St. Thomas the Apostle Parish

Homily for Tuesday of the 4th Week of Advent

Choosing a baby’s name can spark lively debates among family members, with everyone eager to share their favorites. But at the end of the day, it’s the parents who hold the ultimate authority.

 

Take Zechariah and Elizabeth, for example. Their relatives and neighbors just assumed their baby boy would be named “Zechariah,” following the age-old tradition of naming sons after their fathers. But Zechariah and Elizabeth knew that God had a surprise in store—a unique name chosen for their child by divine inspiration.

 

Long-standing customs were set aside because God was about to do something brand-new. This child was destined to break the mold, and everyone wondered what kind of man he would become.

 

John the Baptist would prepare a path, getting people ready for the arrival of someone even greater—Emmanuel, meaning “God is with us.” God was moving in fresh, unprecedented ways, setting up a brand-new covenant with humanity. This incredible gift is what we celebrate at Christmas, and it should fill our hearts with wonder and thanks.

Homily for Monday of the 4th Week of Advent

In today's Gospel reading, we witnessed Mary's heartfelt, grace-filled response to her cousin Elizabeth, who joyfully recognized her as the Mother of our Lord. This prayer, famously known as the Magnificat, resounds each evening in the official Prayer of the Church, echoing across the world in a chorus of faith.

 

Mary's canticle overflows with joy and wonder as she lifts up the humble—those often overlooked or dismissed by society—as specially chosen by God. With faith-filled grace, she proclaims the dramatic reversal of fortunes and the fulfillment of ancient promises, weaving the hopes of the Old Testament into her praise.

 

Mary's words shine with praise, recognizing God's abiding presence and gentle providence guiding every life on earth.

 

May we, too, open our eyes, ears, minds, and souls to God’s presence in our daily journey, responding with grateful praise and sharing that radiant joy with everyone we meet.

Homily for the 4th Sunday of Advent

In her book, My Grandfather’s Blessings, Dr. Rachel Naomi Remen recounts how, on Yom Kippur—the solemn Jewish Day of Atonement—a rabbi delivered a memorable sermon to his congregation on the theme of forgiveness and mercy.

Before he began, he walked into the congregation, took his infant daughter from his wife, and, carrying her in his arms, stepped up to the synagogue podium. From her father’s arms, the little girl, barely a year old, smiled at the congregation. Every heart melted. The child turned toward her father and patted him on the cheek with her tiny hands. As he began to speak, the little girl grabbed his nose and tugged. Then she took his tie and put it in her mouth. The entire congregation began to chuckle. The rabbi rescued his tie and smiled at her; she put her tiny arms around his neck. The rabbi tried to continue his sermon, but it was of no use. By now, the synagogue was filled with laughter.

The little girl had made the rabbi’s point.

He said, “Think about it.  Is there anything she can do that you could not forgive her for?”

As the congregation members nodded in recognition, the little girl reached up and grabbed his eyeglasses.  Retrieving his glasses and settling them on his nose, the rabbi hugged his little girl, laughing as well.

Then the rabbi asked, “And when does that stop? When does it get hard to forgive? At three? At seven? At fourteen? At thirty-five? How old does someone have to be before you forget that everyone is a child of God?”[1]

As the rabbi teaches a powerful lesson about forgiveness with the help of his infant daughter, we are reminded of a greater lesson echoed throughout our own spiritual traditions. Just as the rabbi’s daughter, in her innocence and vulnerability, opens hearts to laughter and mercy, so too does the story of God’s compassion come alive in the Child of Bethlehem. In the birth of this Child, God enters human history not with power or might, but with gentleness and humility, changing the course of humanity forever.

His presence offers us a new vision—one in which hope is not just a distant dream, but a living reality; justice is not an abstract ideal, but a seed planted in every act of kindness; and peace is not only possible, but promised to those who embrace the spirit of reconciliation.

Each and every one of us is recreated and transformed by the love of a God who humbles Himself to become a helpless baby. This act of divine vulnerability invites us to see divinity in ourselves and in one another, no matter our flaws or failures.

God becomes one of us—sharing in our joys, our struggles, and our hopes—so that, one day, we might grow in compassion, forgiveness, and love, becoming more like Him. May the blessings of this holy birth fill every season of our lives with hope, and may the mercy and justice of this Child inspire us to bring light and healing to the world around us.

[1] Rachel Naomi Remen, M.D., My Grandfather’s Blessings [New York: Riverhead Books, 2000], “All in the Family,” pages 99-100.

Homily for Saturday of the 3rd Week of Advent

As we count down the days to Christmas, our Gospel reading invites us to journey back nine months to the Annunciation—the moment when the Virgin Mary first heard the angel reveal God's extraordinary plan for her within His greater purpose. We're drawn into Mary's world, feeling her confusion and fear, and then reassured by the angel's gentle words: "Do not be afraid."

 

Today, fear can creep into our lives in many forms. But those same comforting words spoken to Mary echo for each of us: "Do not be afraid." When we, like Mary, choose to trust and follow God's will, we discover there's truly nothing to fear—because we walk every step in the presence of the Lord.

 

In these final days of Advent, may we look to Mary as our guiding light—a model of trust and courage—as we strive to embrace God's will and play our unique part in His divine story.

Homily for Friday of the 3rd Week of Advent

Zechariah received wonderful news from the angel Gabriel: his wife, Elizabeth, who had been unable to have children, would soon give birth to a special son. This son would be chosen to prepare the people for the Lord. However, Zechariah found it hard to believe this amazing news.

 

Sometimes, we also struggle to believe good news because we are surrounded by negativity. We might find it hard to accept the Good News from God, or we may believe it in general but not see how it applies to us personally.

 

During this time of year, we celebrate the Good News that God has become Emmanuel—God-with-us—through the birth of Jesus, Mary's Son. This is Good News for all of us, both as a community and as individuals. Christ is with us in every part of our lives, surrounding us with his love and guidance. Let's embrace this Good News with great joy during this special season.

Homily for Thursday of the 3rd. Week of Advent

The Gospel of Matthew stands apart from the other Gospels because it omits the Annunciation to Mary and instead focuses on the angel’s message to Joseph.

In Luke’s Gospel, the angel reassures Mary with the words, "Do not be afraid." Similarly, in Matthew’s Gospel, the angel offers Joseph the same encouragement: "Do not be afraid."

God was working in unprecedented and significant ways in the lives of Mary and Joseph—ways that would prove crucial for humanity’s redemption. The miraculous conception of Jesus was a profound demonstration of God’s grace, which naturally raised doubts and uncertainties in the hearts of those most affected. Both Mary and Joseph needed reassurance to face the challenges before them.

In times of change and uncertainty, we all need the same reassurance: "Do not be afraid." May we, like Mary and Joseph, trust in God’s presence—in Emmanuel, "God with us"—and become willing participants in God’s unfolding plan.

 

Homily for Wednesday of the 3rd Week of Advent

Although Christmas celebrates the birth of Jesus, it took about 300 years after His birth before the Church formally recognized this celebration.

Christmas and Advent are the newest additions to our liturgical calendar. While the early Church celebrated the Lord’s Resurrection from its very beginnings, the first recorded celebration of the Lord’s birth dates back to between 274 and 336 AD. The Romans held an annual festival called Sol Invictus, or the "Birthday of the Invincible Sun," which was observed on what was then the shortest day of the year, December 25th. This day marked the first day of increasing daylight as the sun began to rise higher in the sky.

As Christianity expanded throughout the Roman Empire, the Church adopted the celebration of the “Birthday of the Invincible Sun” to honor the dawning of the Son of God. Over the centuries, the liturgical season of Advent emerged as a time for prayer and preparation for Christmas.

In today’s Gospel, Matthew presents a genealogy of Jesus’ ancestors. Both Matthew’s account of Jesus’ lineage and the early Church’s choice of the timing for this celebration reflect our belief that Jesus fulfills the vision God had for the world from the very beginning of creation—a world characterized by justice and peace. Jesus enters our world as a “new” sun, illuminating it once more with the peace and justice of God. 

 

Homily for Tuesday of the 3rd Week of Advent

Jesus tells a brief parable today about two sons: one who said he would do his father’s will but failed to do so, and the other who, at first, refused but then did so.

True discipleship, that is, following the will of God, is found in the depths of our hearts and our souls, and it is expressed most powerfully in our actions, but in our words and attitudes as well. Discipleship is the expression of a deep desire to follow the will of God and to serve God with humility and, through our words, actions, and attitudes, to mirror to others Christ’s love for us.

Many things keep us from answering the call of discipleship: human limitations, imperfections, and sinfulness. But the true disciple humbly acknowledges these failures and limitations and continues to work toward the fullest expression of what it means to call oneself a follower of Christ.

Let us ask God for the graces we need to truly live as Disciples of Christ. May Christ dwell in the depths of our hearts and souls, and may we live, learn, and love as His faithful followers.

Homily for Monday of the 3rd Week of Advent

The question posed to Jesus by the chief priests and the elders in today’s Gospel passage comes soon after He expelled the merchants and money changers from the Temple in Jerusalem. As we heard, they wanted to know by whose authority He could do such things. They asserted authority over the Temple for themselves, and they had not permitted Jesus to do what He did.

Jesus did not answer the question about His authority, but the careful reader of the Gospel knows its source. From before His birth, Jesus was called Emmanuel, meaning “God-with-us.”

Because Jesus is “God-with-us,” He has the authority to say how God’s Temple was used. He knows that it was not being used nor operated with due faith and reverence. And He responded with righteous anger.

As we draw closer to the celebration of the birth of our Emmanuel, He shows us how to honor God rightly and helps us by filling our hearts with the grace of the Holy Spirit. May our hearts be genuinely open to that grace, who is always present and always active in our lives.

Homily for the Memorial of Saint Lucy, Virgin and Martyr

In today's Gospel passage, Jesus compared John the Baptist to the prophet Elijah, who was expected to return just before the arrival of the long-awaited Savior. Jesus said that people did not recognize John the Baptist and treated him however they wanted.

 

John the Baptist’s fate would soon become Jesus’ fate as well. As Jesus said, “So also will the Son of Man suffer at their hands.” Both John and Jesus preached the values of God’s kingdom, and they suffered greatly for doing so. Even as we approach the celebration of Jesus’ birth, we are reminded of the Cross that awaited this Child.

 

At Christmas, we celebrate the Good News that God loved the world so much that He gave us His only Son. Today’s Gospel reminds us that God’s gift was a giving unto death—a giving that cost everything.

 

During this season of Advent, we pray for the same generosity, so that we may give to others what God has given to us.