FEAST OF SAINT THOMAS THE APOSTLE - Gospel (John 20:24-29) - THE WORD OF GOD FOR EVERYONE

“Jesus said, 'Have you come to believe because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and have believed'.” (Mt 9,13)

FIRST READING - Ephesians 2:19-22

A reading from the Letter of St. Paul to the Ephesians

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.

GOSPEL OF THE DAY - 20:24-29

From the Gospel according to John

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."

FEAST OF SAINT THOMAS THE APOSTLE - Gospel (John 20:24-29)

THE WORD OF GOD FOR EVERYONE

Dear People of God,

In God's Word today God says to all humanity: Listen to the Word of God, because only His teachings are truly wise. Whoever listens, remembers every detail of His teachings, and puts them into practice will gain the happiness of the Kingdom of Heaven.

God teaches His children: "Blessed are those who have not seen and have believed.” God loves those children who always rely on, trust in, and have complete faith in Him, because that is a manifestation of the child’s humility before God. He invites His children to become like little children so that He can teach and guide them step by step on this earthly journey, leading them to the happiness of the Kingdom of Heaven when He calls them out of this world.

Everything God teaches is wise. He knows in advance what is good and what is harmful for humanity. God's love shines upon all His children who rely on Him, trust in Him, and place their absolute faith in Him. Love rises above all when people devote their entire bodies and souls to following God.

The image of Saint Thomas today also represents those children who want to see God with their own eyes before believing. That does not please God. His love calls for His children to have absolute love and faith in Him. Love and faith go hand in hand—love is belief. When people insist on seeing with their eyes, hearing with their ears, and touching with their hands before believing, that is not absolute love. It is not the faith of a true child of God, but rather skepticism. Such a love is not sincere.

Therefore, listen to His teachings and follow them, because absolute faith in God is far stronger than belief based on what is seen with the naked eyes.

In the Word of God today, God calls upon His children:

• To have a simple, gentle, and humble heart, so that they may hear the Word of God and put it into practice.

• To have absolute faith in His Word as the truth that comes from God. To absolutely believe that there is only one God, the only Father, the Creator of this world. Only He brings happiness and eternal life to humanity. And to believe in the words of Jesus Christ, the true God, who came into the world as a human being to accompany and redeem all people from sin, so that everyone may enjoy happiness in the Kingdom of Heaven.

• Live by your absolute faith in God. This unwavering faith will bring eternal life to people, without the need to verify it with the naked eye. Seeing with the eyes is not as powerful as living by faith itself.

Therefore, God's Word is eternal. Whatever He teaches, we should simply follow—trusting like a child nestled in its mother’s arms, or in the arms of our merciful Father—so that He may guide us along the path He knows is good for us on this earth.

Thanks be to God. Amen.

00h00 Ngày 03-07-2025 - Kinh Nguyện Lòng Thương Xót Chúa - Đường Vào Thiên Đàng