John 20:19-23 NRSVue

¹⁹When it was evening on that day, the first day of the week, and the doors were locked where the disciples were, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.” ²⁰After he said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord. ²¹Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you.” ²²When he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. ²³If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained.”

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Some thoughts on this scripture

Reflection
Thomas the doubter is the patron saint of so many of us. When it comes to the supernatural and spiritual, we need to be sceptical. Jesus respected Thomas's doubts, and guided his fingers into the wounds.

Reflection
Lord, you call me blessed because I believe without the evidence of my senses. You matter more to me than what I can see, hear, touch or smell; but there are times when I falter. Lord, I believe. Help my unbelief.

Reflection
I listen to Jesus speak to me, 'Peace be with you.' I bring before him those aspects of my life most in need of peace and hear him say again, 'Peace be with you.'

Reflection
Jesus speaks of peace but shows his hand and his feet: he reminds me that there is a cost to being a presence of peace in the world.