One of the earliest resurrection scenes in the Bible

is that of Thomas demanding evidence —

he wanted to see, to touch, to prove.

Those who question and probe and debate

are heirs of the apostles just as much

as the most fervent of believers.

~ Jon Meacham

Faith is a knowledge within the heart,

beyond the reach of proof.

~ Kahlil Gibron

April 19, 2020  Second Sunday of Easter Year A

Acts 2:14a, 22-32
Psalm 16
1 Peter 1:3-9
John 20:19-31

Acts 2:14a, 22-32

But Peter, standing with the eleven, raised his voice and addressed them:

"You that are Israelites, listen to what I have to say: Jesus of Nazareth, a man attested to you by God with deeds of power, wonders, and signs that God did through him among you, as you yourselves know--this man, handed over to you according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God, you crucified and killed by the hands of those outside the law. But God raised him up, having freed him from death, because it was impossible for him to be held in its power. For David says concerning him,
   'I saw the Lord always before me,
      for he is at my right hand so that I will not be shaken;
   therefore my heart was glad, and my tongue rejoiced;
      moreover, my flesh will live in hope.
   For you will not abandon my soul to Hades,
      or let your Holy One experience corruption.
   You have made known to me the ways of life;
      you will make me full of gladness with your presence.'

"Fellow Israelites, I may say to you confidently of our ancestor David that he both died and was buried, and his tomb is with us to this day. Since he was a prophet, he knew that God had sworn with an oath to him that he would put one of his descendants on his throne. Foreseeing this, David spoke of the resurrection of the Messiah, saying,
   'He was not abandoned to Hades,
      nor did his flesh experience corruption.'
   This Jesus God raised up, and of that all of us are witnesses."

Psalm 16

Protect me, 
   O God,
for in you I take refuge.

I say to God, 
   "You are my God;
I have no good apart from you."

As for the holy ones 
   in the land,
they are the noble,
   in whom is all my delight.

Those who choose another god
   multiply their sorrows;

their drink-offerings of blood
   I will not pour out
or take their names 
   upon my lips.

God is my chosen portion
   and my cup;
you hold my lot.

The boundary lines have fallen for me
   in pleasant places;
I have a goodly heritage.

I bless God
   who gives me counsel;
in the night also 
   my heart instructs me.

I keep God always 
   before me;
because God is at my right hand,
   I shall not be moved.

Therefore my heart is glad,
   and my soul rejoices;
my body also rests secure.

For you do not give me up
   to Sheol,
or let your faithful one
   see the Pit.

You show me the path 
   of life.

In your presence
   there is fullness of joy;
in your right hand are pleasures
   forevermore.

1 Peter 1:3-9

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! By his great mercy he has given us a new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, who are being protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. In this you rejoice, even if now for a little while you have had to suffer various trials, so that the genuineness of your faith--being more precious than gold that, though perishable, is tested by fire--may be found to result in praise and glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. Although you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and rejoice with an indescribable and glorious joy, for you are receiving the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls.

John 20:19-31

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 Jews, 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. 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."

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."

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."

Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book. But 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.