GOSPEL, John (20: 24-29)

Gospel of Our Lord Jesus Christ according to Saint John

Jesus and Thomas

²⁴ But Thomas (who was called the Twin), one of the twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. ²⁵ So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord.” But he said to them, “Unless I see the mark of the nails in his hands, and put my finger in the mark of the nails and my hand in his side, I will not believe.”

²⁶ A week later his disciples were again in the house, and Thomas was with them. Although the doors were shut, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.” ²⁷ Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here and see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it in my side. Do not doubt but believe.” ²⁸ Thomas answered him, “My Lord and my God!” ²⁹ Jesus said to him, “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have come to believe.”

The Gospel of the Lord

 

REFLECTION

Jesus appeared in their midst and said: “Peace be with you.” These words moved the apostles from fear to inner joy at seeing the Lord again.

The disciples’ state of mind before Jesus arrived can perhaps be compared to occasions in our own lives; we may often feel like that, we have reached a dead end in solving our problems, but suddenly we feel Jesus also saying to us: “Peace be with you”.

Thomas also went through this feeling of hopelessness, nevertheless, he had the courage to confess his own unbelief, “Unless I see the mark of the nails in his hands, and put my finger in the mark of the nails and my hand in his side, I will not believe.”(vv.25)

Thomas manifests and proclaims that there before him stands Jesus in His corporeal body and that through His Passion not only is the body living flesh but that Christ is God and Lord. He who comes out of death alive and rises from its wounds is the true God.

Thomas carried in his heart not only his own uncertainty, but also that of all men. Since he would have to preach the resurrection to the nations, he wanted to know, like a good worker, on what foundations he could build a mystery that demands so much faith. Moreover, the Lord showed all the apostles what Thomas had asked: “¹⁹ When it was evening on that day, the first day of the week, and the doors of the house where the disciples had met were locked for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.” ²⁰ After he said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord.” (John 20:19-20).

Let us ask the Lord for the grace to grow in faith. Lord we believe, but increase our faith! True happiness comes from faith, to trust in someone, who does not disappoint but instils in us confidence to believe and leads us spontaneously to say “my Lord and my God”.

 

PRAYER

Lord Jesus, light for us a path to your truth, the way of resurrection. Give us the eyes of faith so that we may be able to see your presence in us and in our brothers and sisters. Do not let doubt frighten us and bring us uncertainty because we know that only in You will we find the true meaning of our lives. Amen.