4 April 2027 · Syro-Malankara Rite
Open in the Daily Word appAlso: Syro-Malabar Rite · Latin Rite · മലയാളം
“Thomas answered him, “My Lord and my God!”” John 20:28
On the evening of Easter the disciples are behind locked doors, afraid. Jesus comes and stands among them: “Peace be with you.” He shows them his hands and side, and they rejoice. Then he sends them: “As the Father has sent me, so I send you,” breathes on them and says, “Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them.” From the first Easter evening the risen Lord gives his Church peace, mission, the Spirit and the power to forgive sins.
Thomas was not there. When the others say, “We have seen the Lord,” he answers: “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 Jesus comes again and says: “Put your finger here and see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it in my side. Do not doubt but believe.” And Thomas makes the greatest confession of faith in the Gospels: “My Lord and my God!”
For us in India this Gospel is our own story. Thomas, who doubted and then believed, brought that faith to our land. The Church of Malankara, like all the St Thomas Christians, received from him the confession “My Lord and my God.” His doubt became our certainty; his wounded hand-touch became our faith.
Jesus adds a word for all later generations: “Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have come to believe.” That is us. St Peter says: “Although you have not seen him, you love him… and rejoice with an indescribable and glorious joy.” New Sunday asks: do we live with the joy of believers, or with the fear of locked doors?
Theme: “Peace be with you: sent, forgiven, believing.”
On New Sunday the Risen Lord comes through locked doors. He gives peace, breathes the Spirit, entrusts the power to forgive sins, and leads Thomas from doubt to faith.
“Get you up to a high mountain, O Zion, herald of good tidings; lift up your voice with strength, O Jerusalem, herald of good tidings, lift it up, do not fear.” Isaiah 40:9
“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.”” John 20:19
Apply: Bring your fears to the Risen Lord in prayer; let him say to you: “Peace be with you.”
“Elisha said, “Please let me inherit a double share of your spirit.”” 2 Kings 2:9
“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.”” John 20:21–23
Apply: Make an Easter confession if you have not yet done so.
“He will feed his flock like a shepherd; he will gather the lambs in his arms, and carry them in his bosom, and gently lead the mother sheep.” Isaiah 40:11
“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!”” John 20:27–28
Apply: At the elevation in the Qurbono, say silently: “My Lord and my God.”
Peace, Spirit, mercy and faith: these are the gifts of the Risen Lord on New Sunday.
Let us receive them and become messengers of his peace.
Take-home resolution: Forgive one person this week, as Christ forgives you.
Dear brothers and sisters, on the evening of Easter the disciples were behind locked doors, full of fear. Jesus came and stood among them: “Peace be with you.” He showed them his wounds. Then he sent them: “As the Father has sent me, so I send you.” He breathed on them: “Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven.”
Thomas was not there, and he would not believe: “Unless I see the marks of the nails and put my hand in his side, I will not believe.” A week later Jesus came again and invited him: “Put your finger here; reach out your hand. Do not doubt, but believe.” And Thomas cried out: “My Lord and my God!”
Dear friends, this is our own family story. Thomas, who doubted and then believed, brought this faith to India. We are called St Thomas Christians. His doubt, healed by the wounds of Christ, became our faith. In many of our churches people whisper his words when the priest lifts up the holy Mysteries: My Lord and my God.
Jesus then said: “Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have come to believe.” That is you and me. We have not seen him, but we love him. Let us not live behind locked doors of fear. Let us bring our doubts to his wounds, receive his peace, and go out as witnesses. My Lord and my God! Amen.
Children, after Jesus rose, Thomas said: “I won't believe unless I see him myself!”
A week later Jesus came and said: “Thomas, look at my hands.” Thomas fell down and said: “My Lord and my God!”
Thomas later came to India to tell people about Jesus. That's why we are St Thomas Christians! Let's say together: “My Lord and my God!”
Lord Jesus, risen and wounded, you came through locked doors and gave your disciples peace. Breathe your Spirit on us, heal our doubts, and make us confess with St Thomas, our father in faith: My Lord and my God! Amen.