St Thomas

Today is the feast of St Thomas. And therefore presumably the traditional anniversary of his martyrdom by the Brahmins in Mylapore (as depicted above).

It is worthwhile to note the nature of the two greatest missionaries of the apostolic generation. On the one hand is St Paul, who travelled farthest West- to Spain. And all the places in between. On the other is St Thomas, who went farthest East- to India.

Yet who were these men? Not the greatest in the Apostolic College by any means. Thomas took more convincing about the Resurrection than any of the other Apostles. And Paul had persecuted the Christians and overseen the first Christian martyrdom.

But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty; and the base things of the world and the things which are despised God has chosen, and the things which are not, to bring to nothing the things that are, that no flesh should glory in His presence. But of Him you are in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God—and righteousness and sanctification and redemption— that, as it is written, “He who glories, let him glory in the LORD."

God's methodology is at once bracing and humbling. You are never so insignificant that He might not have greatness planned for you, and never so great that He might not humiliate you or pass you over and choose instead someone far less deserving.