Second Sunday of Easter Year C Gospel

A reading from the Holy Gospel according to John.

On the evening of that first day of the week, even though the disciples had locked the doors of the place where they were for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood before them, saying, “Peace be with you.”  Having said this, Jesus showed them the wounded hands and side.  At the sight of Christ, the disciples rejoiced.  “Peace be with you,” Jesus said again, “As the Creator has sent me, so I send you.”  Then Jesus breathed on them and said:

“Receive the Holy Spirit.  If you forgive people’s sins, they are forgiven them.  If you hold them bound, they are held bound.”

It happened that one of the Twelve, Thomas (the name means ”Twin”), was absent when Jesus came.  The other disciples kept telling him: “We have seen Jesus!”  Thomas’ answer was, “I’ll never believe it without probing the nail-prints in his hands, without putting my finger in the nail-marks and my hand into his side.”

A week later, the disciples were once more in the room, and this time Thomas was with them.  Despite the locked doors, Jesus came and stood before them, saying, ”Peace be with you.”  Then, to Thomas, Jesus said, ”Take your finger and examine my hands.  Put your hand into my side.  Do not persist in your unbelief, but believe!”  Thomas said in response, “My Savior and my God!”  Jesus then said to him:

“You have become a believer because you saw me.

Blest are they who have not seen and have believed.”

Jesus performed many other signs as well- signs not recorded here – in the presence of the disciples.  But these have been recorded to help you believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Only Begotten of God, so that through this faith you may have life in Jesus’ name.

The Good News as spoken through John.