Daily Readings - Tue Jul 03 2018

¹⁹So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God,²⁰built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone,²¹in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord.²²In him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit.

John

Chapter 20

²⁴Now Thomas, one of the Twelve, called the Twin, was not with them when Jesus came.²⁵So the other disciples told him, "We have seen the Lord." But he said to them, "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."²⁶Eight days later, his disciples were inside again, and Thomas was with them. Although the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, "Peace be with you."²⁷Then he said to Thomas, "Put your finger here, and see my hands; and put out your hand, and place it in my side. Do not disbelieve, but believe."²⁸Thomas answered him, "My Lord and my God!"²⁹Jesus said to him, "Have you believed because you have seen me? 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.