3 July Thursday TODAYS READINGS: DIDACHE | COMPANION | SABBATH DIDACHE Feast of St. Thomas, Apostle A PLACE FOR US You are no longer sojourners, but you are fellow citizens with the holy ones and members of the household of God… – Ephesians 2:19 I sobbed the first time I watched The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader, especially towards the end of the movie when Lucy, Edmund and Eustace say their goodbyes to Aslan. One of my favorite lines, spoken by Aslan, goes like this: “In your world, I have another name. You should know me by it.” The movie reminded me that our life on earth is temporary; we are not meant to be here forever. Because we “are fellow citizens with the holy ones and members of the household of God,” we have so much more to look forward to — in the next life. The lyrics of the song, “There’s a Place for Us,” from the Dawn Treader soundtrack, speak so beautifully of this truth: “There’s a place out there for us, more than just a prayer or anything you’ve ever dreamed of. So when you feel like giving up, ‘cause you don’t fit in down here, fear is crashing in, close your eyes and take my hand....” We were made for eternity, friend. Aim for heaven! Tina Santiago-Rodriguez (tina@trulyrichmom) Reflection: Do you live each day as if it were your last? Do you “aim for heaven” in everything you do? Lord, please help me to remember that You have already prepared a “place out there for us” — a place in heaven. St. Thomas, Apostle, pray for us. Didache | Companion | Sabbath | Top COMPANION 1ST READING Paul reminds us that the Church is built on the foundation stones of the lives and the ministries of the Apostles. They are the first mediators and ministers of the Gospel after Jesus. Today we celebrate Thomas, often associated with doubting the resurrection of Jesus but traditionally credited with arriving in India and even a part of China to proclaim the Gospel. He truly went to the edge of the known world of his time. Ephesians 2:19-22 19 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, 20 built upon the foundation of the Apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the capstone. 21 Through him the whole structure is held together and grows into a temple sacred in the Lord; 22 in him you also are being built together into a dwelling place of God in the Spirit. P S A L M Psalm 117:1, 2 R: Go out to all the world and tell the Good News. 1 Praise the Lord, all you nations; glorify him, all you peoples! (R) 2 For steadfast is his kindness toward us, and the fidelity of the Lord endures forever. (R) GOSPEL I take special care never to look harshly on people who doubt the resurrection or any other doctrine of the faith, provided they demonstrate an openness to the truth. If an Apostle can have doubts, then we should not be surprised if we or someone we know has the occasional doubt. Doubts will not be major problems if the person is open to the truth, as I believe the truth has a power to eventually bring a person round to it. GOSPEL ACCLAMATION You believe in me, Thomas, because you have seen me, says the Lord; blessed are those who have not seen, but still believe! John 20:24-29 24 Thomas, called Didymus, one of the Twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. 25 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.” 26 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.” 27 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.” 28 Thomas answered and said to him, “My Lord and my God!” 29 Jesus said to him, “Have you come to believe because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and have believed.” think: The truth has a power to eventually bring a person round to it. T O D A Y’S BLESSING LIST Thank You Lord for: __________________ ____________________________________ God’s special verse/thought for me today_ _____________________________________ READ THE BIBLE IN ONE YEAR 2 Chronicles 1-3 Didache | Companion | Sabbath | Top SABBATH LET US GO, TOO, AND DIE WITH ST. THOMAS Today’s saint, the Apostle Thomas, has been known mainly through the Gospel episode we read today. This passage is the origin of the idiomatic expression, “doubting Thomas,” casting, no doubt (pardon the pun!), a negative light on the man. Instead, there is another Gospel verse, John 11:16, that is seldom read but worth considering especially today. It is more positive of Thomas. The episode is the resurrection of Lazarus. Though some have pictured Thomas in this verse as someone cynical or sarcastic, we take it instead to be a heroic affirmation of his bravery and his loyalty to Jesus Christ. Finally, there is still one more Gospel passage, John 14:1-7, where Thomas again figures prominently. Here, Thomas, in all his simplicity, admits his ignorance and asks Jesus a question, “Lord, we do not know where you are going, so how can we know the way?” To which Jesus replies, “I am the Way, the Truth and the Life.” Was Thomas simply wanting to be sure, or playing it safe here? We do not know for sure. In any case, what is important for us is that we truly have in Thomas a saint to honor and emulate. His candor, sincerity, simplicity and courage endear him to us. Should we have our fair share of struggles doubts and hesitations, let us not hesitate to call on Thomas. Let us go and die with him — not literally, of course. Rather, let us die to our selfish desires and weak tendencies, and allow Jesus to cast away our doubts and fears, just as He did with Thomas. Fr. Martin Macasaet, SDB REFLECTION QUESTION: Are there doubts in your mind about following Jesus? Ask St. Thomas to intercede for you. Thank You, Lord, for giving us St. Thomas to be our model in times of hesitation and doubts. May his faith and bravery be ours, too.
Posted on: Thu, 03 Jul 2014 01:05:50 +0000
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