Daily Readings - Fri Jul 03 2020

¹⁹Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and aliens, but fellow citizens with God's people and members of God's household,²⁰built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone.²¹In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord.²²And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit.

John

Chapter 20

²⁴Now Thomas (called Didymus), one of the Twelve, was not with the disciples when Jesus came.²⁵So the other disciples told him, "We have seen the Lord!" But he said to them, "Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe it."²⁶A week later his disciples were in the house again, and Thomas was with them. Though 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; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe."²⁸Thomas said to him, "My Lord and my God!"²⁹Then Jesus told him, "Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who 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 household of God. In the first reading from Ephesians, we hear that we are no longer strangers or outsiders but are now citizens among the saints, built upon the foundation of the Apostles and Prophets, with Christ as the cornerstone. This passage emphasizes our unity and belonging within the Body of Christ, a holy temple where God dwells. It reminds us that our faith is not individualistic but communal, rooted in a shared history and a shared mission. The Gospel from John presents us with the story of Thomas, often called "Doubting Thomas." Thomas, absent when the risen Jesus first appeared to the disciples, refuses to believe unless he can see and touch the wounds of Christ. When Jesus appears again, he invites Thomas to do just that, and Thomas responds with a profound confession of faith: "My Lord and my God." Jesus then blesses those who believe without seeing, pointing to the kind of faith we are called to have. This passage highlights the tension between doubt and faith, and the patience of God in meeting us where we are. Together, these readings remind us that faith is both a gift and a journey. Like Thomas, we may struggle with doubts or uncertainties, but God is patient and gracious, inviting us to draw closer and deepen our trust in Him. The Ephesians reading also calls us to remember that our faith is not just about personal belief but about being part of a larger community, a temple where God’s presence dwells. As we go about our daily lives, let us ask for the grace to embrace our faith with humility and courage, trusting in God’s presence even when we cannot see, and living as faithful members of His household.