ALMIGHTY and everliving God, who, for the greater confirmation
of the faith, didst suffer thy holy Apostle Thomas to be doubtful
in thy Son's resurrection; Grant us so perfectly, and without
all doubt, to believe in thy Son Jesus Christ, that our faith
in thy sight may never be reproved. Hear us, O Lord, through
the same Jesus Christ, to whom, with thee and the Holy Ghost,
be all honour and glory, now and for evermore. Amen.
The Epistle. Hebrews x. 35, and part of Chap. xi.
CAST not away therefore your confidence, which hath great
recompence of reward. For ye have need of patience, that, after
ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise. For
yet a little while, and he that shall come will come, and will
not tarry. Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw
back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him. But we are not of
them who draw back unto perdition; but of them that believe to
the saving of the soul. Now faith is the substance of things
hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
The Gospel. St. John xx. 24.
THOMAS, one of the twelve, called Didymus, was not with them
when Jesus came. The other disciples therefore said unto him,
We have seen the Lord. But he said unto them, Except I shall
see in his hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into
the print of the nails, and thrust my hand into his side, I will
not believe. 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. Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou
hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have
not seen, and yet have believed. And many other signs truly did
Jesus in the presence of his disciples, which are not written
in this book: but these are written, that ye might believe that
Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might
have life through his name.