Daily Reading for May 1 • The Second Sunday of Easter
Who protected the hand of the disciple which was not melted
At the time when he approached the fiery side of the Lord?
Who gave it daring and strength to probe
The flaming bone? Certainly the side was examined.
If the side had not furnished abundant power,
How could a right hand of clay have touched
Sufferings which had shaken Heaven and earth?
It was grace itself which was given to Thomas
To touch and to cry out,
“Thou art our Lord and God.”
Truly the bramble which endured fire was burned but not consumed.
From the hand of Thomas I have faith in the story of Moses.
For, though his hand was perishable and thorny, it was not burned
When it touched the side which was like burning flame.
Formerly fire came to the bramble bush,
But now, the thorny one hastened to the fire;
And God, Himself, was seen to guard both.
Hence I have faith; and hence I shall praise
God, Himself, and man, as I cry,
“Thou art our Lord and God.”
For truly the boundary line of faith was subscribed for me
By the hand of Thomas; for when he touched Christ
He became like the pen of a fast-writing scribe
Which writes for the faithful. From it gushes forth faith.
From it, the robber drank and became sober again;
From it the disciples watered their hearts;
From it, Thomas drained the knowledge which he sought,
For he drank first and then offered drink
To many who had a little doubt. He persuaded them to say,
“Thou art our Lord and God.”
From Kontakion on Doubting Thomas by Romanus Melodus, quoted in Ancient Christian Commentary on Scripture: New Testament IVb, John 11-21, edited by Joel C. Elowsky (Downers Grove, Ill.: InterVarsity Press, 2007).