July 03, 2021, Saturday
FEAST OF SAINT THOMAS, APOSTLE (Red)
CYCLE B - YEAR I
Lectionary: 593
Reading I
Eph 2:19-22
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 Psalm
117:1bc, 2
Praise the LORD, all you nations;
glorify him, all you peoples!
R. Go out to all the world and tell the Good News.
and the fidelity of the LORD endures forever.
R. Go out to all the world and tell the Good News.
Alleluia
Jn 20:29
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
blessed are those who have not seen, but still believe!
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
GOSPEL
Jn 20:24-29
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."
REFLECTION:
In this reading Jesus is saying in effect to Thomas, “I am in the process of leaving you and ascending to my Father. This means that you will have to find me present in a new way or through your faith in my love for you”. This is like when someone you love and who loves you goes away for a long time. Since he or she is no longer physically or emotionally present, you have to rely on what you have learned to believe about this person’s love for you.
PRAYER:
As the case of Thomas illustrates, even the disciples sometimes had doubts. Jesus meets us wherever we are on life’s journey. He knows that in our walk of faith we face many challenges. I pray Lord, that when I encounter trials in my life, I still have the courage to proclaim my act of faith in you.
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