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Reflections For Paschaltide 2026: Thomas The Twin

Reflections For Paschaltide 2026: Thomas The Twin

Last updated on: April 12, 2026 at 1:23 am by Henry Karlson

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Reflections For Paschaltide 2026: Thomas The Twin 2026-04-12T01:23:13-05:00 Henry Karlson

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Lawrence OP: Thomas The Twin Seeing The Resurrected Christ. Detail from a side-altar frontal by Bentley in St Cuthbert’s Seminary, Ushaw / flickr

The Sunday after Pascha (Easter) traditionally reflects upon the way the Apostle Thomas experienced the resurrected Christ several days after the rest of the apostles. Until then, he was doubtful of what he was being told. We do not know the full extent of that doubt. Was it absolute? Perhaps, but perhaps we read him wrongly. The fact that he said he wanted to see and touch Christ for himself could suggest that he at least took it as a possibility, albeit one which he wanted proof in order to fully believe. That is, while he doubted what the rest of the apostles told him, there probably was something inside him, some intuition based upon his own experience with Christ, which made sure the doubt was not absolute:

Now Thomas, one of the twelve, called the Twin, was not with them when Jesus came. So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord.” But he said to them, “Unless I see in his hands the print of the nails, and place my finger in the mark of the nails, and place my hand in his side, I will not believe.” Eight days later, his disciples were again in the house, and Thomas was with them. The doors were shut, but Jesus came and stood among them, and said, “Peace be with you.” Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here, and see my hands; and put out your hand, and place it in my side; do not be faithless, but believing.” Thomas answered him, “My Lord and my God!” Jesus said to him, “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet believe” (Jn. 20:24-29 RSV).

Thomas is the “twin,” and so with him, in Scripture, we find all kinds of “twinning” or doubling of events and experiences being represented by him. That is, when he is around, especially when he is prominent in the narrative, something is being doubled. This is most evident when we read about his experience with Christ’s resurrection from the dead. The other apostles experienced it first. When Christ comes again to them, this time with Thomas with them, the event is doubled, and in that doubling, we find the kind of confirmation which follows when some unusual or unexpected thing is experienced more than once. But, often enough, there is something different when that second experience happens. Even identical twins have differences between them. And so, the second time the apostles are together and experience the resurrected Christ, there is something different to that event, because Thomas is now with them. This time, Jesus reached out, not just to Thomas, but to all who shall believe, declaring that those who believe without having a special spiritual experience of the resurrection for themselves are blessed. This is not to say those who believe without having that experience have no reason for their faith, for obviously, they have something which leads them to believe, which for some, is more intellectual, and for others, more emotional. But all of them, so long as their faith is true, leaves them blessed, as they have a faith which keeps them waiting for the time when when Christ will come again, not only to judge the living and the dead, but to bring about the realization of the kingdom of God to all creation.

In the Gospels, we have two different major appearances of the resurrected Christ to the apostles. These two events can be read as representing something which happened in history, but also, we can look at them as presenting to us something else, something eschatological. They can be seen as representing the two comings of Christ, the first, to the apostles and those in the time of the apostles, and the second, to the whole world, when those who did not believe will experience the resurrected Christ, and all his glory, for themselves. The second coming of Christ can be said to be a “twinning” or “doubling” of his first coming, even as the eighth day experience of St. Thomas was a “twinning” or “doubling” of what the apostles originally experienced. What does this mean? What was started by Christ in his first coming will come to its culmination in his second. Just as we can see that his second appearance to the apostles completed what began with this first appearance, because, in the second, all the apostles have received him and saw him for themselves, in his second coming, he will complete what he began with his first coming into the world, as will see him and know him and know for themselves his true glory, the glory which he wants to share with everyone.

Thus, there are two great paschal events surrounding the apostles, each, in their own way, represents something about the coming of Christ in the world. The first time, it was with glory, as Christ revealed himself in his resurrected glory, albeit to only a few. At the second time, Christ will be seen and experienced by all. In between the two different appearances to the apostles, Christ was also met by others, showing that, in between the two comings of Christ, there can be and will be people with various experiences of the resurrected Christ, which means, they will also experience and participate in the eschatological kingdom of God for themselves. This, indeed, is the way Christ is at work in and with the world in between his two comings; people can and will experience him in his glory in many different fashions, sometimes in some mystical experience, sometimes in the breaking of bread (the eucharist), sometimes in their neighbor in need, and those who welcome him in those encounters will be transformed and made better by him. Then, they are expected to take what they have experienced and go out into the world, sharing it, making the world a better place. They are to be the hands and feet of Christ in the time which exists between Christ’s two comings into the world, so that in and through them, people can see the work of Christ, giving people another chance to see and experience Christ for themselves. And those who come to believe during this time between his first and second coming, especially if they believe without having some special mystical experience for themselves, will be blessed so long as they live out that belief and follow what Christ taught, that is, the way of love. And, because of this, because of the way Christ transforms people, making them better by the grace he shares with them, we can see for ourselves the already-and-not-yet aspect of eschatology at play, and this, it can be said, is also represented in the way Christ met with his apostles. That is, we can see in his encounter with all the apostles except Thomas, a representation of how we “already” can have an experience of the eschaton during our temporal existence, while his encounter with Thomas shows us the “not yet” aspect of eschatology, where it is only in the twinning event at the end of time, when Christ comes again, that everything will be fulfilled, and the kingdom of God will be realized in and with everyone and in all things.

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N.B.: While I read comments to moderate them, I rarely respond to them. If I don’t respond to your comment directly, don’t assume I am unthankful for it. I appreciate it. But I want readers to feel free to ask questions, and hopefully, dialogue with each other. I have shared what I wanted to say, though some responses will get a brief reply by me, or, if I find it interesting and something I can engage fully, as the foundation for another post. I have had many posts inspired or improved upon thanks to my readers.

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