From Stranger to Citizen: The Spiritual Bond of Believers

From Stranger to Citizen: The Spiritual Bond of Believers The Homily begins by reflecting on the deep bond felt when encountering someone from one’s home country while abroad, . . . . . . likening it to the spiritual connection shared by Christians as fellow citizens of God’s kingdom. Drawing from St. Paul’s letter to the Ephesians, the Homily highlights that believers are no longer strangers, but members of a spiritual household built on the apostles with Christ as the cornerstone. This shared citizenship brings both privilege and responsibility . . . especially the commandment to love God and neighbor. Community and Its Impact on Our Faith The Homily also centers on St. Thomas the Apostle, emphasizing his honest questioning and desire for understanding as a path to deeper faith. It underscores the importance of community in fostering and strengthening faith, as shown when Thomas encounters the risen Christ only after rejoining the other disciples. The homily concludes by stressing that faith grows through communal sharing, trust, and belief . . . even without physical proof. Believing leads to seeing, and those who believe without seeing are truly blessed. Listen to: From Stranger to Citizen: The Spiritual Bond of Believers -------------------------------------------------------------- Quote From The Homily And when we believe we move, it is with this that things become clear later on. The very first thing is to believe. Blessed are those that have not seen but believe. And why are they blessed? Because they shall see. Blessed are those that have not seen, but believe because surely, they will see. -------------------------------------------------------------- Saint Thomas: Spanish Painter: Diego Velazquez: 1618 -------------------------------------------------------------- Gospel Reading: John 20: 24-29 First Reading: Ephesians 2: 19-22