Present the reading

This presentation invites listeners to participate imaginatively. The reader invites the congregation to close their eyes and imagine they are in a small locked room with a group of people. They are all scared and they have pushed a heavy chest against the door as an extra precaution. The reader then starts to read, incorporating further instructions.

When it was evening on that day, the first day of the week, and the doors of the house where the disciples had met were locked for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them. (Open your eyes and look with wonder at your surroundings.)

He said, ‘Peace be with you.’ After he said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord. (Turn to your neighbour and tell them how you are feeling.)

Jesus said to them again, ‘Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you.’ 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 them; if you retain the
sins of any, they are retained.’ (Close your eyes and think about this.) This is the first part of the story. But Thomas (who was called the Twin), one of the twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. (Put your head in hands.) The other disciples told him, ‘We have seen the Lord.’ (Put your hands on your hips and shake your head.)

But Thomas said to them, ‘Unless I see the mark of the nails in his hands, and put my finger in the mark of the nails and my hand in his side, I will not believe.’

A week later his disciples were again in the house, and Thomas was with them. (Close your eyes, recalling the first scene.) Although the doors were shut, Jesus came and stood among them and said, ‘Peace be with you.’ (Open your eyes, look at your surroundings, then tell your neighbour how you are feeling.)

Jesus said to Thomas, ‘Put your finger here and see my hands. (Look closely at your hands and run your fingers over the palms imagine the nail holes.) Reach out your hand and put it in my side. Do not doubt but believe.’ Thomas answered him, ‘My Lord and my God!’ (Close your eyes and think about this for a few moments.)

Jesus said to him, ‘Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have come to believe.’