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Ordinary Time
Lectionary: 593
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,
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.
R. (Mark 16:15) Go out to all the world and tell the Good News.
Praise the LORD, all you nations;
glorify him, all you peoples!
R. Go out to all the world and tell the Good News.
For steadfast is his kindness for us,
and the fidelity of the LORD endures forever.
R. Go out to all the world and tell the Good News.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
You believe in me, Thomas, because you have seen me, says the Lord;
blessed are those who have not seen, but still believe!
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Thomas, called Didymus, one of the Twelve,
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."
Lectionary for Mass for Use in the Dioceses of the United States, second typical edition, Copyright © 2001, 1998, 1997, 1986, 1970 Confraternity of Christian Doctrine; Psalm refrain © 1968, 1981, 1997, International Committee on English in the Liturgy, Inc. All rights reserved. Neither this work nor any part of it may be reproduced, distributed, performed or displayed in any medium, including electronic or digital, without permission in writing from the copyright owner. Via USCCB
It is easy to give Saint Thomas a hard time for his skepticism, but look closer at how Jesus responds to him. Christ doesn't scold Thomas for wanting proof; instead, He meets him right in the middle of his uncertainty. Today’s readings remind you that you are "no longer strangers" but members of God’s household-and in a real family, you are allowed to ask hard questions. Jesus shows us that faith isn’t about pretending to have it all together; it’s about bringing your authentic self, doubts and all, to the One who has the power to heal you.
The Silent Prayer: When the priest elevates the Host during the Consecration at Mass (or when you see the Eucharist this week), silently repeat Thomas’s words: *"My Lord and my God."* Make it an act of surrendering a specific worry.
Write Your "Conditions": Thomas had conditions ("Unless I see..."). Take five minutes to write down the "unless" in your life. (e.g., "Lord, I struggle to trust you *unless* this problem is fixed.") Read it to Jesus, then ask for the grace to trust Him anyway.
When have you felt like the "odd one out" in your faith journey, much like Thomas missing the first visit?
If Jesus stood before you today and asked, "What does your heart need to see to be at peace?", what would you say?
How does seeing Jesus’s patience with Thomas change the way you view your own spiritual dry spells?
Jesus kept His wounds even after the Resurrection. What does this tell you about the painful "wounds" or scars you carry in your own life?
Who in your life is currently doubting, and how can you offer them presence rather than just arguments?
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