Daily Devotion for 21 December 2023 (3rd Thursday in Advent)

Readings

  • Psalm 102
  • Isaiah 42:1–25
  • Revelation 9:1–12
  • Large Catechism, I, 179–188

Commemoration

Today we celebrate the festival of St. Thomas, Apostle. Remembered, perhaps unfairly, as ‘doubting Thomas’, it was Thomas who said: “Unless I see in His hands the mark of the nails, and place my finger into the mark of the nails, and place my hand into His side, I will never believe.” When Jesus appeared again to the disciples with Thomas present, Thomas, displaying his faith, declared: “My Lord and my God!” According to tradition, Thomas traveled eastward after Pentecost and eventually reached India (where a group who call themselves the “Christians of St. Thomas” still exists). Thomas was martyred for the faith by being speared to death.

Copyright Notices
Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are from the Holy Bible, English Standard Version®, copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Unless otherwise indicated, all quotations from the Lutheran Confessions are from Concordia: The Lutheran Confessions, copyright © 2005, 2006 by Concordia Publishing House. Used by permission. All rights reserved. To purchase a copy of Concordia, call 800-325-3040.

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