Monday - July 03, 2017
“Jesus is living next to you, in the brothers and sisters with whom you share your daily existence.”
– St. John Paul II
TODAY'S READINGS
July 3, 2017
Feast of Saint Thomas, Apostle
Lectionary: 593
Reading 1EPH 2:19-22
Brothers and sisters:You are no longer strangers and sojourners,
but you are fellow citizens with the holy ones
and members of the household of God,
built upon the foundation of the Apostles and prophets,
with Christ Jesus himself as the capstone.
Through him the whole structure is held together
and grows into a temple sacred in the Lord;
in him you also are being built together
into a dwelling place of God in the Spirit.
Responsorial PsalmPS 117:1BC, 2
R. (Mark 16:15) Go out to all the world and tell the Good News.Praise the LORD, all you nations;
glorify him, all you peoples!
R. Go out to all the world and tell the Good News.
For steadfast is his kindness for us,
and the fidelity of the LORD endures forever.
R. Go out to all the world and tell the Good News.
AlleluiaJN 20:29
R. Alleluia, alleluia.You believe in me, Thomas, because you have seen me, says the Lord;
blessed are those who have not seen, but still believe!
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
GospelJN 20:24-29
Thomas, called Didymus, one of the Twelve,was not with them when Jesus came.
So the other disciples said to him, "We have seen the Lord."
But Thomas said to them,
"Unless I see the mark of the nails in his hands
and put my finger into the nailmarks
and put my hand into his side, I will not believe."
Now a week later his disciples were again inside
and Thomas was with them.
Jesus came, although the doors were locked,
and stood in their midst and said, "Peace be with you."
Then he said to Thomas, "Put your finger here and see my hands,
and bring your hand and put it into my side,
and do not be unbelieving, but believe."
Thomas answered and said to him, "My Lord and my God!"
Jesus said to him, "Have you come to believe because you have seen me?
Blessed are those who have not seen and have believed."
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Building Our Faith in Community
Today's first reading tells us that you and I are members of the same kingdom -- a "country" whose residents include saints in heaven as well as the family ("household") of God that still lives on earth. With citizenship come certain responsibilities.
St. Paul says, "You form a building." The foundation is the apostles and prophets; the capstone is Jesus. Which part of the building are you?
Are you already deeply involved in ministry? You're a pillar. Are you covering in prayer or financial support the ministries that others do? You're part of the roof. Or maybe you're a window through which others look in and realize that they want to join the Church, or a window sill upon which people lean as they look for God. Maybe you're a fireplace, warming others to the idea of having faith in God, or one of the bricks in the fireplace that keeps danger from spreading.
Are you a carpet that gives comfort to feet that have been walking on hard roads? Are you an altar because of the sacrifices you make for others? Are you a chair that gives others rest? Are you a keyhole that unlocks the love of God in people's hearts? Are you a crystal chandelier shedding the light of truth and giving it a wonderful sparkle? Are you a telephone that helps others connect to God?
Imagine what this building would be like without you. You are needed, my friend! You are very, very important. There are never enough telephones and chandeliers and soft carpets and other furnishings that make the House of God what it needs to be.
Many try to live on the outside, thinking they can have a good relationship with God without being part of the Christian community. Some only visit and don't help with the chores. And some complain that the building is too large and that nobody reaches out to them.
The only way to experience the support and love of God's household is to get involved in the family. This is how we become a "holy temple in the Lord" rather than a bunch of unconnected people who profess the same faith yet remain strangers. If it seems like the Church has cracks in it, it's because some of the construction materials are missing.
By our love for each other and a spirit of collaboration, we are "being built into this temple, to become a dwelling place for the Holy Spirit." This is how faith grows. Notice that, in today's Gospel reading, Thomas overcame his doubts while in community. Although Thomas had missed Christ's first appearance, Jesus did not go to him and appear to him alone. Jesus waited until Thomas rejoined the community.
Never underestimate how very important you are to the community life of your Church!
St. Paul says, "You form a building." The foundation is the apostles and prophets; the capstone is Jesus. Which part of the building are you?
Are you already deeply involved in ministry? You're a pillar. Are you covering in prayer or financial support the ministries that others do? You're part of the roof. Or maybe you're a window through which others look in and realize that they want to join the Church, or a window sill upon which people lean as they look for God. Maybe you're a fireplace, warming others to the idea of having faith in God, or one of the bricks in the fireplace that keeps danger from spreading.
Are you a carpet that gives comfort to feet that have been walking on hard roads? Are you an altar because of the sacrifices you make for others? Are you a chair that gives others rest? Are you a keyhole that unlocks the love of God in people's hearts? Are you a crystal chandelier shedding the light of truth and giving it a wonderful sparkle? Are you a telephone that helps others connect to God?
Imagine what this building would be like without you. You are needed, my friend! You are very, very important. There are never enough telephones and chandeliers and soft carpets and other furnishings that make the House of God what it needs to be.
Many try to live on the outside, thinking they can have a good relationship with God without being part of the Christian community. Some only visit and don't help with the chores. And some complain that the building is too large and that nobody reaches out to them.
The only way to experience the support and love of God's household is to get involved in the family. This is how we become a "holy temple in the Lord" rather than a bunch of unconnected people who profess the same faith yet remain strangers. If it seems like the Church has cracks in it, it's because some of the construction materials are missing.
By our love for each other and a spirit of collaboration, we are "being built into this temple, to become a dwelling place for the Holy Spirit." This is how faith grows. Notice that, in today's Gospel reading, Thomas overcame his doubts while in community. Although Thomas had missed Christ's first appearance, Jesus did not go to him and appear to him alone. Jesus waited until Thomas rejoined the community.
Never underestimate how very important you are to the community life of your Church!
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God Bless You.....
The mother of Jesus promised St. Dominic that, “one day through the rosary & the scapular I shall save the world!”
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