Doubt No More

Now when it was late that same day, the first of the week, and the doors were shut, where the disciples were gathered together, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in the midst, and said to them: Peace be to you. And when he had said this, he shewed them his hands and his side. The disciples therefore were glad, when they saw the Lord. He said therefore to them again: Peace be to you. As the Father hath sent me, I also send you. When he had said this, he breathed on them; and he said to them: Receive ye the Holy Ghost. Whose sins you shall forgive, they are forgiven them; and whose sins you shall retain, they are retained.

Now Thomas, one of the twelve, who is called Didymus, was not with them when Jesus came.
The other disciples therefore said to him: We have seen the Lord. But he said to them: Except I shall see in his hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the place of the nails, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe. And after eight days again his disciples were within, and Thomas with them. Jesus cometh, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said: Peace be to you. Then he saith to Thomas: Put in thy finger hither, and see my hands; and bring hither thy hand, and put it into my side; and be not faithless, but believing. Thomas answered, and said to him: My Lord, and my God. Jesus saith to him: Because thou hast seen me, Thomas, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and have believed. Many other signs also did Jesus in the sight of his disciples, which are not written in this book. But these are written, that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God: and that believing, you may have life in his name.
John 20:19-31 (Douay-Rheims Bible)

Prayer Reflection

Dear Father you know all about us and what makes us tick, you know our thoughts our feelings and the depth of our belief in your Son. Thomas and the apostles went through much and overcame a lot in the time your Son lived and died and rose from the dead. To see Jesus suffer the way he did and empty himself completely, it's no wonder Thomas doubted. Who could live that suffering let alone be brought back to life with no blood left in their body. Yet throughout Jesus ministry he was pointing the way of the Divine Mystery. But still Thomas wouldn't believe unless he touched the side and holes in the hands of Jesus to know it was really him. Don't we tend to do the same thing with Jesus ourselves in our day. Because we don't see him we want to touch him as Thomas did in order for us to believe in the truth that Jesus rose from the dead. We do touch Him everytime we receive Him in the Eucharist, he becomes part of us in a tangible way. We recognize Him in the breaking of the bread. He touches our lives often in a dramatic and personal way, but we like Thomas often doubt. But you dear Father never let us down and continue to show us the truth when we open our hearts to the Word. That of your Son.