Almighty and ever-living God, who for the more confirmation of
the faith didst suffer thy holy Apostle Thomas to be doubtful in
thy Son's resurrection: Grant us so perfectly, and without all
doubt, to believe in thy Son Jesus Christ, that our faith in thy
sight may never be reproved. Hear us, O Lord, through the same
Jesus Christ, to whom, with thee and the Holy Ghost, be all
honour and glory, now and for evermore. _Amen_.
THE EPISTLE. Ephes. ii. 19.
Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but
fellow-citizens with the saints, and of the household of God;
and are built upon the foundation of the Apostles and Prophets,
Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner-stone; in whom all
the building, fitly framed together, groweth unto an holy temple
in the Lord; in whom ye also are builded together for an habitation
of God through the Spirit,
THE GOSPEL. St John xx. 24. Thomas, one of the twelve, called
Didymus, was not with them when Jesus came. The other disciples
therefore said unto him, We have seen the Lord. But he said
unto them, Except I shall see in his hands the print of the
nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and thrust
my hand into his side, I will not believe. And after eight days
again his disciples were within, and Thomas with them: then came
Jesus, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said,
Peace be unto you. Then saith he to Thomas, Reach hither thy
finger, and behold my hands; and reach hither thy hand, and
thrust it into my side; and be not faithless, but believing.
And Thomas answered and said unto him, My Lord, and my God.
Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou
hast believed; blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have
believed. And many other signs truly did Jesus in the presence
of his disciples, which are not written in this book. But these
are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the
Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name.
THE CONVERSION OF SAINT PAUL _January_ 25.