Second Sunday of Easter 2026
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." After he said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord. Jesus said to them again, "Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you." When he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, "Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained." But Thomas (who was called the Twin), one of the twelve, 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 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." 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." 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." 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 have come to believe." Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book. But these are written so that you may come to believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that through believing you may have life in his name. John 20:19-31
I always wished for a better title for the story of Thomas and his doubts. It is very clear that on the day of resurrection the disciples refused to believe the women, and they didn't recognize Jesus on the road. We love to point fingers at those who fail at something, taunting them and sharing the story widely. Yet when we fail, we don't like it pointed out and fail to admit to our failure or our doubt. Thomas was fully human and asked to see Jesus, since he had not been at earlier encounters. The truth of faith is that we waiver, we doubt and when we miss the signs we feel abandoned. Jesus loves Thomas and all of us who are truthful and willing to admit our doubts. May we all pray with Thomas, "help my unbelief!"
Wondrous Creator, who wakes up the darkened world
by sending sun and rain in the spring to help us hope again.
Oh Lord, fill us with your love so we might be your faithful people.
You made us in your image, yet we fail to notice you
within us, around us, in front of us and behind us.
Oh Lord, fill us with your love so we might be your faithful people.
As we sink into war and human destruction, you call us
to be people who are filled with hope and love once again.
Oh Lord, fill us with your love so we might be your faithful people.
We cower in our failure and shame as we deny you
yet we cry to you in the deepest darkness of night.
Oh Lord, fill us with your love so we might be your faithful people.
Let your light and your love permeate our bodies
and fill us again with faith enough to seek your face.
Oh Lord, fill us with your love so we might be your faithful people.
Make us your children again as we embrace you
and let us never stray from your loving arms again.
Oh Lord, fill us with your love so we might be your faithful people. Amen.
