DAILY- HOMILY

July 3, 3015 FRIDAY, 13TH Week in Ordinary Time

ST. THOMAS, Apostle                                 

Feast, Red

Eph 2:19 – 22 / Jn 20: 24 - 29  

[St. Thomas, Apostle, is the "doubting" Thomas after the Lord's resurrection.  Tradition says he preached and was martyred in India.]

Reading: Eph 2:19 – 22

     Now you are no longer strangers or guests, but fellow citizens of the holy people: you are of the household of God. You are the house whose foundations are the apostles and prophets, and whose cornerstone is Christ Jesus. In him the whole structure is joined together and rises to be a holy temple in the Lord. In him you too are being built to become the spiritual sanctuary of God.

Gospel: Jn 20:24 -29 

     Thomas, the Twin, one of the Twelve, was not with them when Jesus came.  The other disciples told him, "We have seen the Lord." But he replied, "Until I have seen in his hands the print of the nails, and put my finger in the mark of the nails and my hand in his side, I will not believe." 

     Eight days later, the disciples were inside again and Thomas was with them. Despite the locked doors Jesus came and stood in their midst and said, "Peace be with you."  Then he said to Thomas, "Put your finger here and see my hands; stretch out your hand and put it into my side. Resist no longer and be a believer." 

     Thomas then said, "You are my Lord and my God." Jesus replied, "You believe because you see me, don't you? Happy are those who have not seen and believe."

Reflection:

     One of the biggest dangers in our modern world is that of incredulity. Man has been so intelligent that he starts to question everything and anything, including God. Without faith, all events seem to be man- made or by chance.   

     With this doubt, the Holy Spirit does not exist anymore, therefore all events are explained only from the human point of view. Our interpretation of all our experiences remain at the human level, without the possibility of exploring that God might have intervened.  

     Therefore, many times with this doubt, we fail to understand why things happen, that there is a reason and purpose behind all the events, especially those we do not like nor expect. The cross starts to become more heavy and meaningless when we start doubting about the resurrection of Christ. We don't see the relevance of Christ's coming to the world and our life. When that happens, we enter into gloom and darkness that the evil one envelops us with. We doubt if God is present in the midst of the problem that we are experiencing. This doubt feeds into anger and frustration. We refuse to believe and accept that God has a plan. In our heart, we start to think God does not exist. We dismiss the cross as foolish and become determined to ignore as it is useless and senseless. 

     Today's Gospel reading comes to rescue us and to strengthen our faith in the risen Christ. Christ admonishes us to "resist no longer and be a believer." Christ is calling us today to believe without even seeing. God is real. God exists! He truly cares and loves us. Christ invites us to walk by faith and not by sight!  Let us not doubt the love of God. Unlike Thomas let us believe, even though we have not seen.

WE PRAY FOR MTQ DAILY PRAYER DIARY INTENTIONS:

BIRTHDAY

     JEFFREY MARVIC CHENG

     LOUIE GIE S. MABUGAY

     PATRICK & JERSHANALE SY

IN MEMORIAM (+)

     DOUGLAS L. ABADCO

     JOANNA CHOA (OCT 29, 1914 – JUL 3, 2008)

Finally, we pray for one another, for those who have asked our prayers and for those who need our prayers the most. 

Have a good day!

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