The date of St Thomas’s birth is unknown. He died on 21 December 72.
He brought Christianity to India
Invitation
May I take this opportunity to draw your attention to
the daily reading of the Gospel?
This invitation aims to share with you the joy
of the Gospel. Everyone, without exception,
can experience that joy by opening their hearts
to the healing power of God’s Word.
Available every day
CONSIDERATION
Thomas was an honest and sceptical man. He knew the joy of recognising the Lord. At that moment, therefore, he hesitates to admit he was wrong. His response to the encounter with the risen Christ is also a profession of faith:‘My Lord and my God!’ We may make these words our own. Even in difficult circumstances, through this simple prayer we shall find the strength to continue believing in Him whom we have recognised.
FIRST READING Eph . 2:19–22
Built on the foundation of the apostles.
From the letter of Saint Paul the Apostle to the Ephesians
Brothers and sisters,
You are no longer strangers and exiles,
but fellow citizens with the saints and members of God’s household,
built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets,
with Christ Jesus himself as the capstone,
who holds the whole structure together at its joints.
In him it grows into a holy temple in the Lord.
In him you too are being built up together
into a dwelling place of God,
in the Spirit.
INTERLUDIO Ps . 117(116)
Go out into the whole world
and proclaim the Gospel(Mk 16:15)
or:Alleluia.
Praise the Lord, all nations of the earth,
give glory to the Lord, all peoples round about;
for He has shown us His goodness;
the Lord’s faithfulness endures for ever.
ALLELUIA John 20:29
Alleluia.
‘Because you have seen me, Thomas, do you believe?’
Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.
Alleluia.
GOSPEL John 20:24–29
My Lord and my God!
From the Holy Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to
John
Thomas, one of the Twelve, also called Didymus,
was not with the disciples when Jesus came.
The others told him:
‘We have seen the Lord.’
But he replied:
‘Unless I see the mark of the nails in his hands,
and put my finger into the nail marks,
and place my hand into his side,
I will not believe.’
Eight days later, his disciples were gathered together in the house again,
and this time Thomas was with them.
Although the doors were locked, Jesus came in,
stood among them and said:
“Peace be with you.”
Then He said to Thomas:
“Come here with your finger and see my hands.
“Stretch out your hand and place it in my side,
and do not be unbelieving any longer, but believe.”
Then Thomas exclaimed:
“My Lord and my God!”
Then Jesus said to him:
“Because you have seen Me, do you believe?
“Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”
Laudato Si
Encyclical of
POPE FRANCIS
On Care for Our Common Home
165. We know that technology based on highly polluting
fossil fuels – particularly coal, but also oil and, to a lesser extent, gas –
must be phased out gradually and without hesitation. Pending the
widespread development of renewable energy – which ought already to have
begun – it is legitimate to opt for the least harmful alternative
or to resort to transitional solutions. However, within the international
community, no adequate agreements have been reached regarding
the responsibility of those who must bear the greatest costs of the transition
in the energy sector. In recent decades, environmental issues have
sparked a wide-ranging public debate, which has created space within
society for a remarkable commitment and
generous dedication. Politics and industry are slow to respond and are
far from being up to the task of meeting global challenges. In this sense,
one could say that, whilst humanity in the post-industrial era may
be remembered as one of the most irresponsible in
history, it is to be hoped that humanity at the beginning of the 21st century
will go down in history for having generously taken on its own
heavy responsibilities.
To be continued
Every day at 1 am
The Bible passage in this edition is taken fromThe New Bible Translation, ©Nederlands Bijbelgenootschap 2004/2007.
Reflections from Liturgical Suggestions for Weekdays and Sundays
Laudato Si’ Official English translation
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