St. Thomas the Apostle Parish

It is natural to feel proud of our work, especially when we do it well. When the disciples returned from a successful mission, they joyfully told Jesus about casting out demons. While Jesus acknowledged their accomplishments, he gently redirected their focus to what truly matters: that their names are written in heaven.

 

The greatest joy—for the disciples and for us—is our relationship with God. This connection gives true meaning to our work. Jesus said, "Blessed are the eyes that see what you see." The disciples recognized God's presence in Jesus and believed in his unique relationship with the Father, feeling included in that bond. This connection is the real source of their joy after they have done their best. Sharing in Jesus' relationship with God is our greatest treasure—far more valuable than any achievements we might accomplish in life.

 

This relationship is what "many prophets and kings wanted to see and hear," and it is the deepest reason for our joy and gratitude. Even when our productive years end, our connection with God through Jesus remains unbroken.

Our faith teaches us that God assigns each person a unique guardian angel from birth until death—an ever-present protector and guide who leads us safely toward heaven. From our very first breath to our last, God envelops us in vigilant, loving care through our guardian angels.

 

In the Gospel, Jesus reveals that the angels of children always behold the face of the heavenly Father. They dwell in God's presence even as they remain at our side.

 

Our angels are our spiritual guides who inspire our hearts with goodness, defend us from spiritual harm, and gently lead us toward virtue.

We should acknowledge our guardian angels. Speak with your guardian angel throughout the day. Seek their guidance especially when you face difficult choices or temptations.

 

Teach children, and remind ourselves, to pray daily the classic prayer to our guardian angels: "Angel of God, my guardian dear, to whom God’s love commits me here, ever this day be at my side, to light and guard, to rule and guide. Amen."

 

Jesus instructs His disciples to go forth and share His message: "The Kingdom of God is at hand for you." He makes it clear that their duty is not dependent on how they are received in each town. Whether they are welcomed with open arms or met with indifference or rejection, their mission remains the same. They must proclaim the message regardless of the response. God’s presence and nearness are not contingent on human acceptance; He remains close to us at all times, offering His grace whether or not we embrace His word.

God’s abiding presence and love are a constant reality. This truth is especially significant today, when Christian faith may not be as widely practiced or as deeply rooted as it once was. Even in a world that often seems indifferent or even hostile to the Gospel, every disciple who loves Jesus and shares His message is assured of God's unwavering support. No matter the challenges or difficulties, God empowers and sustains those who seek to live out their calling as followers of Christ, enabling them to persevere and remain faithful.

In today’s Gospel passage, three men express a desire to join Jesus and participate in His mission, but they do so without fully considering the cost of such a commitment. When Jesus invites them to follow Him at once, two hesitate, explaining they must first fulfill important family obligations—burying a father and saying goodbye to loved ones. Jesus, however, underscores the urgency of His call, urging them to place following Him above all other priorities.

 

It can be difficult to understand why Jesus’ call seems so urgent. Following Him is never easy, as He asks for a commitment and loyalty that can even surpass our obligations to family. Living according to the Gospel may sometimes lead to conflict with those closest to us. Yet, as with other challenging passages, we must interpret today’s reading within the broader context of Jesus’ teachings—namely, to love our neighbors as ourselves and to place our relationship with God above all else.

In today’s Gospel, Jesus reveals the twofold action of angels: they “ascend and descend on the Son of Man.” Angels ascend to serve God and descend to serve us on God’s behalf. This dynamic was echoed in today’s Collect Prayer, where we asked God to “graciously grant that our life on earth may be defended by those who watch over us [descending] as they minister perpetually to you in heaven [ascending].” As we reflect on their purpose and mission, we can also let their example inspire us—teaching us to ascend in praise of God and descend in humble service to others.

 

The Archangels’ primary role is to ascend in praise of God. Their second task is to descend and bring God’s help to us. Gabriel brought the Word of God to the Blessed Mother and Zechariah; Raphael brought healing and guidance to Tobias; and Michael stands as our defender and protector.

 

Let us pray to God, asking for the help of the archangels:

 

Heavenly King, You have given us archangels to assist us

during our pilgrimage on earth.

Saint Michael is our protector;

[We] ask him to come to [our] aid,

fight for all [our] loved ones,

and protect us from danger.

Saint Gabriel is a messenger of the Good News;

[we] ask him to help [us] clearly hear Your voice

and to teach [us] the truth.

Saint Raphael is the healing angel;

[we] ask him to take [our] need for healing

and that of everyone [we] know,

lift it up to Your throne of grace and

deliver us back to the gift of recovery.

Help us, O Lord, to realize more fully

the reality of archangels and their desire to serve us.

Holy angels, pray for us.

Amen.[1]

[1] From the website for the Diocese of St. Petersburg

 

Jesus frequently taught profound life lessons through both His actions and His words. On one occasion, His disciples found themselves entangled in a self-centered debate: Who among them was the greatest? Their ideas of greatness may have stemmed from personal abilities, family background, or even their proximity to Jesus Himself. Yet Jesus recognized the need to correct their perspective, revealing that true greatness, in God's eyes, stands in stark contrast to worldly definitions.

 

To illustrate His lesson, Jesus placed a child beside Himself—a powerful gesture that communicated more than words alone could. In that cultural context, children symbolized weakness and vulnerability, not greatness. By associating Himself with the least and the overlooked, Jesus challenged His disciples’ misguided aspirations. Their pursuit of greatness revealed a misunderstanding that echoes our own need for guidance and humility as we navigate our spiritual journeys.

 

Ultimately, God’s values differ profoundly from those of the world. Just as the disciples were prone to rivalry and ego, we too can find ourselves motivated by self-interest. Jesus calls us to realign our ambitions with God’s values, following the example He set through humility and selfless service.

For decades, author Jonathan Kozol has been exploring the depths of poor inner-city neighborhoods and the children who live there in award-winning books such as Rachel and Her Children and Amazing Grace: The Lives of Children and the Conscience of a Nation. 

Mr. Kozol once observed that poor neighborhoods serve a critical purpose for the wealthy. He said that if there were no poor neighborhoods, the rich and the privileged would have to look into the eyes of the poor every day.

In the 1980s, thousands of families in New York became homeless. These people walked the streets and gathered outside the restaurants and theaters. Civic-minded people in the city were not happy. He said, "The last thing the theater owners wanted was to have a wealthy couple spend $200 to see Les Misérables, a musical about the poor, and then come out from the theater and see the real thing!"

Mr. Kozol said that sometimes he would walk by that theater and see people who, only moments earlier, had likely been weeping for the poor children in Paris, exit onto the street, and be offended by people begging on the sidewalk.

In today's Gospel and throughout the Gospels, Jesus defends the dignity of all people in the eyes of God—the poor, the powerless, the ignored, the forgotten. We are called to support that dignity, not just in the words of songs sung comfortably in the theater or church, but on the street corners of our own cities and neighborhoods. 

Jesus demands that we, His disciples, voice our faith not just in the prayers and rituals we speak, but also in how we reach out and help the needy, how we treat those who are different from us, and the relationships we form with one another. 

The challenge of discipleship is to translate our many "good intentions" into the work of discipleship, transforming our emotional feelings for the unseen, distant poor and marginalized into genuine compassion and charity for the poor and marginalized in our midst. 

 

 

God’s plan frequently defies human logic, calling us to surrender our need for control and place our absolute trust in Him.

 

In today’s Gospel, the disciples are enjoying a surge of popularity, surrounded by crowds in awe of Jesus’ mighty deeds. Yet, at the very height of this triumph, Jesus delivers a sobering reality: "The Son of Man is to be handed over to men." He deliberately shatters their illusion of worldly success, understanding that faith rooted solely in miracles cannot withstand the test of the Cross.

 

The Gospel reveals a profound human struggle: the disciples did not understand, and “they were afraid to question him.” When God’s plan diverges from our expectations, fear can paralyze us. We long for a roadmap with clear, comfortable destinations, but Jesus invites us instead into a relationship of deep, trusting surrender.

 

Trusting God’s plan means allowing His words to penetrate our hearts even when they unsettle us. It challenges us to believe that the valleys of our lives—our disappointments, illnesses, and griefs—are not detours from God’s purpose, but the very places where we grow closer to Him. True peace is found not in perfect understanding, but in knowing and trusting the One who holds the future.

 

Let us pray that God will grant us the grace to trust His plan, especially when it remains hidden from our sight. When fear paralyzes us, may we be infused with courage. When suffering confounds us, may we be filled with peace. May we surrender our need for control, confident that the path through the Cross always leads to the glory of the Resurrection.

In today's Gospel, after spending time in prayer, Jesus posed two questions to His disciples: "Who do the crowds say that I am?" and "Who do you say that I am?"

The first question was broad and straightforward, but the second was deeply personal and profoundly challenging.

 

When faced with this second question, we are invited to reflect on who Jesus is to each of us personally. While it is easier to consider what He means to others in general, it takes much deeper introspection to articulate what He means to me. Ultimately, our answer to this second question holds the greatest significance. Jesus desires that we express our personal faith in Him. He asks, "What do you believe?" and then sends us forth to share that faith with others.

Herod exercised power in Galilee on behalf of Rome. Saint Luke portrayed his attitude toward Jesus as somewhat dismissive. When Herod learned about Jesus' activities and the intense interest people had in Him, he became curious and sought to meet Him. Their encounter would finally occur during Jesus' Passion, when Pilate sent Jesus to Herod to confirm His guilt. Herod questioned Jesus but ultimately treated Him with contempt. His curiosity about Jesus was superficial and did not lead to any faith.

While some people were led to faith by their interest in Jesus, even those with faith have much to contemplate regarding His life and teachings. Herod's question, "Who then is this?" is not just for him but for all of us to ponder. We must remain constant seekers in our pursuit of knowing Jesus.

Let us pray that we will always strive to understand Jesus and His role in our redemption, deepening our relationship with Him and our hope for salvation.