Catholic Daily Reading + Reflection (Homily), Saturday 3 July 2021
Mass Readings, Reflection – Homily for Saturday July 3, 2021
Weekday (13)
Vestment: Red
Today’s Rosary: The Joyful Mystery
Nine Day Mid-Year Prayers for Divine Healing and Restoration (Thursday 1st July – Friday 9th July)
DAY3: PRAYER FOR PRIEST, RELIGIOUS AND ALL CARRYING OUT THE WORK OF EVANGELIZATION
“Lord, help us to speak the truth at all times as we go out to proclaim your word to the lost and to acquaint them with Your word, that You would grant us the grace to speak the truth in love.”
IBADAN: Tomorrow is the 50th Anniversary of the episcopal ordination of Most Revd Felix A. Job, 4th July 1971
JALINGO: Tomorrow is the 13th Anniversary of the episcopal ordination of Most Revd Charles M. Hammawa, 4th July 2008.
NSUKKA: Tomorrow is the 8th Anniversary of the episcopal ordination of Most Revd Godfrey Igwebuike Onah, 4th July 2013.
ST THOMAS, AP. (FEAST)
Thomas is famous for doubting Jesus’ resurrection, but his unbelief vanished before the risen Lord. Apart from what we know about him through the Gospel, nothing certain is known about his life and ministry. The Christians of India honour him in a special way since, according to tradition, he brought the Gospel to that country.
Entrance Antiphon Cf.Ps118:28.21
You are my God, and I confess you: you are my God, and I exalt you; I will thank you, for you became my saviour.
The Gloria
When indicated this hymn is either sung or said
Glory to God in the highest,
and on earth peace to people of good will.
We bless you,
we adore you,
we glorify you,
we give you thanks for your great glory,
Lord God, heavenly King,
O God, almighty Father.
Lord Jesus Christ, Only Begotten Son,
Lord God, Lamb of God, Son of the Father,
you take away the sins of the world, have mercy on us;
you take away the sins of the world, receive our prayer;
you are seated at the right hand of the Father, have mercy on us.
For you alone are the Holy One, you alone are the Lord,
you alone are the Most High,
Jesus Christ, with the Holy Spirit,
in the glory of God the Father. Amen.
Collect
Grant, almighty God, that we may glory in the feast of the blessed Apostle Thomas, so that he may always be sustained by his intercession, and, believing, may have life in the name of Jesus Christ your Son, whom Thomas acknowledged as the Lord. Who lives and reigns with you…
FIRST READING
You are built upon the foundation of the apostles.
A reading from the Letter of Saint Paul to the Ephesians (Ephesians 2:19-22)
Brethren: You are no longer strangers and sojourners, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, in whom the whole structure is joined together and grows into a holy temple in the Lord; in whom you also are built into it for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit.
The word of the Lord.
RESPONSORIAL PSALM Psalm117:1.2 (R. Mark16:15)
R/. Go into all the world and preach the Gospel.
O praise the Lord, all you nations;
acclaim him, all you peoples! R.
For his merciful love has prevailed over us;
and the Lord’s faithfulness endures for ever. R.
ALLELUIA John 20:29
Alleluia. You believed, Thomas, because you have seen me, says the Lord; blessed are those who have not seen and yet believe. Alleluia.
GOSPEL
“My Lord and my God!”
A reading from the holy Gospel according to John (John 20:24-29)
Thomas, one of the Twelve, called the Twin, was not with them when Jesus came. So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord. ”But he said to them, “Unless I see in his hands the print of the nails, and place my finger in the mark of the nails, and place my hand in his side, I will not believe.” Eight days later, his disciples were again in the house, and Thomas was with them. The doors were shut, but Jesus came and stood among them, and said, “Peace be with you.” Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here, and see my hands; and put out your hand, and place it in my side; do not be faithless, but believing.” Thomas answered him, “My Lord and my God!” Jesus said to him, “You have believed because you have seen me. Blessed are those who have not seen and yet believe.”
The Gospel of the Lord.
Today’s Reflection
When Jesus appeared to the disciples after his resurrection, Thomas was not with them. Later, after eight days, Jesus appears again when Thomas is present. What is striking is that Thomas missed Jesus when he was outside the communion of the apostles, but once within the communion, he has the opportunity to experience Christ’s presence. We too can experience the presence of Christ in and through the ‘communion of the community’. “Where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I in their midst”, says Jesus (Mt 18:20). Thomas had such a powerful experience of the risen Christ in the company of his fellow apostles that he surrendered his life to him with the most profound profession of faith, “My Lord, and my God!” This experience is what led Thomas to go out to a distant land as a missionary and establish Christian communities that even today bear significant testimony to Christ. Like Thomas, we shall do well to remain in communion with the body of Christ, the Church, so that we experience the power of the risen Lord and are empowered to bear witness to him.
NINE DAY MID-YEAR PRAYERS FOR DIVINE HEALING RESTORATION “1 Peter 2:24”
DAY3: PRAYER FOR PRIEST, RELIGIOUS AND ALL CARRYING OUT THE WORK OF EVANGELIZATION
“Lord, help us to speak the truth at all times as we go out to proclaim your word to the lost and to acquaint them with Your word, that You would grant us the grace to speak the truth in love.”
Opening
In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, Amen.
Invocation of the Holy Spirit
Come, O Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of the faithful and kindle in them the fire of your love.
Send forth your Spirit and they shall be created. And you shall renew the face of the earth.
Let us pray:
O God, who taught the hearts of the faithful by the light of the Holy Spirit, grant that by the gift of the same Spirit we may be always truly wise and ever rejoice in his consolation, Through Christ Lord. Amen.
We pray for renewed prayerful revival among our Churches administrators; Our Archbishops, Bishops and Priests in charge of various Parishes across our country Nigeria, to support and encourage prayers in their respective parishes and provinces.
Prayer Point
1. Let us pray for efficacy in the prayers offered by all ministers of the gospel, especially our priests, religious, prayer warriors, evangelists and pastors of the word
2. Let us also commit to God all our benefactors and all those who contribute in one way or the other to promote the spread of the gospel (Evangelization), for vision so that they will walk in the will of God at all times. Acts 6:4
3. Let us pray for the power of prayers to uproot every satanic foundation in our nation.
4. Pray for the warring men. They will pray with knowledge and not be victims. They shall all reap the fruit of prayers.
5. God arise and let His enemies be scattered in all our churches. Psalm 68.1
6. Let God arise and let all those against the Church be totally frustrated.
Reflection:
Lord! Renew your Church with the outpouring of the Holy Spirit as it were on the day of Pentecost (Acts2, Joel 2:28-29, 32, Luke 22:20, Matt. 16: 18)
Closing
Prayer of Confirmation and trust in God
Lord, God Almighty, I thank you for protecting me from every form of evil and bringing me the gift of your divine health.
I thank you for breaking the chains of oppression and delivering me from every form of sin, sickness, disease and lie of the enemy.
I thank you for the powerful name of Jesus to which every knee shall bow.
Thank you for giving me your authority over all the power of the enemy. Nothing shall harm me.
Thank you for your full armor, your name, your most precious Blood and your Holy Spirit. No weapon formed against me shall prosper.
Thank you heavenly father for all your protection and provisions, for yours is the kingdom, the power and the glory, now and forevermore. Amen.