A time of Lexio Divina for the discerning heart.

The second Sunday of Easter, Divine Mercy Sunday.

As you begin, take a deep breath and exhale slowly.

For the next few moments, surrender all the cares and concerns of the stay to the Lord.

Say slowly from your heart, Jesus, I trust in you.

You take over. Become aware that he is with you, looking upon you with love, wanting to be heard deep within your heart.

A reading from the Holy Gospel according to John, chapter 20 verses 19 through 31.

In the evening of that same day, the first day of the week, the doors were closed in the room where the disciples were for fear of the Jews. Jesus came and stood among them. He said

to them, Peace be with you, and showed them his hands and his side.

The disciples were filled with joy when they saw the Lord,

and he said to them again, peace be with you.

As the Father sent me, so am I sending you.

After saying this, he breathed on them and said,

Receive the Holy Spirit.

For those who sins you forgive, they are forgiven.

For those who sins you retain, they are retained.

Thomas, called the twin, who was one of the twelve, was not with them when Jesus came.

When the disciples said, we have seen the Lord, he answered,

unless I see the holes that the nails made in his hands and can put my finger into the holes they made,

and unless I can put my hand into his side, I refuse to believe. Eight days later, the disciples were in the house again, and Thomas was with them.

The doors were closed, but Jesus came in and stood among them.

Peace be with you, he said.

...