Thomas Sunday

"Because you have seen Me, you have believed. Blessed are those who have not seen, yet believed!" has a very important message for all of us.

Jesus uses the doubt that Thomas had in order to teach us that we did not need to actually have been in the room with the Apostles to have faith. When we hear the merssage of Christ, we can be spiritually moved to follow Him, and trust in His promise that all men will be raised on the day of judgment, to either the eternal joy of being reunited with God or the torment of being without Him.

St. Peter heard and understood, as he writes to his people (I Peter 1:8): "You did not see Him, yet you loved Him; and still without seeing Him you are filled with a joy so glorious that it cannot be described, because you believe; and you are sure of the end to which your faith looks forward, that is, the salvation of your souls." This point relatesto us.

It is the custom in our parishes to go to the cemetery on this day to pray, light candles, and to sing "Christ is Risen!" to deceased family members. This is a very important and holy practice.
May God Bless you
Right Rev Olexander Kenez