＊＊＊ 1st Reading ＊＊＊ 

Ephesians 2:19-22

 Now you are no longer strangers or guests,

But fellow citizens of the holy people: you are of the household of God. You are the house whose foundations are the apostles and proph­­­ets, and whose cornerstone is Christ Jesus. In him the whole structure is joined together and rises to be a holy temple in the Lord. In him you too are being built to become the spiritual sanctuary of God.

 

Ps 117:1bc, 2

Go out to all the world and tell the Good News.

 

 ＊＊＊＊ Gospel ＊＊＊＊      

John 20:24-29

 Thomas, the Twin, one of the Twelve, was not with them when Jesus came.  The other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord.” But he replied, “Until I have seen in his hands the print of the nails, and put my finger in the mark of the nails and my hand in his side, I will not believe.”

 Eight days later, the disciples were inside again and Thomas was with them. Despite the locked doors Jesus came and stood in their midst and said, “Peace be with you.”   Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here andsee my hands; stretch out your hand and put it into my side. Resist no longer and be a believer.”

 Thomas then said, “You are my Lord and my God.”  Jesus replied, “You believe because you see me, don’t you? Happy are those who have not seen and believe.”

 

Gospel Reflection：

It is natural that Thomas should doubt. He was not there when the Lord appeared. Besides, the group is under extreme pressure following the death of their teacher. Others may have taken this opportunity to invent stories of the Resurrection to strengthen the morale of the group.

Thomas, ever the realist, would have none of that. And so he sets some conditions to belief. He wants physical proof of Jesus coming back to life. And did the Lord punish him? Jesus does not. Is his honest search for the truth an occasion for Jesus to get angry?

Not so, rather He obliges Thomas so much so that the latter dropped to his knees and confessed that Jesus is Lord and God. But Jesus told Thomas that he believes now because of the irrefutable proof placed in front of him. But those who have the capacity to believe the mystery because of faith are happier. It is because whilst the realists are hard-pressed to find evidence beyond doubt, those who believe already enjoy the fruits of their faith.