SECOND SUNDAY OF EASTER
SUNDAY OF DIVINE MERCY
The Incredulity of Saint Thomas, Caravaggio, 1601-1602,
Sanssourci Picture Gallery, Germany. [PD-US]
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.
John 20:19-31
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Thank you for this, Deb. I am such a Thomas at times, and a faithful Mary at others but I love that I can be both... and it's all right. The well of faith is a forgiving one! Bless you and I hope you all have a wonderful Second Sunday of Easter!
ReplyDeleteI love the painting by Caravaggio. He's one of my favorite Old Master Painters. Thomas' expression is so perfect!
ReplyDeletePraying for everyone today on this special Sunday. Many folks will gather in church at 3 pm, the Hour of Mercy, to pray for their own needs and the needs of their friends and families as they call upon God's mercy. I will be lifting all of you up to the Lord at that time in my prayers.
Open your hearts to the Lord's grace, dear friends, and trust that He will be blessing you in a special way today.
He is Risen! Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!