Tuesday, July 02, 2019
WEDNESDAY, 13TH Week in Ordinary Time
July 3, 2019 – WEDNESDAY, 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.
1st 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 READING: 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
Today we celebrate the Feast of St. Thomas, Apostle. We all know him as the "doubting Thomas" who declared he would not believe that Christ had risen until he saw and touched his wounds: "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."
Despite the witness of his fellow Apostles and women friends of Jesus, Thomas refused to believe: he lacked faith. We too are very much like him. Especially in times of trial and suffering, we feel that God has abandoned us.
How do we know we have faith? Jesus performed many miracles because of the faith of those needing the cures and freedom from possession by evil spirits. We have to show faith in our deeds, in the way we act. In his letter St. James writes, "What good is it, my brothers and sisters, to profess faith without showing works? Such faith has no power to save you. If a brother or sister is in need of clothes or food, and one of you says, 'May things go well for you; be warm and satisfied,' without attending to their material needs, what good is that? So it is for faith without deeds: it is totally dead." (Jas 2: 14 – 17)
Faith is shown and lived when we do good deeds for others..
We should also remember the power of faith: "Truly, I say to you, if you say to this mountain: 'Get up and throw yourself into the sea,' and have no doubt that what you say will happen, it will be done for you." (Mk 11: 23). To the woman suffering from severe bleeding for years, Jesus said, "Courage, my daughter, your faith has saved you." (Mt 9: 22). And to the paralytic, "When Jesus saw the faith of these people, 'My son, your sins are forgiven.'" And after he cured the centurion's servant, "I say to you, not even in Israel have I found such great faith." (Lk 7: 9)
We pray for faith which could cure and lift mountains and even forgive sins.
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!
**************************************************
These reflections are distributed free and are for personal use only. Feel free to send the Daily Prayer reflections to your friends, colleagues and relatives; however, if you do, please include the following:
+================================================+
| The Daily Prayer, a service and an apostolate of the
| priests, laity and friends of Mary the Queen Parish
| distributed free and for personal use only.
+================================================+
-- 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.
1st 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 READING: 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
Today we celebrate the Feast of St. Thomas, Apostle. We all know him as the "doubting Thomas" who declared he would not believe that Christ had risen until he saw and touched his wounds: "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."
Despite the witness of his fellow Apostles and women friends of Jesus, Thomas refused to believe: he lacked faith. We too are very much like him. Especially in times of trial and suffering, we feel that God has abandoned us.
How do we know we have faith? Jesus performed many miracles because of the faith of those needing the cures and freedom from possession by evil spirits. We have to show faith in our deeds, in the way we act. In his letter St. James writes, "What good is it, my brothers and sisters, to profess faith without showing works? Such faith has no power to save you. If a brother or sister is in need of clothes or food, and one of you says, 'May things go well for you; be warm and satisfied,' without attending to their material needs, what good is that? So it is for faith without deeds: it is totally dead." (Jas 2: 14 – 17)
Faith is shown and lived when we do good deeds for others..
We should also remember the power of faith: "Truly, I say to you, if you say to this mountain: 'Get up and throw yourself into the sea,' and have no doubt that what you say will happen, it will be done for you." (Mk 11: 23). To the woman suffering from severe bleeding for years, Jesus said, "Courage, my daughter, your faith has saved you." (Mt 9: 22). And to the paralytic, "When Jesus saw the faith of these people, 'My son, your sins are forgiven.'" And after he cured the centurion's servant, "I say to you, not even in Israel have I found such great faith." (Lk 7: 9)
We pray for faith which could cure and lift mountains and even forgive sins.
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!
**************************************************
These reflections are distributed free and are for personal use only. Feel free to send the Daily Prayer reflections to your friends, colleagues and relatives; however, if you do, please include the following:
+================================================+
| The Daily Prayer, a service and an apostolate of the
| priests, laity and friends of Mary the Queen Parish
| distributed free and for personal use only.
+================================================+
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