“The tomb being sealed (Ἐσφραγισμένου τοῦ μνήματος / Запечатану гробу), as Life, You shone forth, O Christ God; / And the doors being shut (καὶ τῶν θυρῶν κεκλεισμένων / и дверем заключенным), You came before the disciples, O Resurrection of all, / Renewing in us, through them, an upright spirit, // By the greatness of Your mercy!” (Troparion-hymn of Thomas Sunday)
One week after His resurrection, when Thomas was with the rest of the disciples, “Jesus came, the doors being shut (τῶν θυρῶν κεκλεισμένων), and stood in their midst, and said, ‘Peace to you!’” (Jn 20: 26) – Just as He did one week earlier (Jn 20: 19), despite their preceding lack of faith and fears, which had “shut the doors” not only of their house, but of their hearts and minds.
That’s how our Lord works: He “comes” to those of us who have love for Him, but lack faith in Him, “renewing” in us “an upright spirit.” So let us gather together today, even if our faith is weakened by our various fears, and let Him “renew” in us His Holy Spirit, as only He can. Lord, glory be to You!
Meditation by Sr. Vassa, 2019
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For if you change from inhumanity to alms giving, you have stretched forth the hand that was withered. If you withdraw from theaters and go to the church, you have cured the lame foot. If you draw back your eyes from a harlot, and a beauty not your own, you have opened them when they were blind. If instead of satanical songs, you have learned spiritual psalms, being dumb, you have spoken. These are the greatest miracles, these the wonderful signs…
We pray that deacons, faithful in their service to the Word and the poor, may be an invigorating symbol for the entire Church.
Today, Sunday 26 April 2020, history marks 34 years since the world’s worst nuclear disaster – Chornobyl.