13th Sunday in Ordinary Time
In our reading, we hear how God created us to live with him forever. We were all created in His image. The devil was jealous and brought evil and death into the world. God created us with a free will. When people choose to follow the ways of the devil, they choose to not follow God and, therefore, choose death (a life in hell without God).
In our gospel, we hear how Jairus, a ruler of the synagogue, knelt in front of Jesus and begged him to help his daughter who was dying. Jesus went with him and they were told the girl died. Jesus went anyways and asked the people in her home why they were crying because she was only sleeping. They laughed and made fun of Jesus. Jesus went into the girl’s room, took her hand, and told her to get up. She got up immediately and began to walk around. Her family was amazed and filled with wonder. Jesus told her family not to tell anyone and asked them to feed her.
Special Saint/Feast Day: - St. Thomas the Apostle – July 3
Thomas was one of the twelve apostles of Jesus. His name means “twin”. Once when Jesus was going to face the danger of being killed, Thomas said to the other apostles, “Let us also go, that we may die with him.” When Jesus was captured by his enemies, Thomas lost his courage so he ran away with the other apostles.
Thomas was not with the other Apostles when Jesus appeared to them after he had risen from the dead. He did not believe them when they told him they saw Jesus. “Unless I see in his hands the print of the nails,” he said, “and put my finger into the nailmarks, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe.”
Jesus appeared to the apostles again when Thomas was with them and he cried out, “My Lord and my God!” Jesus said, “Because you have seen me, Thomas, you have believed. Blessed are they who have not seen, and yet have believed.”
After Pentecost, Thomas was strong and firm in his belief and trust in Jesus. He went to India to preach the Gospel.
We often hear of St. Thomas referred to as the “doubter”. But the moment he saw the Risen Christ he made an act of faith. When the priest lifts the sacred Host at Mass, we too can pray the words of St. Thomas, “My Lord and my God!”