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Thomas believe because he saw


Gospel
John 20:19-31
Eight days later, Jesus came again and stood among them

In the evening of that same day, the first day of the week, the doors were closed in the room where the disciples were, for fear of the Jews. Jesus came and stood among them. He said to them, ‘Peace be with you’, and showed them his hands and his side. The disciples were filled with joy when they saw the Lord, and he said to them again, ‘Peace be with you.

‘As the Father sent me,
so am I sending you.’

After saying this he breathed on them and said:

‘Receive the Holy Spirit.
For those whose sins you forgive,
they are forgiven;
for those whose sins you retain,
they are retained.’

Thomas, called the Twin, who was one of the Twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. When the disciples said, ‘We have seen the Lord’, he answered, ‘Unless I see the holes that the nails made in his hands and can put my finger into the holes they made, and unless I can put my hand into his side, I refuse to believe.’ Eight days later the disciples were in the house again and Thomas was with them. The doors were closed, but Jesus came in and stood among them. ‘Peace be with you’ he said. Then he spoke to Thomas, ‘Put your finger here; look, here are my hands. Give me your hand; put it into my side. Doubt no longer but believe.’ Thomas replied, ‘My Lord and my God!’ Jesus said to him:

‘You believe because you can see me.
Happy are those who have not seen and yet believe.’

There were many other signs that Jesus worked and the disciples saw, but they are not recorded in this book. These are recorded so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing this you may have life through his name.

Reflection

Jesus meets the disciples in the tension between fear and faith: doors closed, hearts opened by grace, and a call to mission. He speaks peace, breathes the Holy Spirit, and sends them with forgiveness. Thomas seeks tangible proof, and Jesus meets him with compassionate invitation to belief. The Gospel invites me to move from doubt to trust, from fear to mission, and to recognize that true sight comes not only from seeing Jesus’ wounds but from believing the risen One who gives life through faith.

Reflection Question

In what area of my life do I need to hear Jesus say, “Peace be with you,” and choose to believe even when I cannot see?

Prayer

Holy Spirit, breathe your peace into my anxious heart. Help me to trust in the risen Lord even when doubt lingers, and empower me to live as one sent with forgiveness and grace. May I grow from sight-based belief to faith-filled obedience, and may my life testify that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing I may have life in His name. Amen.

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