Daily Readings - Mon Jul 03 2023

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 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.