Gospel: John 20:19-31
On the evening of that first day of the week, when the doors were locked, where the disciples were, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in their midst and said to them, “Peace be with you.” When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side. 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.” And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. Whose sins you forgive are forgiven them, and whose sins you retain are retained.”
Thomas, called Didymus, one of the Twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. So the other disciples said to 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 into the nailmarks and put my hand into his side, I will not believe.”
Now a week later his disciples were again inside and Thomas was with them. 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.”
Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of his disciples that are not written in this book. But these are written that you may come to believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that through this belief you may have life in his name.
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Reflection:
Do you want to have a personal encounter with the Risen Lord Jesus Christ?
Thomas, in the Gospel, deeply longed to have an up-close and personal encounter with his Lord and Master. He was yearning for it like a parched land longing for water.
So when Thomas was told by his fellow disciples that the Risen Jesus had appeared to them, he may have pretended not to believe—but deep in his heart, he already believed what they told him.
Thomas believed, but he still yearned for physical evidence and a personal encounter. He wanted to see the Risen Christ in the flesh and to touch His wounds.
Thomas’s desire to encounter Jesus came to fulfillment a week later, when all of them were gathered once again in the upper room—where Jesus had first appeared. And while they were inside, lo and behold, Jesus suddenly appeared before them!
Immediately after His appearance, Jesus singled out Thomas. He invited him to look at the wounds in His hands and to touch the wound in His side—the one pierced by a Roman soldier’s lance while He hung on the cross.
Is it okay to doubt the resurrection of the Lord? Yes, it’s okay. But after doubting, let that doubt turn into curiosity. Ask the Lord to help you know Him more. Feed that longing by praying to Him.
Soon, you will discover and feel for yourself that Jesus is real—that Jesus is alive, and that He is just a prayer or even a whisper away from you. Why? Because Jesus has never failed anyone who has yearned for a personal encounter with Him.
Do you want to have a personal encounter with the Risen Lord? – Marino J. Dasmarinas
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