Thomas – called the twin – did not believe the words of the other disciples when they reported that they had seen the risen Lord.

Blessed are those who do not see yet and already believe the good news of God’s grace.

Even a minor wrongdoing cannot enter the kingdom of God.

No human individual is perfect.

So the question is: Do you receive God’s grace and forgiveness? Or not?

No matter how much wrong we have done or failed to do, God’s grace is bigger than our wrongdoing and his mercy is available to everyone who humbly turns to him.

Who belongs to the Lord?

It sounds as a minor or even irrelevant side note.

Yet it is so important:

The one who belongs to God, listens to God’s word.

Have you also experienced situations in which a group of people thinks they are better than others? There are different talents that the Lord has given, but no one shall look down on others, neither as individuals nor as societies nor as religious groups.

There is one hope, one Lord, one faith, one baptism.

We all share the same bible, whether it is an older or newer translation.

We have the same Lord, the same firm hope and confidence based on the foundation of God’s grace.

Good stewards of the good news: how can we recognize whether someone preaches and acts to the will of God? That person will take the great shepherd Jesus as an example and will not only pick out certain aspects of religion, rather will cover the entire gospel as we can find it in the bible. Such a good steward will proclaim apart from reminders to the commands of God also the good news of the Lord’s grace.

It often seems as if the selfish and evil-doers in the world are better off, while the believers seem to be at disadvantage. The conditions in the world look not fair, and it looks as if God delays his intervention.

God might act later than we expect, but he acts powerfully.

In his mercy, he gives to everyone time and lots of opportunities to turn back to him.

Mercy triumphs over judgement.

Are you at peace?

Have you experienced situations of life in which it feels as if God is far away?

It may even seem as if God is angry.

But God is not angry about our wrongdoing, rather he is full of love.

As long as we trust, there is hope.

Only those, who recognize that they are sick, go to see the doctor.