Daily Readings for July 3, 2018

Feast of St. Thomas, Apostle

1st READING

We are united with all who stand with God throughout the ages. Jesus promises His disciples that not only will He be with us but that the faithful will stand in solidarity against sin and the devil. It is only by fighting together that we overcome the devil. Let us believe that we will never stand alone.

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

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 

Let us focus on Thomas’s profession of faith rather than his doubts in the testimony of the other Apostles. We all have our struggles with doubts and so to single him out is not only unfair but unjust. Instead of focusing on our or someone else’s struggles, let us focus on what we believe and strengthen them. This way we will move as victors, not losers through our lives.

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 nail marks 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.”