Now Thomas, one of the twelve, called the Twin, 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 in his hands the mark of the nails, and place my finger into the mark of the nails, and place my hand into his side, I will never believe.”
John 20:24-25
I like to imagine the week after the resurrection in the room with the 11 disciples and the locked door. 10 of them excitedly discussing the empty tomb and the risen Christ. The 11th, Thomas—Doubting Thomas—listening to it all and saying “No, I can’t believe it, it’s not enough.” Then Christ appears and there’s a moment when Thomas considers the stories he’s heard, he listens to the other apostles saying “See, we told you!” and he does see now, with his own eyes, the thing he wants with all his heart to be true.
But his doubt still wins and he says “No, it’s still not enough. I need to feel his hands.”
Maybe this is you. You’ve heard the stories, maybe even seen some things that look like miracles, but you need to feel his hands.
Because He is risen, may you feel his wounds where your wounds and doubts are greatest, and may you feel hands of Jesus working love and grace into your life.
May you go in peace.