אָחוֹת
When it was evening on that day, the first day of the week, and the doors of the house where the disciples had met were locked for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said, ‘Peace be with you.’ After he said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord. Jesus said to them again, ‘Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you.’ When he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, ‘Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained.’
But Thomas (who was called the Twin), one of the twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. So the other disciples told him, ‘We have seen the Lord.’ But he said to them, ‘Unless I see the mark of the nails in his hands, and put my finger in the mark of the nails and my hand in his side, I will not believe.’
A week later his disciples were again in the house, and Thomas was with them. Although the doors were shut, Jesus came and stood among them and said, ‘Peace be with you.’ Then he said to Thomas, ‘Put your finger here and see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it in my side. Do not doubt but believe.’ Thomas answered him, ‘My Lord and my God!’ Jesus said to him, ‘Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have come to believe.’
(John 20:19-29)
A week had passed since that extraordinary evening when the travellers arrived from Emmaus. Afterward, she had run out looking for Thomas. Unsuccessful in her search, she had returned to find the door once again bolted firmly shut.
“Go home, woman!”
But where was home, now?
In daylight hours, she often lingered near the house, lost in her thoughts. Watching. Waiting. For what, exactly, she was unsure.
Suddenly, a sound drew her out of contemplation. Looking up, she saw …
She saw Thomas!
Unsteady on his feet? A little, perhaps. But not so you’d notice, unless you knew him well.
Obviously, he was making his way back. For the first time? She couldn’t be sure.
She stepped into his path.
“Thomas.”
He did not look surprised to see her.
“Thomas Didymus, what happened to you? I was worried.”
Silence. But in his eyes, she saw … what? Weariness? Or wariness?
She wanted to embrace him, but knew she should not.
“Thomas, you weren’t in the room with us last week.”
A faint smile crossed his face.
“I heard they couldn’t get rid of you.”
“So you’ve spoken to the others. They told you, obviously.”
The smile faded.
“Yes. They told me. I suppose you believe it, too.”
“I saw it. I saw him! We all did.”
He sighed. Weariness.
“Ahot,” he said (which means “sister”). “You should go home.”
“Thomas, please, I …”
But he brushed past her and went up to the house.
They let him in.
“What will happen now?” she wondered.