It is good to enter into the time of meditative prayer with a spirit of quiet and relaxation. Let the mystery of God be near you, and let yourself be open to God’s gift of the Spirit.
John 20:24-29 Jesus Appears to Thomas
Guide
Presence: Take 2 cleansing breaths. I ask for the grace to gain an intimate knowledge of Jesus that I might be with him, become like him, and live for him.
Preparatory Prayer “Dear Jesus, I have come to spend time with you; help me to desire more of you and enable me to grow in love for you, through the reading of your Word.”
Read John 20:24-29 twice, once silently and once audibly.
One of the twelve disciples, Thomas (nicknamed the Twin), was not with the others when Jesus came. They told him, “We have seen the Lord!”
But he replied, “I won’t believe it unless I see the nail wounds in his hands, put my fingers into them, and place my hand into the wound in his side.”
Eight days later the disciples were together again, and this time Thomas was with them. The doors were locked; but suddenly, as before, Jesus was standing among them.
“Peace be with you,” he said. Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here, and look at my hands. Put your hand into the wound in my side. Don’t be faithless any longer. Believe!”
“My Lord and my God!” Thomas exclaimed.
Then Jesus told him, “You believe because you have seen me. Blessed are those who believe without seeing me.”
We see the disciples gathered around Christ, as if to join Thomas in his quest for truth. The risen Christ’s body is bathed in light. By contrast, Thomas is robed in red—torn at the shoulder, his seemingly dirty finger parting the skin of Christ’s wound. Notice the faces of the disciples—and the face of Christ.
Visio Divina: While Lectio Divina is a way of praying with Scripture, Visio Divina is a way of praying with images—this day, with sacred art.
Process: Gaze prayerfully, for a moment or two, upon Caravaggio’s “Doubting Thomas,” noticing your inner responses to the image, keeping an open mind. Pause. Return to the painting for a moment or two, again noticing what thoughts, meanings and feelings that arise; prayerfully record these:
“Lord, what do these mean for me?” Pause. Return a last time, noticing what stays with you, asking God,
“What is your invitation to me today Lord? What do You want me to know or understand about Jesus—or about me?”
Wait in silence for God’s response.
Record your experience of God and prayer.
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