St. Thomas the Apostle Parish

Homily for the 5th Sunday of Easter

Fr. Brian Cavanaugh tells a story about "a kind (elderly) gentleman (who) used to stop by occasionally at an antique shop in New Hampshire to sell furniture. One day after he had left, the antique dealer's wife said she wished she had told him how much she enjoyed his visits. The husband said, 'Next time, let's tell him so.'

"The following summer, a young woman came in and introduced herself as the daughter of the (elderly) gentleman. Her father, she said, had died. Then the wife told her about the conversation she and her husband had after the old gentleman's last visit. The young woman's eyes filled with tears. 'Oh, how much good that would have done my father!' she cried, 'He was a man who needed to be reassured that he was liked.' 'Since that day,' the shopkeeper said later, 'whenever I think something particularly nice about people, I tell them. I might never get another chance." [1]

In our Gospel reading today, Jesus gives a final command to His disciples and to us. He says, "I give you a new commandment: love one another. As I have loved you, so you also should love one another." [2]

This command sounds very simple, but it is not. The simple part is to love those who love us. It is very easy for us to look past the faults and foibles of our friends and family.[3] While we might be critical of them for different things, it takes a lot for us to turn our backs on them.

The kind of love Jesus talks about is very difficult because for us to truly love one another as Jesus has loved us means that we have to love those that society says are unlovable or undeserving of our love. For each person, the people who fit into these categories are different. Perhaps those we have difficulty loving are criminals, the poor, the rich, the mentally ill, those of other races and cultures, those who are sick through their lack of care for themselves, angry people, mean people, people who hold different values than we do, people who seem arrogant, or people who have a whole host of personalities that rub against our own.

Suddenly, Jesus' command to love one another as He has loved us doesn't seem so easy. Yet, Jesus loves all of these people as He loved the same kind of people when He walked this earth, just as you and I do today.

Each of us is called to walk as Jesus did if we wish to enter the kingdom of God at the end of time. And Jesus tells us that whoever wishes to come after Him, that person must deny himself or herself, take up their cross, and follow Him. [4] We must follow Jesus' example of selfless love and charity. We must reach out to those in need, those who are suffering, those who are lonely or oppressed, and, through our words and actions of compassion, convey to them the loving presence of God in our midst.

God made each of us to share His love with others. Each one of us is called to be an instrument of God's love, and this includes those who may do us wrong, those we find annoying or irritating, those with whom we disagree, those we find repulsive, and those with whom we experience discomfort, or even those who find these things in us.

As we move forth from this celebration of the Eucharist, let us be ever mindful of God's call to love. And, when we struggle to love certain people, let us turn to Christ, who gave us this call. Let us look at His life on earth and the selfless way that He loved even those who did not love Him. May the life of Christ be our model, and may His call to love be at the forefront of all we do as the children of God. Let us pray to God for the strength to answer that call with all our heart, with all our mind, and with all our soul.[5]

[1] Cavanaugh, Brian, The Sower's Seeds, "Tell Them, Now", Paulist Press, New York, NY, 1990, pp. 45-46.

[2] John 13: 34

[3] Knowles, Desmond, Voicing a Thought on Sunday, Twenty-third Publications, Mystic, CT, 1991, p. 300.

[4] Matthew 16:24

[5] Matthew 22:37

Homily for Saturday of the 4th Week of Easter

When Paul and Barnabas were expelled from the synagogue and banished from the region, what seemed like a failure actually contributed to the spread of the Gospel. Paul quotes Isaiah: "I have made you a light to the Gentiles, that you may be an instrument of salvation to the ends of the earth."

Paul's perspective offers valuable insights during any crisis or transition, emphasizing trust in God's loving providence. We should also adopt this approach, particularly in uncertain times.

Let us pray for a deep trust in God's goodness, confident that He will guide us and provide us with strength and wisdom if we open our minds and hearts to His grace.

Homily for Friday of the 4th Week of Easter

At the Last Supper, Jesus tells the Apostles that He is leaving them and returning to the Father from whom He came. He promises that He will return one day to take them with Him into His Father’s house; that is our ultimate destiny as well. Jesus came among us to show us the Way to the Father; that is His entire mission.

The many dwelling places in His Father’s house symbolize universal hospitality. The Kingdom of Heaven is not meant for a select few; it is a place of welcome and peace offered to everyone. All people are called to follow Jesus because He is the Way to the Father for all who follow Him. He promised that He would draw all people to Himself when raised up.

Let us pray that we will follow Jesus as the Way from this life, with all its challenges and trials, to the life of Heaven—a life of eternal joy and peace.

Homily for Thursday of the 4th Week of Easter

Our Gospel passage today takes us back to the Last Supper, when Jesus and His Apostles gathered in the Upper Room, just after washing His Apostles' feet. In that act, Jesus demonstrated humility and the importance of serving others, a service He expects from those who minister in His name.

When we accept the title "Christian," we commit ourselves to serving the poor, the suffering, the oppressed, prisoners, and the sick. This service should come from a place of genuine humility rather than as a means to pursue our own gain. Our goal is to embody Jesus's compassionate presence in the world. To achieve this, we must set aside our ambitions and pride and remain open to all we are called to do.

Homily for the Feast of St. Matthias, Apostle

After Judas' betrayal, the Twelve Apostles faced a significant void. The number twelve held great importance, symbolizing the twelve tribes of Israel and representing the new Israel, a community of God that includes Jews and non-Jews. To restore the integrity of this sacred number, Matthias was chosen to fill the vacancy left by Judas and gather the full team of Apostles.

However, this decision was not merely a human one. Jesus had chosen the original Twelve, and now it was the Apostles' responsibility to select a replacement for Judas. They understood the gravity of their task and sought someone who had witnessed Jesus' entire public ministry. After nominating two suitable candidates, they turned to prayer, humbly asking the Lord to reveal His chosen one.

This situation reflects a blend of human judgment and submission to divine guidance. The early disciples employed their judgment and discernment while recognizing the importance of seeking insight from God.

Similarly, we need both in our lives. We should use our judgment and experience to determine the steps we should take while also entrusting ourselves to the Lord in prayer.

Homily for the Optional Memorial of Our Lady of Fatima

What a contrast to the previous reception of the Apostles in the areas surrounding Jerusalem, which we read about in today's passage from the Acts of the Apostles. Despite being fearful for their lives, especially after Stephen's death, they were actively spreading the Good News. Despite the threats against those who converted to Christianity, the Apostles won many over.

What drove their actions was a deep sense of joy and commitment. Despite the dangers, they proved their dedication by risking their lives to share the Good News of Jesus; their faith in Him radiated joy. This joy was so evident and powerful that many people they preached to couldn't help but joyfully and wholeheartedly embrace faith in Jesus Christ.

As we know, all of us are called to share the Good News of our salvation in Jesus. Do we do this with a sense of joy or fear? Do we approach it with an understanding of the freedom of God's children or a feeling of obligation? Are we guided by the letter of the law, or do we embody the spirit that embraces Jesus' commandments to love God above all things and our neighbor as ourselves? Do we act with a sense of judgment or the mercy and compassion Jesus showed when he ate with sinners?

Let us aim for a commitment and joy to draw others to our faith. May we be beacons of light in the darkness, just as the Apostles were in their time.

Homily for Monday of the 4th Week of Easter

In our Gospel reading, Jesus compares Himself to a shepherd who protects and keeps the flock. The message is clear and simple: we need Jesus in our lives. His influence is essential for us to follow God's will and to live a life filled with faith, hope, and love. If we ignore Jesus, we miss out on the incredible gifts that God has given us. Consequently, we will be unable to share these gifts with others and fulfill our mission of spreading the Good News to everyone we encounter.

Homily for the 4th Sunday of Easter

In today's first reading, from the Acts of the Apostles, we see that Paul and Barnabas were passionate about preaching the Gospel. They disregarded every attempt by their detractors to silence them. Threats were brushed aside, and they seemed driven by an inner, God-given sense of mission to foster faith in Jesus Christ. This aligns well with the image of Jesus as the Good Shepherd, who invites people to follow Him to eternal life. Today, the Church encourages us to pray for vocations to the priesthood and consecrated life, as these vocations play a vital role in transmitting the faith. As do the vocations of mother and father. All Christians believe that God embodies love and goodness, and it is essential to communicate that love and goodness to others at all times.

The Holy Spirit inspired evangelical passion in the early Church, making its members keen to share their faith. When the first missionaries passed away, there was no shortage of others ready to take their place. This willingness to be actively involved kept the Church vibrant and growing.

Most vocations to a life of service are nurtured within the family. Parents are the first and most significant teachers of the faith and ideals. By incorporating daily prayer into family life, they can sow the seeds of vocations that will meet the spiritual needs of the next generation.

Just as Christ called some to be His evangelists, He calls each of us into His service. How I live as a follower of Christ also affects others. On this special Sunday, we ask for God’s blessing that all of us will feel inspired to continue Christ’s work. His desire for His disciples was clear when He said, “Pray to the Lord of the harvest to send laborers into his harvest.” (Matthew 9:37)

Homily for Saturday of the 3rd Week of Easter

Today's Gospel passage centers around the conversations that followed Jesus' statement that whoever eats His flesh and drinks His blood will attain eternal life. This statement proved too challenging for some of His followers, so they decided to leave Him. In doing so, they resembled the seed that falls on the path, on rocky ground, or among thorns. Their faith was weak, and they lost interest in Jesus' message.

After this incident, Jesus asked the Twelve if they would also leave Him. In response, Peter made a powerful declaration of faith, saying, "Master, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. We have come to believe and are convinced that you are the Holy One of God."

For someone with such strong faith, there would be no reason to abandon Jesus, despite the challenges, distractions, and difficulties that accompany being His follower. In Christ, we find everything we truly need.

A prayer of St. Julian of Norwich might also be ours. I often begin my day with this prayer, and I have shared it before:

"God, of your goodness, give me yourself, for you are enough for me, and I can ask for nothing which is less which can pay you full worship. And if I ask for anything else, always I am in want; but in you do I have everything."[1]

 

[1] Julian of Norwich, Showings, 1978, Paulist Press, New York, NY, p. 184.

Homily for Friday of the 3rd Week of Easter

"Go out to all the world and tell the Good News."

The refrain from our Responsorial Psalm today presents the fundamental command to all the baptized: to go forth into the world and share the Good News of our salvation in Christ, which encompasses the Gospel and our mission as ambassadors of Jesus’s healing presence.

In our first reading, we find the well-known story of Saul, who later becomes Paul, on the road to Damascus. He experiences a profound and terrifying encounter with Jesus that leaves him shaken. During his recovery, he learns everything about Jesus, and once he feels better, he begins to share the Good News passionately. He will continue to do so for the rest of his life.

May we, too, embrace this call with energy, dedication, and faithfulness as baptized members of Christ’s Body, the Church.