Daily Readings - Mon Jul 03 2023

¹⁹Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God;²⁰And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone;²¹In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord:²²In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.

John

Chapter 20

²⁴But Thomas, one of the twelve, called Didymus, was not with them when Jesus came.²⁵The other disciples therefore said unto him, We have seen the Lord. But he said unto them, Except I shall see in his hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and thrust my hand into his side, I will not believe.²⁶And after eight days again his disciples were within, and Thomas with them: then came Jesus, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, Peace be unto you.²⁷Then saith he to Thomas, Reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into my side: and be not faithless, but believing.²⁸And Thomas answered and said unto him, My Lord and my God.²⁹Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed.

Sermon

The readings today invite us to reflect on the nature of faith and our place within the Body of Christ. In the first reading from Ephesians, we hear that we are no longer strangers or sojourners but are now citizens of God’s household, built upon the foundation of the Apostles and Prophets, with Christ as the cornerstone. This passage emphasizes our unity as believers and our shared identity as a holy temple where God dwells. The Gospel, from John, presents us with the story of Thomas, who struggles with doubt after the Resurrection. Thomas’s insistence on seeing and touching Jesus’ wounds before believing serves as a reminder that faith often requires us to grapple with uncertainty and to seek a deeper encounter with Christ. These readings are deeply connected, as they both speak to the mystery of faith and our relationship with God. The Ephesians passage highlights the communal aspect of faith—our belonging to one another and to God’s household. The Gospel, on the other hand, focuses on the individual’s journey of faith, showing how even in doubt, there is the possibility of growth and deeper understanding. Thomas’s declaration, “My Lord and my God,” reveals that his moment of doubt leads him to a profound confession of faith. Similarly, we are called to move beyond our own doubts and fears, trusting in God’s presence and promises even when we cannot see or fully understand. In our daily lives, these readings encourage us to embrace faith as both a gift and a journey. Like Thomas, we may face moments of uncertainty, but these moments can lead us to a deeper trust in God. As members of God’s household, we are called to support one another in faith, creating a community where doubt can be transformed into belief. Let us ask for the grace to live as temples of God’s Spirit, rooted in Christ, and to trust in His presence even when the road ahead seems unclear. May we, like Thomas, come to know Jesus more intimately and proclaim Him as our Lord and God.