¹⁹When 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.”²⁰After he said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord.²¹Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you.” ²²When he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. ²³If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained.”

²⁴But Thomas (who was called the Twin), one of the twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. ²⁵So 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.”

²⁶A 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.” ²⁷Then 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.” ²⁸Thomas answered him, “My Lord and my God!” ²⁹Jesus said to him, “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have come to believe.”

³⁰Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book. ³¹But these are written so that you may come to believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that through believing you may have life in his name.

• Light a candle to remember Christ’s presence with you.
• Sit five to fifteen minutes in silent meditation paying close attention to the deep breath.
• Remember a time when you have seen the footprints of Christ that have led you on a particular path.
• What details do you remember from this experience?
• What was your prayer?
• How did Christ lead you in answer to your prayer?
• Remember a time when you saw the footprints of Christ only AFTER a Christ-led experience.
• What details do you remember from this experience?
• What was your prayer?
• How did Christ lead you in answer to your prayer?
• Hold these two experiences before you.  What similarities do you see?  What differences?
• What does God want to reveal to you about your faith?
• What is  your prayer today?
• How might you open yourself to be ready to encounter the risen Christ?
• Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have come to believe!
• Give thanks to God for this time in prayer and for any new insights you have received.
• Share as you feel led in the reply box below.