DAILY HOLY MASS READINGS
You believe in me, Thomas, because you have seen me, says the Lord;
blessed are those who have not seen, but still believe! JN 20:29
EPHESIANS 2:19-22
My Beloved, Soul of my soul,
If it were not for the Apostles, St. Paul, the early Church Fathers, and all Christian missionaries who left the comfort of home and country to go to lands that spoke a different language, had a different culture, that was alien to everything that they knew and were familiar with, like St. Thomas, St. Francis Xavier, many of us would probably be worshiping strange gods as pagans, or idolaters. Instead, we know our true identity from this beautiful letter of St. Paul to the Ephesians; we have God for our Father, we are citizens of the Kingdom of Heaven, we have God's own Spirit making His dwelling place in us, and we have a glorious destiny.
You are no longer aliens or foreign visitors: you are citizens like all the saints, and part of God’s household. You are part of a building that has the apostles and prophets for its foundations, and Christ Jesus himself for its main cornerstone. As every structure is aligned on him, all grow into one holy temple in the Lord; and you too, in him, are being built into a house where God lives, in the Spirit.
Thank You, Beloved, for the blood of St. Thomas, the Apostle, and for every martyr who laid down their life in order to spread the Good News. It is because, in imitation of You, they made the supreme sacrifice, that we know You, love You, serve You, and are assured of happiness with You not only in this life but in the life to come.
PSALM 117:1-2
My Beloved, Soul of my soul,
This is the shortest Psalm but it encapsulates the mission of every Christian.
The first verse reminds us that we are God's people, created by Him to praise Him in all the nations. To contemplate the wonders that He has done and above all for revealing His love for through You, His only Son.
O praise the Lord, all you nations,
acclaim him all you peoples!
The second verse assures us that the Father's love for us is so great that He did not hold back His only Son but gave Him up for us so we could live. You are the Way, the Truth, and the Life. And You demonstrated what true love means, "Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one's life for one's friends."
Strong is his love for us;
he is faithful for ever.
And the response to today's psalm reminds us that every disciple and follower is given the mandate to:
Go out to the whole world; proclaim the Good News.
JOHN 20:24-29
My Beloved, Soul of my soul,
Thomas was not present with the rest when You appeared to Your disciples on Easter Sunday. They believed because they had seen You. We ought not to be so disparaging of Thomas because he too wanted to see. When they first saw You they thought they were seeing a ghost. Thomas was right in wanting to see Your scars, were it not for the scars on Your hands, feet, and side they too would not have believed.
Thomas did see You eight days later when they were together in the house, the doors were closed, and suddenly You were there standing with them. Addressing Thomas You said, ‘Put your finger here; look, here are my hands. Give me your hand; put it into my side. Doubt no longer but believe.’ And Thomas made this declaration: ‘My Lord and my God!’
Then You said something wonderful to us who will never have visions, who will never see You physically in this life, but who believe that You are indeed our Lord and our God, "Blessed are those who have not seen and have believed.”
You believe in me, Thomas, because you have seen me, says the Lord;
blessed are those who have not seen, but still believe! JN 20:29
EPHESIANS 2:19-22
My Beloved, Soul of my soul,
If it were not for the Apostles, St. Paul, the early Church Fathers, and all Christian missionaries who left the comfort of home and country to go to lands that spoke a different language, had a different culture, that was alien to everything that they knew and were familiar with, like St. Thomas, St. Francis Xavier, many of us would probably be worshiping strange gods as pagans, or idolaters. Instead, we know our true identity from this beautiful letter of St. Paul to the Ephesians; we have God for our Father, we are citizens of the Kingdom of Heaven, we have God's own Spirit making His dwelling place in us, and we have a glorious destiny.
You are no longer aliens or foreign visitors: you are citizens like all the saints, and part of God’s household. You are part of a building that has the apostles and prophets for its foundations, and Christ Jesus himself for its main cornerstone. As every structure is aligned on him, all grow into one holy temple in the Lord; and you too, in him, are being built into a house where God lives, in the Spirit.
Thank You, Beloved, for the blood of St. Thomas, the Apostle, and for every martyr who laid down their life in order to spread the Good News. It is because, in imitation of You, they made the supreme sacrifice, that we know You, love You, serve You, and are assured of happiness with You not only in this life but in the life to come.
PSALM 117:1-2
My Beloved, Soul of my soul,
This is the shortest Psalm but it encapsulates the mission of every Christian.
The first verse reminds us that we are God's people, created by Him to praise Him in all the nations. To contemplate the wonders that He has done and above all for revealing His love for through You, His only Son.
O praise the Lord, all you nations,
acclaim him all you peoples!
The second verse assures us that the Father's love for us is so great that He did not hold back His only Son but gave Him up for us so we could live. You are the Way, the Truth, and the Life. And You demonstrated what true love means, "Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one's life for one's friends."
Strong is his love for us;
he is faithful for ever.
And the response to today's psalm reminds us that every disciple and follower is given the mandate to:
JOHN 20:24-29
My Beloved, Soul of my soul,
Thomas was not present with the rest when You appeared to Your disciples on Easter Sunday. They believed because they had seen You. We ought not to be so disparaging of Thomas because he too wanted to see. When they first saw You they thought they were seeing a ghost. Thomas was right in wanting to see Your scars, were it not for the scars on Your hands, feet, and side they too would not have believed.
Thomas did see You eight days later when they were together in the house, the doors were closed, and suddenly You were there standing with them. Addressing Thomas You said, ‘Put your finger here; look, here are my hands. Give me your hand; put it into my side. Doubt no longer but believe.’ And Thomas made this declaration: ‘My Lord and my God!’
Then You said something wonderful to us who will never have visions, who will never see You physically in this life, but who believe that You are indeed our Lord and our God, "Blessed are those who have not seen and have believed.”
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