Daily Readings - Sat Jul 03 2021

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

In today's readings, we are reminded of the essence of faith and community. The first reading from Ephesians 2:19-22 highlights our unity in Christ, describing us as citizens in God's household, built on the foundation of Apostles and Prophets with Christ as the cornerstone. This passage emphasizes that we are part of a larger spiritual community, connected through our faith in Jesus. The Gospel from John 20:24-29 presents the story of Thomas, whose doubt turns to belief upon seeing Jesus' wounds. This narrative illustrates the personal journey of faith, where even in doubt, God's presence can lead to profound belief. Thomas's experience shows that faith is not about having all the answers but trusting in God's revelation. Both readings intertwine the themes of faith and community. Ephesians focuses on our collective identity as God's people, while John's Gospel highlights individual faith. Together, they remind us that faith is both personal and communal. In our daily lives, we are encouraged to trust beyond what we see and to find strength in our spiritual community. Let us embrace faith, even in doubt, and recognize our place within the larger body of Christ, where together we grow in love and trust in God.