April 12, 2015 - Sunday

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.” (John 20:26b-29 NABRE)

Jesus tells us to be at peace. And by his words to to Thomas he blesses us who have not seen him and yet have believed. Today's verse from John's gospel precedes an interesting little passage, the conclusion of the gospel, which is often overlooked:

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 Messiah, the Son of God, and that through this belief you may have life in his name. 

Lord, I thank you for the great gift of faith. I thank you for coming among us as savior and redeemer. I thank you for the peace you call me to. And I thank you especially for your mercy. May those who are like Thomas, aching for proof, struggling with belief, or unwilling to believe without signs, be moved to trust in you first, leaving them open to your blessings, peace, and mercy.


Today, on this Sunday of Divine Mercy, the Second Sunday of Easter, I will remember the words of Saint Faustina, "nothing will deter me from doing the will of God."

Saint Teresa of Los Andes, who wrote in your diary. “He created me and is my beginning and my end,” pray for us.