Second Sunday of Easter

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 have often thought of Thomas as one of the most honest disciples.  We know that the disciples dismissed the women's story as an idle tale. We know that their lives were surrounded by fear and threats. Thomas says out loud what we often think when we are skeptical. "Show me!" He may have felt left out of the previous encounter, he may have been hurt or tricked by his fellow disciples once too often. Whatever the cause for his skepticism, we know the others had felt the same way. And Jesus understood and showed his hands and feet. And Jesus prayed for all of us in that moment as well. Our faith is given from the stories of others before us and we are blessed to be those who believe.

A Litany for the Second Sunday of Easter

Loving Creator, you made us all in your image

with hearts full of possibilities and potentials

we human are full of fear, disappointment and doubt

but you are willing to show us your deepest scars.

Our Lord and our God, help us be those who are blessed to believe.

We struggle with the challenges of our daily lives

our failures are always in the front of our minds

we might even believe that we have been abandoned

yet you are always bringing us peace and new hope.

Our Lord and our God, help us be those who are blessed to believe.

When we are left out and didn't see your face

we can think that we are not wanted by you

yet you love us beyond all doubts and fears

and fill us with your peace and your constant love.

Our Lord and our God, help us be those who are blessed to believe.

Help us be those who share your love freely

with those who are full of fear and disappointment.

Our Lord and our God, help us be those who are blessed to believe.

Give us your strength so our faith does not fade

renew us and heal us so we might serve others.

Our Lord and our God, help us be those who are blessed to believe.

From the beginning of time you have loved us

and your love will sustain us all throughout eternity.

Our Lord and our God, help us be those who are blessed to believe. Amen.