Second Sunday after Pascha. Thomas Sunday. The Holy Apostles Jason and Sosipater; the Holy Martyrs Dadas, Maximus and Quintilianus (286-305); Our Father among the Saints Cyril of Turau (1183)
Read
Acts 5:12-20; John 20:19-31
Christ is risen! Truly, He is risen!
Do you find it curious that in many of the post-Resurrection accounts found in the Gospels many people first see the risen Lord Jesus in front of them but do not recognize Him? The Lord is somewhat veiled before their very senses. Then that veil is lifted, and they can see that it is the Lord. This happens with Mary Magdalene in the garden on the day of the Resurrection, with the two disciples on the road to Emmaus later that day, in the evening that day with the disciples in the Upper Room, and with Thomas in the same room one week later.
For Mary Magdalene, the veil is lifted when she hears her name spoken by the risen Lord. For the disciples on the road to Emmaus, it is when the Scriptures are explained to them. For the disciples, it is when He is present, and they see the marks of His great passion and death. They recognize Him as the One they knew, changed in the Resurrection.
The veil is lifted for Thomas when he, upon the invitation of our Lord, places his fingers in the wounds of the Lord’s passion and death. Unlike the others, Thomas touches the Lord. Further, he makes a statement that goes beyond what others have stated, “My Lord and my God!” He recognizes Jesus as the One he knows but also as God!
We have been singing at Matins every day for this past Bright Week the following:
Let us purify our senses and we shall see Christ, shining in the unapproachable light of the Resurrection, and we shall clearly hear Him say, “Rejoice!” As we sing the song of victory!
Brothers and Sisters let us continue in Resurrection joy. Like Thomas, let us touch the wounds of the Lord in the touching the wounds of those we encounter every day. Let us open ourselves continually to having our sense cleansed and purified that we may see the Lord daily! Let us be His voice to those who need to hear, “Rejoice!” And let us always sing that victory hymn:
Christ is risen from the dead, trampling death by death, and to those in the tombs giving life!
mw