Thomas Sunday

    April 12, 2026 Wikipedia +1  Wikipedia +1Common Names for the Day

Divine Mercy Sunday: A Roman Catholic feast established by Pope John Paul II in 2000.

Low Sunday: A traditional term, possibly reflecting the contrast to the high celebration of Easter Sunday.

Thomas Sunday: Named for the Gospel reading about "Doubting Thomas".

Quasimodo Sunday: Derived from the Latin entrance antiphon (Quasi modo geniti infantes). Discipleship Ministries +4

Year A Lectionary Readings Liturgy Office +1Reading Scripture PassageKey ThemeFirst ReadingActs 2:42-47The communal life and devotion of the first believers.PsalmPsalm 118:2-4, 13-15, 22-24Rejoicing in God's mercy and the "stone the builders rejected."Second Reading1 Peter 1:3-9Being born again into a living hope through the resurrection.GospelJohn 20:19-31Jesus appears to the disciples and later to Thomas.Further Exploration

Read about the history and significance of Divine Mercy Sunday and the promises associated with its observance.

Explore the Revised Common Lectionary for detailed commentary on the Year A readings for this day.

Discover why this Sunday is called Low Sunday and how different traditions approach the "slump" after Easter. Discipleship Ministries +4

19 That Sunday evening the disciples were meeting behind locked doors because they were afraid of the Jewish leaders. Suddenly, Jesus was standing there among them! “Peace be with you,” he said. 20 As he spoke, he showed them the wounds in his hands and his side. They were filled with joy when they saw the Lord! 21 Again he said, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I am sending you.” 22 Then he breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit. 23 If you forgive anyone’s sins, they are forgiven. If you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven.”

Jesus Appears to Thomas

24 One of the twelve disciples, Thomas (nicknamed the Twin), was not with the others when Jesus came. 25 They told him, “We have seen the Lord!”

But he replied, “I won’t believe it unless I see the nail wounds in his hands, put my fingers into them, and place my hand into the wound in his side.”

26 Eight days later the disciples were together again, and this time Thomas was with them. The doors were locked; but suddenly, as before, Jesus was standing among them. “Peace be with you,” he said. 27 Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here, and look at my hands. Put your hand into the wound in my side. Don’t be faithless any longer. Believe!”

28 “My Lord and my God!” Thomas exclaimed.

29 Then Jesus told him, “You believe because you have seen me. Blessed are those who believe without seeing me.”

Purpose of the Book

30 The disciples saw Jesus do many other miraculous signs in addition to the ones recorded in this book. 31 But these are written so that you may continue to believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing in him you will have life by the power of his name.

Tyndale House Publishers. (2015). Holy Bible: New Living Translation (Jn 20:19–31). Tyndale House Publishers.

his passage from John 20:19–31 is a pivotal moment in the New Testament, transitioning the disciples from a state of paralyzing fear to a commission of global purpose. It highlights the physical reality of the resurrection and the foundational role of faith.

The Anatomy of the Transformation

The narrative moves through three distinct phases: fear, commission, and the movement from sight to faith.

1. From Fear to Peace (Verses 19–20)

The disciples are hiding behind "locked doors," a physical manifestation of their internal state. They are grieving and afraid of the authorities.

The Greeting: Jesus’ first words, "Peace be with you," are more than a hello; it is the Hebrew Shalom, a restorative blessing.

The Evidence: By showing his hands and side, Jesus proves he is not a ghost or a hallucination. He is the same person who was crucified, now physically resurrected.

2. The Great Commission (Verses 21–23)

Jesus doesn't just comfort them; he gives them a job.

The Model: "As the Father has sent me, so I am sending you." Their mission is to be a direct continuation of his work on earth.

The Power: He "breathed on them," a gesture reminiscent of God breathing life into Adam in Genesis. This is a "mini-Pentecost," equipping them with the Holy Spirit for the task ahead.

The Authority: Verse 23 establishes the Church's role in the ministry of reconciliation—announcing the forgiveness of sins through the Gospel.

3. Thomas: The Journey to Belief (Verses 24–29)

Thomas is often unfairly maligned as "Doubting Thomas," but his struggle is deeply human. He represents everyone who wasn't in that locked room.

The Demand: Thomas wants the same empirical evidence the others received.

The Encounter: Eight days later, Jesus offers Thomas exactly what he asked for. He meets Thomas in his skepticism without modern-day judgment.

The Confession: Thomas’s response—"My Lord and my God!"—is the highest Christological claim in the Gospel of John. He moves from demanding proof to total surrender.

The Beatitude: Jesus offers a blessing for all future generations: "Blessed are those who believe without seeing me." This is an invitation to the reader.

The "Thesis Statement" of John (Verses 30–31)

These final verses act as the conclusion to the original book. John explicitly states his editorial purpose:

"These are written so that you may continue to believe that Jesus is the Messiah... and that by believing in him you will have life."

John admits he hasn't recorded every miracle, but he has curated specific "signs" (like the resurrection) to lead the reader to a specific conclusion: Life is found in the identity of Jesus.

Summary Table: Key Symbols

SymbolMeaningLocked DoorsHuman fear and limitations which Jesus transcends.The WoundsThe bridge between the suffering of the cross and the glory of the resurrection.The BreathNew creation; the impartation of spiritual life and power.ThomasThe bridge between the eye-witnesses and the future Church.

New Living Translation Psalm 118

22 The stone that the builders rejected

has now become the cornerstone.

This passage from Psalm 118 is one of the most significant and frequently cited texts in the Bible, acting as a bridge between the Old and New Testaments. It captures a powerful theme of divine reversal—where something deemed worthless by human standards is chosen by God for the highest honor.

Key Themes & Context

The Rejection: In the original context, the "stone" often represented Israel or its king, overlooked by the great world powers of the time (the "builders").

The Cornerstone: In ancient architecture, the cornerstone (or capstone) was the most essential part of the structure. It ensured the walls were straight and provided the ultimate stability for the building.

Divine Intervention: Verse 23 emphasizes that this shift isn't a result of human reassessment or political maneuvering; it is a miraculous act of God ("the Lord's doing").

New Testament Significance

This specific imagery is used repeatedly in the New Testament to describe the life and ministry of Jesus Christ. It serves as a prophecy of his rejection by the religious authorities and his subsequent exaltation.

ReferenceContextMatthew 21:42Jesus quotes this directly to the religious leaders after the Parable of the Evil Farmers.Acts 4:11Peter uses it to explain to the council that though they crucified Jesus, God made him the foundation of salvation.1 Peter 2:4–7Peter describes believers as "living stones" built upon Christ, the "precious cornerstone."

1 Peter 1:3-9