A reading from the Gospel of John, chapter 20, verses 19 through 29, in the New Revised Standard Version:
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 authorities, 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.
God of peace, while the fear of the disciples cowering behind their locked doors can be felt in a much more literal way for so many of us this year, we are reminded that we often hide behind locked doors of many kinds out of fear, distrust, and anxiety. Be with those of Asian descent who face persecution and hate crimes in the United States and elsewhere because of the inaccurate association of the coronavirus with China. Protect those for whom locked doors cannot provide safety because their greatest threats come from among their own family members. Fill all of your children with a deep understanding of your peace, your shalom, which represents more than just the absence of struggle, but points to the wholeness and restoration that you desire for all creation. Lord, in your mercy,
Hear our prayer.
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.”
God of relationship, you send us out to fulfill your mission in the world, bringing comfort to the afflicted and hope to the hopeless. Raise up among us creative and faithful people who can address the physical, emotional, and spiritual needs of all people during this time of global confusion and uncertainty. Help us to resist the temptation to withdraw our connections and support of one another. Remind us that sin is being turned inward, and put our focus on our neighbors and the well-being of our communities. Lord, in your mercy,
Hear our prayer.
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.”
God of creation, so often we sneer at Thomas for his lack of faith and demand for empirical evidence. Remind us of the many times we have failed to act despite the evidence before our eyes. Even in the midst of international crisis, keep us mindful of other crises like the climate change impact on Greenland, where 600 billion tonnes of ice sheet were lost last year due to change in jet stream and weather patterns. Help us to see in Thomas not just a cynic to be pitied, but an example of how important it is for us to maintain a proper balance of science and faith as we move forward in our responses to the needs of your children and your world. Lord, in your mercy,
Hear our prayer.
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.”
God of hope, your love for us surpasses anything we could ask, imagine, or even perceive. Open our eyes to the evidence of your presence in this world that we encounter every day, even in the midst of pain, suffering, and loss. We rejoice at signs of love and hope as people like Francis and Veronica Gitonga of Nyahururu, Kenya, marry despite the restrictions and limitations placed on their ceremonies and celebrations. We pause together as nations and families to show gratitude for those who risk their lives to serve others, like in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, where images of medics and signs of hope were projected onto the famous Christ the Redeemer statue. Make us your hands and feet in the world, O God, so that, upon seeing our faithfulness, others might recognize your presence and bring glory to your name. Lord, in your mercy,
Hear our prayer. Amen.
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