We read today’s Gospel at a time when global peace feels far from reach. For us at CMMB, the Gospel’s words remind us that despite this feeling, peace will return—and with it hope and healing for our brothers and sisters living in crisis.  

At the beginning of our Gospel, we find the disciples taking shelter behind locked doors. It is here that the resurrected Jesus appears to them. He shows them his hands and his side, and the disciples rejoice with great belief.  

“Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you,” said Jesus.  

It is behind these locked doors that Jesus shares the gift of the Holy Spirit with his disciples.  

“Receive the Holy Spirit. Whose sins you forgive are forgiven them, and whose sins you retain are retained.”  

Thomas, one of the twelve disciples, was not present in the room when Jesus appeared. The disciples go to Thomas to share the good news. But Thomas does not believe.  

“Unless I see the mark of the nails in his hands and put my finger into the nailmarks and put my hand into his side, I will not believe,” said Thomas.  

A week later, Thomas joins the disciples in the room behind locked doors. Jesus appears once again. He shows Thomas his hands and his side, and says, “do not be unbelieving, but believe.”  

And Thomas does believe.  

As followers of Jesus, we have not seen but we still believe. Through faith we find comfort, we find direction for our actions, and we find belief. Today, we are choosing to believe that our global community will come together, that the wounds that keep us divided will heal, and that peace will finally prevail.