ciliation.
However, the apostle Thomas was not among them when Jesus appeared that
first Easter evening, and he doubted the account of his fellow disciples. In fact,
he stubbornly and arrogantly refused to believe until he could actually see and
touch Jesus˅ wounds! A week later when the disciples (including Thomas) were
again together in the same upper room, Jesus appeared a second time, and in-
vited Thomas to touch the nail marks in his hands and the wound in his side. Fi-
nally, Thomas found his faith and exclaimed, ˈMy Lord and my God!ˉ
In a response that I have always found to be immensely comforting and uplifting,
Jesus praised the faith of all those (including all of us!) who would come to be-
lieve in him and follow his teachings without the benefit of having seen or experi-
enced him in person.
P
RAYER
Dear God,
We thank you for the great gift of faith and for the continuing grace of your rec-
onciliation when we falter in that belief or choose not to live in the way that your
son Jesus modeled for us during his time on earth. Help us to overcome our un-
belief and lack of love, and keep us in the peace that only you can bring.
We make this prayer in the name of your son, Jesus Christ, who rose in glory to
bring us out of death into new life. Amen
_______
A
LLYSON
S
IMPSON
RCIA Team Member, Discipleship Committee
and Eucharistic Minister