On the second Sunday of Pascha known as Thomas Sunday (the first Sunday after Pascha), Fr. Matthew Howell talks about how Americans love bargains and how we love “bargaining” (negotiating). He points out that St. Thomas “bargains” for evidence of the resurrection (“unless I see…and feel…”) but when he receives it he makes a full-hearted confession, “My Lord and my God.” Then, having received the bargain of a lifetime, St. Thomas gives his own life for Christ via martyrdom. In a similar fashion, we should faithfully act on the “bargain” we receive from God who merely asks us for our temporal time, talents, and riches in exchange for eternal life and communion with the uncreated God. Along the way, he shares a Costco return story and references former radio personality Paul Harvey.
Previous Homilies from the 2nd Sunday of Pascha
- My Lord and My God — April 27, 2025
- Cognitive Dissonance and Deep Faith – Thomas Sunday – May 12, 2024
- Saint George the Trophy-Bearer – April 23, 2023
- Beautiful Unbelief of Thomas – May 1, 2022
- Living in the Eighth Day – May 9, 2021
Acts of the Apostles 5:12-20
In those days, many signs and wonders were done among the people by the hands of the apostles. And they were all together in Solomon’s Portico. None of the rest dared join them, but the people held them in high honor. And more than ever believers were added to the Lord, multitudes both of men and women, so that they even carried out the sick into the streets, and laid them on beds and pallets, that as Peter came by at least his shadow might fall on some of them. The people also gathered from the towns around Jerusalem, bringing the sick and those afflicted with unclean spirits, and they were all healed. But the high priest rose up and all who were with him, that is, the party of the Sadducees, and filled with jealousy they arrested the apostles and put them in the common prison. But at night an angel of the Lord opened the prison doors and brought them out and said, “Go and stand in the temple and speak to the people all the words of this Life.”
John 20:19-31
On the evening of that day, the first day of the week, the doors being shut where the disciples were for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said to them, “Peace be with you.” When He had said this, He showed them His hands and His side. Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord. Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent Me, even so I send you.” And when He had said this, He breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained.” Now Thomas, one of the twelve, called the Twin, was not with them when Jesus came. So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord.” But he said to them, “Unless I see in His hands the print of the nails, and place my finger in the mark of the nails, and place my hand in His side, I will not believe.” Eight days later, His disciples were again in the house, and Thomas was with them. The doors were shut, but Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.” Then He said to Thomas, “Put your finger here, and see My hands; and put out your hand, and place it in My side; do not be faithless, but believing.” Thomas answered Him, “My Lord and My God!” Jesus said to him, “Have you believed because you have seen Me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet believe.” Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; but these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing, you may have life in His name.