He said to them "Peace be with you"
After saying this he showed them his hands and his side
The disciples were filled with joy at seeing the Lord
John 20: 19b, 20

Jesus' disciples were in no doubt that he was dead; no one could survive the savage torture and the barbaric cruelty of a Roman crucifixion. So, when Mary of Magdala reports that she has seen Jesus "alive" again, you can appreciate that the others may have had some difficulty believing her. . . until, that is Jesus himself appears to them showing them his wounds; positive proof that the crucified Jesus and the man standing before them are one and the same person.

We also hear in today's gospel that Thomas was absent for this encounter with the Risen Jesus. He expresses doubts, doubts which earn him an unfortunate reputation in subsequent generations. But surely Thomas is putting words on a human need; how can we expect ourselves to have a relationship with the Risen Christ based on the experience of others? Do we not need to meet him, "to touch" him, for ourselves?

While on earth Jesus gave people a chance to meet the God who wanted a relationship with them. Jesus, God-Man, was close, was physically present with them. When Jesus breathed his Spirit upon the disciples, they came to know a God who was closer still; a God - Father, Son and Holy Spirit - who lived within them. The God of majesty and power becomes the God of absolute closeness; our humanity is never the same again.