St. Thomas the Apostle Parish

Ten lepers call out to Jesus from a distance. In obedient faith, they set out toward the priests and, along the way, are miraculously healed. Yet, of the ten whose lives are utterly changed, only one returns to fall at Jesus’ feet in overwhelming gratitude—and he is a Samaritan, an outcast.

 

As we gather for Mass today, this Gospel story may resonate with us. The nine who didn’t return weren’t evil—most likely, they were preoccupied. Eager to resume their routines, their families, and their to-do lists, they moved on. How often do we do the same? Sometimes we cry out to God in desperation, yet when life settles, we can forget to return to Him in prayerful gratitude.

 

You have chosen to begin your morning here, pausing before the day’s busyness takes hold. This Mass is our own act of turning back. The word “Eucharist” literally means thanksgiving. May this scripture remind us to receive God’s daily graces not as something owed, but as precious gifts.

 

Before you step back into the world today, take a moment to reflect on your life, recognize the hidden miracles, and offer God your praise.

In today’s Gospel passage, Jesus challenges a dangerous habit: spiritual bookkeeping. It's easy to treat our faith as a trade, thinking, "I went to Mass and said my prayers, so now God owes me a good day."

 

Jesus shatters this mindset by telling us that when we have done everything commanded of us, we should say, "We are unprofitable servants; we have done what we were obliged to do."

 

This is not an insult, but a call to freely give of ourselves in serving others as God’s instruments. We can never say God owes us for the things we do because our very breath, faith, and our capacity to do good are already gifts from Him. When we serve our families, our parishes, friends, coworkers, neighbors, or even strangers, we are not earning points—we are simply sharing the love we have received freely from God.

 

Today, let us commit ourselves to serve God and others without seeking applause or a reward. The true joy of discipleship is not a prize from God, but the privilege of serving Him.

 

The first Christian emperor, Constantine, commissioned a church on land once owned by the Laterani family. This 4th-century church preceded the present Basilica. The Baptistery attached to the current Basilica is where Emperor Constantine was baptized. Today, this Basilica serves as the Cathedral of the Diocese of Rome. It is considered the Pope's church as Bishop of Rome. For this reason, it is called the "mother and head of all the churches of the city and the world," including our parish church, where we gather for prayer and worship.

While our church is much smaller than the Basilica of Saint John Lateran in Rome, both serve as important monuments to the people's faith. In the first reading, Paul tells the Christians in Corinth, "You are God's building; you are God's temple." More fundamental than the physical structure we call a church are the people we call the Church. The church building helps us express our identity as a community of faith called to worship God through Christ in the Spirit.

For our worship to be authentic, the shape of our worship must reflect the shape of our lives. Our entire lives should be a movement towards God, through Christ and in the Spirit. This is the essence of being the Church, the temple of God in the world, and it lies at the heart of our baptismal calling.

There is a story of a man who had significant financial difficulty; he could barely support himself and his family. In despair, he went to his parish church to ask God for help. 

At first, he was a bit anxious and hesitated, but he finally made it through the doors, knelt in the back pew, and prayed: “God, if you’re up there, please help me win the lottery so I can support my family.” He went back every day for months and prayed the same prayer. But nothing happened.

Finally, on a Friday, he made his regular visit. He prayed his usual prayer: “God, if you’re up there, please help me win the lottery.” Much to his amazement, the ceiling opened, and a booming voice from heaven answered him: “OK, fine. But you must at least buy a ticket!”  

How often are we like that? We desire all that God promises but fail to do our part. Perhaps we are too lazy. Perhaps we are too busy with other things. Maybe we are fearful that we will fail in our efforts to cooperate with the will of God. Perhaps our faith in God and in ourselves is weak.  

What is God asking of us right now? Has God recently placed something in your heart and mind that needs your attention? Is there a relationship that you need to fix or even end? Is there someone you need to forgive? Is there someone from whom you need to ask for forgiveness?

Do you need to renew your commitment to the basics of being a Catholic: daily prayer, regular Communion and Confession, being active in the mission of the Church, and a sincere, ongoing endeavor to know what the Church teaches?  

God doesn’t want our lamps to run out of oil. He wants His light to keep shining in our hearts for our own good and for the good of those around us. But God never forces His will upon us. He will never force us to fill our lamps and keep them filled.  

Still, he comes to us each day and offers Himself to us and for us in the Eucharist. He comes to us in the people we encounter daily, those who need our help and those who are trying to help us.

He simply asks that we do our part, whatever it may be, and be always ready in the many ways He enters our lives and be prepared for His final coming at the end of time.

St. Paul commends his faithful friends for their faithful service to the Gospel. While imprisoned, just knowing his friends had not forgotten him lifted his spirits. He told them he could endure his circumstances, no matter the challenges.

 

Their gift did more than make his cell more bearable; it comforted him and assured him of their continued care.

In our lives, we are called to be both generous givers and grateful receivers. After offering what we can to those in need, we should also embrace the humility of relying on others when necessary.

 

The Gospel teaches us to use what we have generously and not become slaves to money or material possessions. Often, what the world values is insignificant in God's eyes. If we are faithful in small matters, we can look forward with hope to even greater things.

In today’s Gospel reading, a parable describes a rich man who confronts his steward about the mismanagement of his property. He orders the steward to prepare a full accounting and informs him that he will no longer be employed.

Recognizing his predicament, the steward courageously decides to seek help from his master’s debtors. He calls each of them and reduces the amounts they owe. Although this action involves dishonesty, it conveys a deeper message.

Interestingly, the master seems less angry with the steward after seeing how he eased the debtors' burdens. Perhaps witnessing the steward’s mercy towards the debtors softened the master’s response as well. This highlights mercy's transformative power in the face of wrongdoing.

In today's Gospel reading, we witness the Scribes and Pharisees' persistent tendency to exclude those they consider imperfect. They criticize Jesus for welcoming and spending time with such individuals.

 

However, Jesus responds to His critics with parables, encouraging them to pay attention to the very individuals He is with. He reminds them that He has not come for the righteous, but to seek and save the lost. Instead of waiting for people to redeem themselves, Jesus meets them where they are—eating with, speaking to, loving them, and calling them to holiness of life.

 

We, too, are called to seek out the lost and forsaken, serving those in need—the sick, the oppressed, the poor, and even those considered sinners.

May our lives reflect Jesus’ teachings as we strive to become His voice, hands, feet, and instruments in the world.

Many people find today's Gospel passage challenging, particularly the part where Jesus says we must "hate" our family members. At first glance, this statement feels uncomfortable and appears to contradict Jesus' teachings and Scripture, including the Ten Commandments, which call us to honor our parents. What, then, is Jesus truly trying to convey?

 

Jesus is not speaking about "hate" in the literal sense. Rather, He is emphasizing that our love for Him and our heavenly Father should surpass even the deep love we have for our parents or family members. When faced with a choice between following Christ or pleasing our family, our loyalty to Him must come first, even if this causes tension or misunderstanding.

 

Although Jesus' words may sound harsh, He often used strong language to capture the attention and hearts of His listeners. He meant to underscore that discipleship can be demanding and may, at times, put us in conflict with those we cherish most. We must be prepared to choose Him above all else when the situation calls for it.

 

Let us pray for unwavering faith and trust in Jesus, especially when following Him calls us to bear difficult crosses and burdens.

In today’s Gospel passage, a man hosts a lavish banquet and invites many guests. However, those initially invited are too absorbed in their own affairs to attend. In response, the host sends his servant into the streets and alleys to invite the poor, the blind, and the lame—reaching even those on the outskirts of town so that his house may be filled.

 

This parable reflects how God interacts with us. He calls each of us to embrace His love and grace, inviting us to experience the joy of His kingdom—even here and now, in the midst of our daily lives.

 

For many of us, the immediate demands of life can hinder us from accepting God’s invitation. We might assume we’ll make time for God after we have resolved all our earthly and material concerns. Yet, if we are not careful, we may find that we never really get around to answering that invitation.

 

God’s invitation to experience His love and grace is open to all. May we pray for hearts that remain attentive to this call at every moment, so we may grow in God’s love and actively participate in the Banquet of Life.

Today, we take a moment to remember those we have known and loved who have passed away. The entire month of November is dedicated to honoring our deceased in a special way.

As Christians, our remembrance of those who have died occurs within the context of faith and prayer. One of the ways we actively and spiritually connect with our beloved deceased is by praying to God for them. We take comfort in the belief that they are with God and that God is also present with us in this life. This shared connection with the Lord helps maintain our communion with our loved ones who have passed, and reassures us of God’s constant presence.

In our prayers for our dearly departed, we ask God to grant them the fullness of life. We also thank God for their time on Earth and the many blessings they brought into our lives. Their presence has enriched us, and we are thankful for the love and joy they shared with us.

Today, we entrust our beloved deceased to God. As it is written in Romans 5:5, “God’s love has been poured into our hearts by the Holy Spirit which has been given to us.” We trust in this love, and we pray that our departed loved ones may experience that love fully in God’s kingdom of everlasting love and peace. This hope sustains us in our grief, knowing that they are in His loving embrace.