Gospel Acclamation: Second Sunday of Easter

You believe in Me, Thomas, because you have seen Me, says the Lord; blessed are those who have not seen Me, but still believe!

Poor Thomas! He has never been able to live down his “doubting Thomas” label. He certainly did doubt, but we should ask ourselves what we might have done in his place. Would we have believed the other apostles as they chattered excitedly about the risen Lord, or would we have wondered if they had been drinking a little too freely of the wine?

Thomas, of course, declared that he would not believe unless he put his finger in the nail marks in Jesus' hands and his hand into His opened side.

Then, a week later, Jesus appears. This time Thomas is with the others in that upper room. Jesus tells him to go ahead and put his finger in the nail marks and his hand in His side, but most of all to leave off his unbelief and believe.

We do not even know if Thomas took Jesus up on His offer to touch His glorified wounds. But Thomas certainly begins to believe at that very moment. In fact, he does not just stop at believing that Jesus has risen from the dead. Rather, he says, probably with great awe and wonder, “My Lord and my God!” Thomas has faith indeed. He quickly understands and embraces the fact that if Jesus has risen from the dead, then He can only be God Himself.

Jesus responds to Thomas in the words of our acclamation, inviting us to share Thomas' faith. We have not seen Jesus standing before us, but we do believe. Let us proclaim more confidently than ever in this Easter season, “My Lord and my God!”