A reading from the holy Gospel according to John
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!” 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 reading for the feast of Saint Thomas, Jesus appears to the Twelve after having appeared to the others at a separate time. Because he was absent, Thomas doubted the first appearance, saying, “Unless I see the mark of the nails in his hands and put my finger into the nailmarks and put my hand into his side, I will not believe.” A week later, Jesus appears again to the disciples, this time with Thomas present. Although the doors were locked, Jesus stands in their midst and wishes them peace. Jesus sees in Thomas disbelief in his presence even as he stands before him. Blessed are those, Jesus says, who come to believe without seeing.
God, help me see and believe in the reality of your Son’s resurrection. Let my faith in you not rest in evidence but in the testimony and witness of others as both have been handed down throughout the ages in your Church. Just as Thomas comes to recognize Jesus’ divine identity, I want his profession “My Lord and my God!” to be mine as well. Give me the grace today to respond to you in firmness of faith, not by any evidence I have in hand, but through the sacraments and teachings of the Church that have been passed to me from generation to generation.
Thank you, Lord, for your presence and for the peace that only Christ can give. Through him, as Saint Paul says, I am a fellow citizen with the holy ones and members of the household of God. Saint Thomas, pray for us!
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.