was absent, then came and heard, he heard and doubted, he doubted and touched, and finally he touched and believed.