Daily Readings - Tue Jul 03 2018

¹⁹Now, therefore, you are no longer visitors and new arrivals. Instead, you are citizens among the saints in the household of God²⁰having been built upon the foundation of the Apostles and of the Prophets, with Jesus Christ himself as the preeminent cornerstone²¹In him, all that has been built is framed together, rising up into a holy temple in the Lord²²In him, you also have been built together into a habitation of God in the Spirit

John

Chapter 20

²⁴Now Thomas, one of the twelve, who is called the Twin, was not with them when Jesus arrived²⁵Therefore, the other disciples said to him, "We have seen the Lord." But he said to them, "Unless I will see in his hands the mark of the nails and place my finger into the place of the nails, and place my hand into his side, I will not believe.²⁶And after eight days, again his disciples were within, and Thomas was with them. Jesus arrived, though the doors had been closed, and he stood in their midst and said, "Peace to you.²⁷Next, he said to Thomas: "Look at my hands, and place your finger here; and bring your hand close, and place it at my side. And do not choose to be unbelieving, but faithful.²⁸Thomas responded and said to him, "My Lord and my God.²⁹Jesus said to him: "You have seen me, Thomas, so you have believed. Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.

Sermon

Today’s readings invite us to reflect on the essence of faith and community. In Ephesians, we are reminded that we are part of a larger household of God, built on the foundation of Apostles and Prophets, with Christ as the cornerstone. This passage emphasizes our collective role as a holy temple, where each believer contributes to the strength and unity of the community. It calls us to recognize that our individual faith is not isolated but is part of a grand tapestry woven by God. The Gospel presents us with the story of Thomas, often referred to as the doubter. Thomas’s insistence on seeing and touching Jesus’ wounds before believing highlights the human struggle with doubt. However, when Thomas finally encounters the risen Christ, his doubt turns to profound faith, declaring, “My Lord and my God.” This story reminds us that faith is not about the absence of doubt but about the courage to seek and encounter Christ, even in our uncertainties. These readings connect in a beautiful way, showing that individual faith strengthens the community. Just as Thomas’s encounter with Christ deepened his faith, our personal experiences of God’s presence can inspire and support others. In our daily lives, we are called to trust in God’s plan and to be living stones in the temple of God. Let us embrace our role in this spiritual edifice, trusting that even in moments of doubt, God’s grace can transform us and draw us closer to Him. May we, like Thomas, move from doubt to faith, and may our faith contribute to the building up of the Body of Christ.