Peace be unto you

And after eight days again his disciples were within, and Thomas with them: then came Jesus, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, Peace be unto you.

Then saith he to Thomas, Reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into my side: and be not faithless, but believing.

And Thomas answered and said unto him, My Lord and my God.

[John 20:26-28]

Dear friend: see that Jesus is stronger than death and does not abandon His disciples. See that He accommodates His friend's difficulties and offers him help and offers him peace.  After that, He did not prevent sorrow from entering into His friend's life, but strengthened him to endure, and St. Thomas in his difficulties glorified the Lord, and the Lord glorified St. Thomas, who now knows a peace and joy more lasting than all this life's sorrows.

I heard this Gospel in the Romanian Catholic Church in which I worshipped this morning.  If I go to the TLM this evening, I will hear it again.  If God blessed you with the opportunity to attend the New Mass this morning, you heard it there, too.  I hope you read it in your Magnificat.  Take this unity of message as a sign that God's Church endures and continues her mission, even in this splintered and confused world.  She will be made whole again and you will be made whole again, and in Christ all manner of good things will be restored.

Persevere, beloved.

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Jesus, help us to trust in you always, and to persevere in Thy service to the end of our days.