2nd Sunday of Easter. Resurrection stories. April 12, 2026

Cheering, clapping, and looking shocked. Mision control photos from last week’s successful completion of the Artemis II moon flyby show those joyous reactions as NASA scientists and engineers experienced the same wonderful event in different ways. That’s also how it was for the disciples after the resurrection.John’s Gospel (John 20:19‑31) describes how the disciples handled the news of Jesus rising from the dead. Each disciple responded to the same wonderful thing in a different way. There was elation and there was uncertainty. One disciple—who became known as Doubting Thomas—said he would not believe unless he could see the wounds in Jesus’s hands and side.In reality, Thomas wasn’t doubtful. He was afraid the Risen Christ was too good to be true, so he guarded his heart. Thomas couldn’t accept Jesus was alive until he had physical proof. Thomas needed to see for himself.Jesus didn’t chastise Thomas for not believing. Jesus provided the comfort Thomas needed to accept the miracle of the resurrection instead, telling him to touch the wounds from the crucifixion. With that comfort, Thomas’s shock moved to acceptance, and he became the first one to call Jesus God.We’re no different than Thomas. We can experience God and feel it’s too good to be true. Accepting the resurrection can be a struggle, and we too, need comfort from Jesus to help us believe our own eyes and our senses.