Daily Reading for April 19 • The Second Sunday of Easter

Let us rise in early morning.
Reconciliation’s plan devising,
Fellow-sharer of the Father’s Throne,
Thee, O Christ, we, very early rising,
Tender lover of our spirits, own!

When Thy Friends, with deep dismay confounded,
Stood amazed, and knew not where to fly,
All the darkness that their souls surrounded
Thou didst scatter with Thy drawing nigh

Touch how aweful, how consolatory!
When, O Thomas, thou didst stretch thine hand,
And that Side, resplendent in its glory,
Didst explore, because He gave command!

Unbelief of Thomas was the Mother
Of Thy Church’s most unshaken Creed:
Thou, O Saviour, wise above all other,
Had’st, before the world was, thus decreed.

From Ode 5 of the Canon for St. Thomas’ Sunday of John of Damascus. Found at http://www.ccel.org/ccel/neale/easternhymns.johndmsc.html