Daily Readings - Sat Jul 03 2021

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

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.