For the next six Sundays, the second reading comes from the Book of Revelation in which the persecuted community found assurance of the reign of Christ in glory. Today's Reading is the revelation to John of the power of Jesus who holds the key to life for everyone: "I am the Living One...I hold the keys of death and of the underworld." (Rev. 1:18.)

This brings us to the Gospel passage which describes the appearance of Jesus to the disciples hiding for fear of persecution from the Jews. Twice Jesus blessed them with His peace and told them of His mission for them. They were to be His emissaries to the world at large, by being a community of forgiveness, capable of banishing sin and of holding back its destructive power.

Eight days later, Jesus appeared the second time and Thomas was there. Again He gave a blessing of peace. Thomas, who had been sceptical about Jesus' earlier appearance, was totally overcome when Jesus repeated his earlier doubting words and told him not to doubt any more. This prompted Thomas' famous and beautiful declaration of faith, "My Lord and My God." Thomas initially put a condition on his acceptance of the resurrected Jesus - he wanted to see before he would believe. How many of us are like him?