Second Sunday of Easter

‘Thomas, called the Twin, who was one of the twelve, was not with them when Jesus came.’ Thomas was the only disciple missing. When he returned and heard what had happened, he refused to believe what he heard. The Lord came again and offered his side to his sceptical disciple to touch. He showed his hands; and by showing the scars of his wounds he healed the wound of Thomas’ unbelief.

What conclusion, dear sisters and brother, do you draw from this? Do you think it was by chance that this chosen disciple was absent? Or that on his return he heard, that hearing he doubted, that doubting he touched, and touching he believed? This did not happen by chance, but by providence of God. Divine mercy brought it about most wonderfully, so that when that doubting disciple touched his Master’s wounded flesh he healed the wound of our unbelief as well as his own. Thomas’ sceptism was more advantageous to us than was the faith of the other disciples who believed. When he was led to faith by actually touching Jesus, our hearts were relieved of all doubt, for our faith is made whole.

From a Reading from a homily of Gregory the Great

Today we celebrate the second Sunday of Easter, formerly known as Low Sunday.

In today’s gospel we hear the story of St Thomas doubting that the Lord had risen until he had placed his own hands in the Lord’s side.

On Monday, the community will celebrate the Festival of St Joseph of Nazareth, transferred from 19th March. And on Tuesday, we will celebrate the lesser festival of St Laserian of Leighlin, Abbot.

We pray for all religious leaders on the island of Ireland, especially

• in the Church of Ireland,
  • The Rt Rev Adrian Wilkinson, Bishop of Cashel, Ferns & Ossory (whose dioceses include Leighlin
• and in the Roman Catholic Church,
  • The Most Rev Denis Nulty, Bishop of Kildare and Leighlin.

St Joseph of Nazareth

God our Father, 
who from the family of your servant David
raised up Joseph the carpetnter
to be the guardian of your incarnate Son
and husband of the Blessed Virgin Mary: 
Give us grace to follow his example
of faithful obedience to your commands
through Jesus Christ our Lord.

St Laserian, Abbot, Leighlin

Laserian, often called affectionately Mo-laise, was abbot of Old Leighlin. The cathedral, sheltering among the hills of Co. Carlow, is a place of peace and beauty. It is said that Laserian may have received his training in Iona. His name is certainly honoured in Scotland (Arran) as well as in other parts of Ireland (Inishmurray, off the coast of Co. Sligo).

God of peace and beauty,
who called Laserian to minister in Scottish islands
and in the rolling land of Carlow:
Bless the ministers of your church,
wherever they are called to serve,
making them ministers of reconciliation and of peace;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Collect of 2nd Sunday of Easter

Almighty Father,
you have given your only Son to die for our sins
and to rise again for our justification:
Grant us so to put away the leaven
of malice and wickedness
that we may always serve you in pureness of living and truth;
through the merits of your Son
Jesus Christ our Lord.