Of Doubts and Dogs: Finding God in the Unexpected

   

Second Sunday of Easter

(Divine Mercy Sunday)

27 April 2025

 

First Reading: Acts 5:12-16

Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 118:2-4, 13-15, 22-24

Second Reading: Revelation 1:9-11a, 12-13, 17-19

Gospel: John 20:19-31

 

Reflection

By: Therese B. Manio

 

It's easier to believe when something reaches your senses, when you've seen it, touched it, smelled it, or felt it deep in your bones. But what happens when the proof you crave never comes? What if you're standing in the middle of heartbreak, and nothing makes sense anymore? What if the silence is louder than hope, and all you're left with is the ache of absence? That's where we find Thomas, not as a skeptic, but as someone whose world just collapsed over the death of a loved one. And honestly, I get him. I think a lot of us do.

I've always found myself relating to Thomas. Not because he doubted out of arrogance, but because he needed something tangible, something real to hold onto when everything around him was falling apart. I imagine the silence after Jesus' death was deafening for Thomas. He had given his life to follow someone he believed in, and then suddenly, it seemed like all of that had come to nothing. It's not hard to understand why he needed to see the wounds.

In many ways, I've had my own "Thomas moments", times when I asked for signs, needed proof, and struggled with trust. One of those moments was when I received Magis in 2019, a shih tzu dog, into my life. He was my first pet, and I wasn't sure if I was ready. I just transferred to Laguna, living by myself, far from my family and friends whom I could easily call in case I need assistance or if she gets sick. My parents doubted my ability to take care of a pet which in a way added more doubts in myself. Could I be responsible for another life? Could I understand her needs? Could I be enough? I was filled with doubt. But as the days went on, Magis quietly taught me about trust, presence, and companionship. She actually took care of my mental health during the pandemic. She never made me feel alone, literally and figuratively. There were moments I cried in bed, she would climb, sit in my lap, or sleep beside me, which she would not do on usual days. Her quiet loyalty mirrored the presence of Christ in ways I didn't expect- faithful, unassuming, always there.

This week, as I grieve the loss of Magis and join the world in mourning the passing of Pope Francis, I'm reminded that faith is not always grand or certain, it is often lived in small, courageous steps. Pope Francis was a shepherd who walked with the wounded, spoke for the voiceless, and loved those on the margins. His legacy challenges us to keep believing even when the world gives us reason to doubt. Like Thomas, we are called to move from doubt to belief, from fear to faith, from self-preservation to radical love.

Pope Francis showed us what Magis truly means not just "more", but the greater good, the deeper yes, the love that risks. His passing is a profound loss, but his legacy lives on in every act of mercy, every choice to love beyond reason, every moment risks in reaching out those in the peripheries, the last, the least, and the lost.

Today, as I remember Thomas' story, grieve the loss of Pope Francis, and look down at Magis curled at my feet, I am learning that faith isn't always bold and loud. Sometimes, it looks like showing up, like choosing to love even when you're scared, like seeing Christ in the ordinary and letting that be enough.

Prayer

Jesus, in my moments of doubt, draw near to me as You did to Thomas. Help me to recognize Your presence, not just in the extraordinary, but in the quiet, ordinary places of my life. Teach me to believe that life can come from death, hope can rise from despair, and love is never wasted. Strengthen my faith to follow You with courage, one step at a time. Amen.

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Divine Mercy Sunday

 

 Second Sunday of Easter

Divine Mercy Sunday

24 April 2022

 

First Reading: ACTS 5:12-16

Responsorial Psalm: PS 118:2-4, 13-15, 22-24

Second Reading: REV 1:9-11a, 12-13, 17-19

Gospel: JN 20:19-31

 

Reflection

By: Sem. Kenjie Viado

Grade 12, Our Lady of the Pillar Seminary, Diocese of Imus

Today is the second week of our Lord’s Resurrection or called Divine Mercy Sunday. This week the Gospel shows us how Jesus gave or proclaimed peace to his disciples. As Catholics,  it challenges us to be partakers of the peace that Jesus has given us. Just as we have heard in the Gospel, we are sometimes like Thomas who does not believe when we cannot see but Jesus reminds us that "Blessed are those who believe even though they cannot see." Sometimes in our lives, we ask if there really is a God? But this question should challenge us to deepen our faith in God.

Divine Mercy Sunday reminds us that Jesus is merciful, compassionate, and loving. I remember that every time we were asked how are we, we respond with "Ok naman ako sa awa ng Diyos.” It is wonderful to think that we are living because of the love and mercy of God. Today, Jesus invites us to share in His mission of proclaiming the truth and peace. It is also a challenge for us to always live in God's love and mercy. Peace towards the mission with the help of God’s mercy and compassion.

Prayer

Lord, thank You for Your mercy and compassion toward us that keep us going everyday. In difficult situations that we find it hard to see You, help us to continue believing in You. This we ask in Jesus' Most Holy Name, Amen.

 

Invisible

Second Sunday of Easter/Divine Mercy Sunday

19 April 2020

First reading                                                                        Acts 2:42-47
[The community of believers] devoted themselves to the apostles” teaching and fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. Awe came upon everyone, because many wonders and signs were being done by the apostles. All who believed were together and had all things in common; they would sell their possessions and goods and distribute the proceeds to all, as any had need. Day by day, as they spent much time together in the temple, they broke bread at home and ate their food with glad and generous hearts, praising God and having the goodwill of all the people. And day by day the Lord added to their number those who were being saved.

Second reading                                                        1 Peter 1:3-9

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! By his great mercy he has given us a new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, who are being protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. In this you rejoice, even if now for a little while you have had to suffer various trials, so that the genuineness of your faith-being more precious than gold that, though perishable, is tested by fire-may be found to result in praise and glory and honour when Jesus Christ is revealed. Although you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and rejoice with an indescribable and glorious joy, for you are receiving the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls.

Gospel                                                                     John 20:19-31

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

But Thomas (who was called the Twin), one of the twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord.” But he said to them, “Unless I see the mark of the nails in his hands, and put my finger in the mark of the nails and my hand in his side, I will not believe.”

A week later his disciples were again in the house, and Thomas was with them. Although the doors were shut, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.” Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here and see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it in my side. Do not doubt but believe.” Thomas answered him, “My Lord and my God!” Jesus said to him, “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have come to believe.” Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book. But these are written so that you may come to believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that through believing you may have life in his name.

Reflection

By Grace B. Madriñan

“Have you come to believe because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and have believed.” – John 20:29

We are still in extended community quarantine as I am writing this reflection.  I have no qualms of staying at home.  It is basically business as usual for me since our company allowed working from home.  Not much has changed, until I got sick with amoebiasis and acid reflux.  The sharp pain and round the clock medications kept me up all night while I cried for God’s mercy and compassion.  As I am on my way to recovery, I reflected on what the illness is teaching me. 

It taught me to be more compassionate and grateful.  I am only suffering stomachache; how much more painful can it be for COVID patients?  I am being treated at the comforts of my home, while those patients are generally alone.  There is still a lot of things to be grateful for. 

In today’s Gospel, Jesus appeared to the apostles several times after His resurrection. But on the earlier appearances, Thomas was not there.  He refused to believe until he sees Jesus in the flesh. So, when Jesus finally met him, He made sure to show Thomas His hands and wounds on the side. That is only when Thomas believed. 

I think I am like Thomas in a way.  I knew what is happening outside, I knew the dangers, the suffering. But it only became more real when I suffered myself.  I remember the scare of having to go to Emergency Room for laboratory tests, the anxiety of waiting for the results. It took an invisible bacteria to make me believe I am at God’s mercy. 

On my path to recovery, I am more conscious of God’s providence from the moment I wake up until I rest in the evening.  As they say, tomorrow is never promised.  Every day is grace. 

Prayer

Father God, we believe. Help our unbelief. Be with us, Father as we continue to thrive in this fallen world. In Jesus' Name.  Amen. 

Where Faith Leads Us

Second Sunday of Easter/Divine Mercy Sunday

28 April 2019

First reading                                                                        Acts 5:12-16
Many signs and wonders were done among the people through the apostles. And they were all together in Solomon’s Portico. None of the rest dared to join them, but the people held them in high esteem. Yet more than ever believers were added to the Lord, great numbers of both men and women, so that they even carried out the sick into the streets, and laid them on cots and mats, in order that Peter’s shadow might fall on some of them as he came by. A great number of people would also gather from the towns around Jerusalem, bringing the sick and those tormented by unclean spirits, and they were all cured.

Second reading                                                        Revelation 1:9-13, 17-19

I, John, your brother who share with you in Jesus the persecution and the kingdom and the patient endurance, was on the island called Patmos because of the word of God and the testimony of Jesus. I was in the spirit on the Lord’s day, and I heard behind me a loud voice like a trumpet saying, “Write in a book what you see and send it to the seven churches, to Ephesus, to Smyrna, to Pergamum, to Thyatira, to Sardis, to Philadelphia, and to Laodicea.” Then I turned to see whose voice it was that spoke to me, and on turning I saw seven golden lampstands, and in the midst of the lampstands I saw one like the Son of Man, clothed with a long robe and with a golden sash across his chest.

When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead. But he placed his right hand on me, saying, “Do not be afraid; I am the first and the last and the living one. I was dead, and see, I am alive forever and ever; and I have the keys of Death and of Hades. Now write what you have seen, what is, and what is to take place after this.

Gospel                                                                     John 20:19-31

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

But Thomas (who was called the Twin), one of the twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord.” But he said to them, “Unless I see the mark of the nails in his hands, and put my finger in the mark of the nails and my hand in his side, I will not believe.”

A week later his disciples were again in the house, and Thomas was with them. Although the doors were shut, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.” Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here and see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it in my side. Do not doubt but believe.” Thomas answered him, “My Lord and my God!” Jesus said to him, “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have come to believe.” Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book. But these are written so that you may come to believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that through believing you may have life in his name.

Reflection

By Carlo Alexis R. Malaluan

“Are you a believer?” A woman asked me as I silently read my pocket Bible. By believer, she meant Christian. “I am.”, I said. 

The essence of being a Christian is believing in Jesus Christ and living the faith. Easter highlights faith. We all know who Thomas is. We often hear his encounter every Easter season. And whether you agree with me or not, most of the time, we are like the Doubting Thomas. 

Faith is a journey beset by difficulties and trials. We sometimes ask the question, “Hey God! Are you there? Are you real?”. This unbelief stems out from different difficulties. It could be caused by the persecution and indifference of others but most of the time, it stems out from our inner struggles. Thomas doubted. We may put our faith aside because we feel tired, disappointed or lazy. We even doubt, if everything is worth all the effort.

Thomas took the step from unbelief to faith. If we find it hard to believe, at least take a simple step to believe even up to the point that we bring our hands to the side and wounds of Jesus. 

The last words of the Gospel remind us that faith leads to life. “Through faith you have life”. Faith enables us to master our life and journey in this world and reach the unending happy after-life. 

Faith encourages us. Faith transforms us. Faith allows us to see the goodness and graces of God. 

Prayer

God of Merciful Compassion, even when our words hardly manage to express our longing for a communion with You, Your presence dwells within each one and so a joy may be offered to us. With our humble faith, we seek You with confidence for Your love burrows a way through our hesitations and even our doubts. Amen.

Maybe it's the Founder

Second Sunday of Easter 
(Divine Mercy Sunday)

08 April 2018

First reading                                                                       Acts 4:32-37
The whole group of those who believed were of one heart and soul, and no one claimed private ownership of any possessions, but everything they owned was held in common. With great power the apostles gave their testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great grace was upon them all. There was not a needy person among them, for as many as owned lands or houses sold them and brought the proceeds of what was sold. They laid it at the apostles’ feet, and it was distributed to each as any had need. There was a Levite, a native of Cyprus, Joseph, to whom the apostles gave the name Barnabas (which means “son of encouragement”). He sold a field that belonged to him, then brought the money, and laid it at the feet of the apostles.

Second reading                                                        1 John 5:1-6

Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has been born of God,
and everyone who loves the parent loves the child. By this we know
that we love the children of God, when we love God and obey his commandments.
For the love of God is this, that we obey his commandments. And his
commandments are not burdensome, for whatever is born of God conquers
the world. And this is the victory that conquers the world, our faith.

Who is it that conquers the world but the one who believes that Jesus
is the Son of God? This is the one who came by water and blood, Jesus
Christ, not with the water only but with the water and the blood.
And the Spirit is the one that testifies, for the Spirit is the truth.

There are three that testify: the Spirit and the water and the blood,
and these three agree. If we receive human testimony, the testimony
of God is greater; for this is the testimony of God that he has testified
to his Son.

Gospel                                                                     John 20:19-31

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

But Thomas (who was called the Twin), one of the twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord.” But he said to them, “Unless I see the mark of the nails in his hands, and put my finger in the mark of the nails and my hand in his side, I will not believe.”

A week later his disciples were again in the house, and Thomas was with them. Although the doors were shut, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.” Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here and see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it in my side. Do not doubt but believe.” Thomas answered him, “My Lord and my God!” Jesus said to him, “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have come to believe.” Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book. But these are written so that you may come to believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that through believing you may have life in his name.

Reflection

By Gary Tulabut

In September of 2014, a scandal hit a giant shopping mall because one of its tenants was not diligent enough to do a 100% inspection of their incoming merchandise to make sure nothing offensive is printed in any of the pieces of apparel they sell. I am talking about the “a snuggle with a struggle” print of a shirt which was a reference to rape. Of course this is unacceptable! And, as a disclaimer, nothing in the next words that you will read here is ever meant to justify that mistake.

I learned about that scandal, not from the news but, from social media (Where else?). It was not even a friend’s post but that of an acquaintance sharing a news article. She placed her own caption with the shared article.  I do not remember the exact words but I think the caption read, “And to think this mall plays the Angelus every 6 and 12 o’clock…”

My first thought after reading that was, “so if I pray the Angelus regularly, I cannot make mistakes.”

Sad to say, the world is very watchful of us Christians, especially of those of us in the limelight. People are very critical of us that every mistake we make is a blow against the image of the Church ourselves.

They do not understand that we hate the sin but we love the sinner. And that we will try our best to make the sinner repent and go back to God’s ways rather that condemn him/her forever.

Even we lay people are sometimes critical of our Church leaders and some religious people that some would leave the Church when they become disappointed in any of the members or leaders.

Friends, yes we strive to be perfect because our Father is perfect (Matthew 5:48.) But I believe God Himself gave us the room to make mistakes. Look at King David. As a young shepherd who was about to fight Goliath, he picked up five stones (1 Samuel 17:40.) Why five and not one? Isn’t God by his side that one stone is enough to defeat Goliath?

There were quite a bunch of our Bible heroes who were not perfect. Moses killed an Egyptian and buried him in the sand; Jonah was stubborn. Paul persecuted Christians; David had his general killed so he could get the soldier’s wife as his; Solomon was a womanizer. Matthew was a tax cheater. Peter was hard-headed and boastful; He also denied Jesus three times; and the list goes on.

Today, in the Gospel, we see Thomas committing a mistake of doubting the Lord’s resurrection. (Peter also had his faith tested when he was walking on the water, but I wonder why it was only Thomas who was nicknamed Doubting Thomas.) Anyway, Thomas was forgiven and was lectured by Jesus about his lack of faith. But he remained to be one of the pillars of the early Church.

Friends, the almost 2000-year history of the Church has been bombarded with mistakes, scandals even. Thomas' honest mistake was nothing compared to them. Other denominations should even thank the Catholic Church because they do not need to commit the same mistakes that the early Church had done.

But despite all these humiliations, the Church remains standing strong.

I don’t think it’s because of our flawed leaders both now and in the past.

I think it’s because of the Founder.

Prayer

Thank You Father for allowing us to commit mistakes. But more so, thank You for your forgiving love. May the faith of Your Church be on You and not on Your stewards. In Jesus' mighty Name. Amen.

What News?

First Reading: Acts 4:32-35

The community of believers was of one heart and mind, and no one claimed that any of his possessions was his own, but they had everything in common. With great power the apostles bore witness to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great favour was accorded them all. There was no needy person among them, for those who owned property or houses would sell them, bring the proceeds of the sale, and put them at the feet of the apostles, and they were distributed to each according to need.

Responsorial Psalm: Psalms 118:2-4, 13-15, 22-24

Second Reading: 1 John 5:1-6

Beloved:

Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ is begotten by God, and everyone who loves the Father loves also the one begotten by him. In this way we know that we love the children of God when we love God and obey his commandments. For the love of God is this, that we keep his commandments. And his commandments are not burdensome, for whoever is begotten by God conquers the world. And the victory that conquers the world is our faith. Who indeed is the victor over the world but the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God? This is the one who came through water and blood, Jesus Christ, not by water alone, but by water and blood. The Spirit is the one that testifies, and the Spirit is truth.

Gospel: John 20:19-31

On the evening of that first day of the week, when the doors were locked, where the disciples were, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in their midst and said to them, “Peace be with you.” When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side. The disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord. Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you.” And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. Whose sins you forgive are forgiven them, and whose sins you retain are retained.”

Thomas, called Didymus, one of the Twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. So the other disciples said to him, “We have seen the Lord.” But he said to them, “Unless I see the mark of the nails in his hands and put my finger into the nail marks and put my hand into his side, I will not believe.”

Now a week later his disciples were again inside and Thomas was with them.Jesus came, although the doors were locked,  and stood in their midst and said, “Peace be with you.” Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here and see my hands, and bring your hand and put it into my side, and do not be unbelieving, but believe.” Thomas answered and said to him, “My Lord and my God!” Jesus said to him, “Have you come to believe because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and have believed.”

Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of his disciples that are not written in this book. But these are written that you may come to believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that through this belief you may have life in his name.

Reflection
By Bernard Borja

Did you ever have times in your life when you received very good news and you want everybody to know about it immediately especially your loved ones?

I remember the time when I have successfully got my first job. After the final interview, the moment when the HR manager said the magic words “You’re hired!” my heart leapt and I was so excited to tell my friends and my family about it. I sent messages to my friends and they congratulated me shortly after. I went straight home to tell my parents about it. When I saw my mom, I smiled and she asked “How was it?” then I said one of the most sweetest sounding words to her ears she longed to hear that time, “I got the job!” I saw in her eyes the same excitement I had when I heard the magic words of the manager. She was even teary eyed as she said “Thanks be to God!” It was like she was praying for it for a long time and after six months of waiting and nagging me to find a job, it has finally paid off.

It was really a very happy and peaceful feeling when you see someone you told about good news, excited and heart leaping. It is like a complete celebration because it is shared especially with someone you love. But what if the reaction is somewhat different?

I have a friend back in high school who was an average when it comes to studies. He does not fail his subjects nor got high marks. Before graduating, we applied for the most famous universities for our college degrees. We were also together when we personally checked the list of qualified applicants in one of the most prestigious universities. My name was not there, but his name was. I was a little insecure but I was happy for him because he passed the qualifying exams. He was very excited to tell his parents as he called them through phone. He was smiling as he talks on the phone to his parents. His smile slowly fades moments before he hung up. I asked him what happened. Then he said, “Wag ko daw sila lolokohin. Alam naman nila na hindi ko kaya yun. Siguro daw nangopya o nagkodigo ako kung totoo man na pumasa ako.”

Ouch! I was very sad hearing that but how much more my friend?

I wonder what the disciples felt that time when they told the others, especially Thomas, about Jesus raised to life. More than that, how did Jesus feel about it? The disciples were so excited and were enthusiastically telling everyone that Jesus is alive. But here comes Thomas, with a lot of negativity in mind, telling them that it might be a mistake.

When we hear positive news from our friends, how do we react? Sometimes we connect their news to who they were or what their stories are. Just like in last week’s Gospel, are we focusing on the dead or defeated Christ? Should we focus on the resurrected and victorious Christ instead?

Jesus wants to give us happiness through the good news of His victory. This same good news is what He used when He finally revealed Himself to the disciples. And this brings us peace in our hearts similar to receiving good news that we are longing to hear.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, thank You for bringing Your message of peace unto us. May we be more open to receive Your good news and that we may enthusiastically share it with one another. May we bring the same peace to others who have doubts in their hearts, that they may open their eyes to see Jesus standing right before them. All this we pray in Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Proof of Love

Divine Mercy Sunday
11 April 2010


The Lord has truly risen, alleluia.


First reading Acts 5:12-16 3
The faithful all used to meet by common consent in the Portico of Solomon. No one else ever dared to join them, but the people were loud in their praise and the numbers of men and women who came to believe in the Lord increased steadily. So many signs and wonders were worked among the people at the hands of the apostles that the sick were even taken out into the streets and laid on beds and sleeping-mats in the hope that at least the shadow of Peter might fall across some of them as he went past. People even came crowding in from the towns round about Jerusalem, bringing with them their sick and those tormented by unclean spirits, and all of them were cured.

Psalm or canticle: Psalm 117:2-4,22-27

Second reading Apocalypse 1:9-13,17-19
My name is John, and through our union in Jesus I am your brother and share your sufferings, your kingdom, and all you endure. I was on the island of Patmos for having preached God’s word and witnessed for Jesus; it was the Lord’s day and the Spirit possessed me, and I heard a voice behind me, shouting like a trumpet, ‘Write down all that you see in a book.’ I turned round to see who had spoken to me, and when I turned I saw seven golden lamp-stands and, surrounded by them, a figure like a Son of man, dressed in a long robe tied at the waist with a golden girdle.
When I saw him, I fell in a dead faint at his feet, but he touched me with his right hand and said, ‘Do not be afraid; it is I, the First and the Last; I am the Living One, I was dead and now I am to live for ever and ever, and I hold the keys of death and of the underworld. Now write down all that you see of present happenings and things that are still to come.’

Gospel John 20:19-31
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
By Grace Madriñan

I used to feel bad whenever I have some doubts. I was hard on myself thinking how faithless I was, and how undeserving I am to receive blessings from Him. But later on, I was able to use these doubts to my advantage. These doubts become my triggering point, telling me that my spiritual guards are down and that I need more time to reflect and analyze where it was coming from and then resolve it. I pray more, read the Bible more religiously and flood my soul with inspirational music until all doubts are turned into faith.

In today’s Gospel, I am seeing two angles of the story. Perhaps, Jesus knew beforehand that Thomas was the doubting one among His apostles, and He wanted to test him. He may have revealed Himself to the apostles without Thomas intentionally to teach him an important lesson. Thomas needed more nudging before he could totally believe. Had Jesus did not do this, Thomas would still be wandering half-hearted with his faith. And when He showed Himself personally to Thomas, all doubts were erased and Thomas finally believed.

On another angle, perhaps Thomas believed in his heart that the apostles may be telling the truth, that they had seen the Lord and that He is risen. But there was a question that held him back. “Am I not one of His disciples?” he may have asked himself. “Why did He not show Himself to me as well?” Like the rest of the apostles, he may have wanted the same privilege to see Him personally. He may have doubted himself more than He had doubted the Lord. And when he saw the Lord finally with his own two eyes, and touched His wounds, his faith is complete. Much more than that, Thomas confirmed his place in Jesus’ heart, that He loves him despite his short of faith.

But may it be the first angle, the second or both, what is important to note is that Jesus remained faithful to all His disciples, including Thomas. Jesus did not hold it against Thomas if he was doubtful at first. He even showed Himself personally to Thomas to give him the proof he needs so that he may fully believe. Likewise, this Gospel was written in order for us to erase our doubts – to believe in Jesus fully. Like Thomas, we have a place in Jesus’ heart and He loves us despite our shortcomings. Besides, what proof can best define love than that of Jesus, who died on the cross to save use all.

Father, we are no different from Thomas, yet You love us fully and unconditionally. May You fill our hears with the Holy Spirit so that we may see You beyond what the eyes can see and feel You beyond what our hands can touch. Amen.

Next week on God-speak
Pureness of Heart