Thomas Sunday 2023

Title

Evidence that Convinces

Outline

God wants us convinced of the resurrection

He realizes that he cannot convince all, for the apostolic signs and wonders convinced many that Jesus was alive and working through them (since they duplicated Jesus’ signs) and yet it made the religious-political leaders “jealous,” since it put their position, their peace with the Romans, and their temple at risk.

Still, when the apostles were imprisoned for their witness, God sent them back into risk: “Go and stand in the temple and speak to the people all the words of this Life.”

And he had arranged that they be so convinced of the objectivity of the resurrection that they had faith to do so.

How did God convince the apostles of the truth?

First, Jesus came to them while they were laying low, not entirely convinced. On top of their surprise at his appearance, they might have feared at least a dressing down, but instead Jesus shows them the evidence of his crucifixion and speaks “Peace” - shalom. But peace with God always comes with a mission: “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I send you.”

Then he equips them for mission: “he breathed on them, and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained.” So they are eyewitnesses and have authority to forgive rebellion against God.

Second, Jesus arranges for the most hard-headed, look the truth in the face of them not to be there. Thomas the Twin has seen no evidence and he will not believe their word, although earlier he was ready to face death with Jesus when he could see evidence of danger.

Jesus appears a week later, again speaking peace, Peace be with you,” and offering Thomas the evidence he had demanded (which meant he had heard the demand). We do not know if Thomas did place his fingers in the wounds, but we do know he responded with the greatest confession in the gospels: “My Lord and my God!”

Finally, Jesus again speaks of mission: “You have believed because you have seen me. Blessed are those who have not seen and yet believe.”

Brothers and Sisters, the good news of the kingdom rule of Jesus was never intended to be private.

John writes that the various evidences they repeatedly had observed, “are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in his name.”

We may start with our experience of life “in his name” or with laying out the evidence, but we are intended by God to take the opportunities he gives us to share our faith by word and lifestyle with others in the world. And we are to share it as objective reality, not our subjective experience.

We thank Thomas for asking again for evidence, giving two times the same evidence is witnessed in John, so that we need not be doubters ourselves, but confident and authoritative witnesses to the rule of Jesus in the hope that they may experience the joy of “life in his name.”

Readings

Byzantine Lectionary (Revised Julian) 4-23-2023: Thomas Sunday or Second Sunday of Pascha or Antipascha

EPISTLE

Acts 5:12–20

12 Now many signs and wonders were done among the people by the hands of the apostles. And they were all together in Solomon’s Portico. 13 None of the rest dared join them, but the people held them in high honor. 14 And more than ever believers were added to the Lord, multitudes both of men and women, 15 so that they even carried out the sick into the streets, and laid them on beds and pallets, that as Peter came by at least his shadow might fall on some of them. 16 The people also gathered from the towns around Jerusalem, bringing the sick and those afflicted with unclean spirits, and they were all healed.

17 But the high priest rose up and all who were with him, that is, the party of the Sadducees, and filled with jealousy 18 they arrested the apostles and put them in the common prison. 19 But at night an angel of the Lord opened the prison doors and brought them out and said, 20 “Go and stand in the temple and speak to the people all the words of this Life.”

Byzantine Lectionary (Revised Julian) 4-23-2023: Thomas Sunday or Second Sunday of Pascha or Antipascha

GOSPEL

John 20:19–31

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

24  Now Thomas, one of the Twelve, called the Twin, was not with them when Jesus came. 25 So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord.” But he said to them, “Unless I see in his hands the print of the nails, and place my finger in the mark of the nails, and place my hand in his side, I will not believe.”

26 Eight days later, his disciples were again in the house, and Thomas was with them. The doors were shut, but Jesus came and stood among them, and said, “Peace be with you.” 27  Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here, and see my hands; and put out your hand, and place it in my side; do not be faithless, but believing.” 28 Thomas answered him, “My Lord and my God!” 29  Jesus said to him, “You have believed because you have seen me. Blessed are those who have not seen and yet believe.”

30 Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; 31  but these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in his name.

Notes

Byzantine Lectionary (Revised Julian) (4-16-2023: Thomas Sunday or Second Sunday of Pascha or Antipascha)

SUNDAY, APRIL 16, 2023 | PENTECOSTARION

Byzantine Lectionary (Revised Julian) 4-23-2023: Thomas Sunday or Second Sunday of Pascha or Antipascha

THOMAS SUNDAY OR SECOND SUNDAY OF PASCHA OR ANTIPASCHA

Bright Vestments

On the same date: Great Martyr George

Matins Gospel Matthew 28:16–20

Epistle Acts 5:12–20

Gospel John 20:19–31