Daily Readings - Sat Jul 03 2021

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

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.