A reading from the holy Gospel according to John
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!” Jesus said to him, “Have you come to believe because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and have believed.”
In today’s Gospel, Jesus appears to the disciples who are gathered together in a locked room out of fear of some of the Jewish leaders. Jesus suddenly appears and says, “Peace be with you.” He then shows them his hands and side, which bear the marks of the crucifixion, and they see and believe that he has truly risen from the dead. Jesus then breathes on them and says, “Receive the Holy Spirit.” He also gives them the authority to forgive sins. Thomas is not present when Jesus appears, and he refuses to believe that Jesus has risen unless he sees the wounds for himself. A week later, Jesus appears to the disciples again, and this time Thomas is there. Jesus invites Thomas to touch his wounds and to believe, and Thomas confesses, “My Lord and my God!” Jesus’ response to Thomas is spoken not only to Thomas but to all who would believe without seeing. Peter describes this beautifully in the second reading: “Although you have not seen him you love him; even though you do not see him now yet believe in him.”
Lord, help me understand that the words you spoke to Thomas you speak to me in your mercy to meet me in my unbelief. “Do not be unbelieving, but believe.” The eleven disciples had the benefit of your appearance to them; Thomas at first did not, and neither do I. Although I cannot see you in the same way, you invite me to believe without seeing. You are alive, body and soul, at the right hand of the Father, and you are present in the sacraments. Give me the grace to trust in what I cannot see, mercy itself, that through this belief I may have life in your name.
Thank you, Lord, for the quiet moments in your presence. Make yourself known to me today so that I’m aware of you in ways I wouldn’t ordinarily recognize. Give thanks to the LORD for he is good, his love is everlasting.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.