St. Thomas the Apostle Parish

Homily for Friday of the 23rd Week in Ordinary time

Today's Gospel passage warns us about the dangers of hypocrisy and self-deception, particularly when it comes to judging others. We are called to engage in honest self-reflection and address our own faults first (the "wooden beam") before attempting to correct the minor faults (the "splinter") of others. This invitation to self-examination is presented as a necessary step for spiritual maturity and practical guidance, as faithful disciples will eventually become like their teacher, Christ, when they allow His grace to heal their spiritual blindness.

Therefore, we should take the time to examine our own faults. Instead of being quick to judge the actions or words of others, we should ask ourselves if we are overlooking similar, or even worse, flaws in our own lives.

Our focus should be on growing in virtue and striving to become more like Jesus by allowing Him to heal our own spiritual "wooden beams." This personal growth will enable us to be more effective and authentic guides for others.

Additionally, we should practice true discernment. When we are ready to help someone else, we will be able to see the splinter clearly and assist our brother or sister in removing it with love and clarity, rather than with judgment.

Homily for Thursday of the 23rd Week in Ordinary Time

Our Gospel passage today reveals Jesus' call to radical mercy and love, contrasting worldly responses with His revolutionary teachings in the "Sermon on the Plain."

He challenges us, His followers, to love our enemies. This is not a natural inclination for most people and requires extraordinary grace from God, along with a conscious decision to avoid engaging in cycles of violence and negativity. The Golden Rule—treating others as we wish to be treated—is central to this calling. We must exercise compassion, just as God is compassionate towards the ungrateful and wicked. Moreover, we must maintain a strong faith that our generous acts will one day be rewarded, as we give freely without expecting anything in return.

Our goal is to emulate God's merciful nature and become children of the Most High by striving to love as God loves. This approach allows us to transcend mere reciprocal relationships and embody divine mercy for all.

Homily for Wednesday of the 23rd Week in Ordinary Time

The Beatitudes may sound unusual to our ears. One might wonder: How can people be happy if they are poor, hungry, or weeping? These statements clash with our typical views on life. Often, the teachings of Jesus prompt us to rethink our perceptions. He revealed a God who stands with the distressed and downtrodden. Jesus calls these individuals blessed because God is on their side and desires a more just and shared world. Recognizing our needs can create space for God to work in our lives, whereas times of abundance can lead to self-satisfaction and a distancing from God.

People often seek God more fervently when their needs are greater. We come before the Lord in our poverty, hunger, and sadness precisely because these experiences remind us that we are not self-sufficient.

The Scriptures recount a poignant moment as Jesus hung from the Cross. One of the two thieves being executed alongside Him pleaded, "Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom." To this condemned man, Jesus replied, "Amen, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise." This exchange serves as a potent reminder that in our moments of greatest weakness, God's grace shines most brightly, offering hope and redemption to all.

Homily for the Memorial of St. Peter Claver

In a deeply spiritual act, Jesus climbed the mountain and spent the night in prayer. After this personal communion with His Father, He felt revitalized. In the morning, He called His disciples and chose twelve of them to be His Apostles. He then began teaching and healing those who came to Him. The Gospel tells us, "power came forth from Him and healed them all."

Jesus' experience teaches us the immense value of taking time to pray, rejuvenating our energy and inspiration, especially before making significant decisions. Prayer provides us with the direction and clarity we need in all aspects of our lives.

Homily for the Feast of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary

The Church's celebration of Mary's birth probably began at some point in the Sixth Century, possibly earlier. The Eastern Church begins its liturgical year every September and chose that month as the beginning of Mary's life on earth. With nine months as the traditionally understood time of pregnancy, September 8 determined the date for the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception on December 8.

Scripture does not tell us anything about the birth of Mary. However, the somewhat fictional Protoevangelium of James, while being rather dubious, possibly fills in the gap. While this work has no historical value, it shows us some of Christian piety's early development. According to this account, Mary's parents, Anna and Joachim, prayed for a child and received the promise of a child who would be an active participant in God's salvation plan. Much like many biblical stories, this one stresses God's remarkable presence in Mary's life from its beginning.

Saint Augustine connected Mary's birth with the salvific mission of Jesus. He said, “She is the flower of the field from whom bloomed the precious lily of the valley. Through her birth, the nature inherited from our first parents is changed.” Indeed, her life and her cooperation with the plan of God opened the way for the one who would change our sinful nature forever, in this life and the next.

Homily for the 23rd Sunday in Ordinary Time

It’s the nature of the human person to often refuse to “let go” of things that are making our lives so much less than we want them to be. We may often cling to the things that enable us to have the trappings of a lifestyle — but at the cost of a life in which joy, love, and fulfillment are the center.

This tendency is something that Jesus warns us about in today’s Gospel reading. He lets us know that we need to spend our lives preparing for the kingdom to come; that even though we say we are committed to the Good News that he brings, it takes much more than that:  It takes a lifetime of preparation and work; it takes a lifetime of letting go and giving our spirit and our very lives over to the mercy and the goodness of God.

A number of years ago, the LA Times ran a story about a man who followed the advice of Jesus and who put God as the absolute first priority in his life. His name was Charlie DeLeo.

Charlie grew up as a tough kid on New York’s Lower East Side. He served in Viet Nam and, after returning, he got a job as a maintenance worker at the Statue of Liberty.

Charlie told the reporter from the LA Times that part of his job was to take care of the torch in the statue’s hand and the crown on the statue’s head. It was his job to see that the sodium vapor lights were always working and that the 200 glass windows were clean.

Pointing to the torch, Charlie said proudly, “That’s my chapel. I dedicated it to the Lord, and I go up there and meditate on my breaks.”

But Charlie does other things for the Lord as well. He received a commendation from the Red Cross after donating his 65th pint of blood. Ever since he heard of the work that Mother Teresa and her Sisters were doing for the poor, he gave them several thousand dollars to help them in their work.

Charlie said to the reporter, “I don’t socialize much, don’t have fancy clothes but I have fun. The thing is, however, I don’t have enough money to get married. I don’t keep any of my money. After I got my job, I sponsored six orphans through those children’s organizations.”

Charlie ended the interview by telling the reporter that he calls himself “The Keeper of the Flame” of the Statue of Liberty. And that’s exactly what everyone who worked with Charlie saw him as too. But they saw the flame that he kept burning as something much more and much deeper than the torch on the Statue of Liberty.

Charlie is an example of the two points that Jesus makes in today’s Gospel: the decision to put God first in one’s life, and the decision to do whatever it takes to live out that choice. Each of us is called to live up to both of these challenges and to “let go” of that which keeps us from bringing these things to fulfillment in our lives.

I’d like to close with a prayer that Charlie DeLeo wrote:

O Lord, I don’t ever expect to have the faith of Abraham, Nor do I ever expect to have the leadership of Moses, nor the strength of Samson, nor the courage of David, nor the wisdom of Solomon… But what I do expect, O Lord, is your calling on me some day. What is your will, I shall do; what is your command shall be my joy. And I shall not fail you, O Lord, for you are all I seek to serve.”

Homily for Saturday of the 22nd Week in Ordinary Time

The Sabbath greeting among Jewish people is "Shabbat Shalom!" This phrase carries profound significance. Literally, it translates to "a peaceful Sabbath," but it also expresses a prayer for the fullness of life, which cannot be achieved solely through strict adherence to rules.

When Jesus' disciples were accused of breaking the Sabbath, Jesus provided a wise and reassuring response supported by Scripture. His followers were plucking ears of grain and eating them—an action permitted on weekdays but not on the Sabbath. Jesus clarified that this action could also be performed on the Sabbath by referencing an instance when David and his men were granted special permission to eat the Temple bread, which was typically reserved for the priests. Genuine observance of the Law allows for actions that are necessary to serve the Lord.

Homily for the Optional Memorial of Saint Teresa of Calcutta

Jesus used vivid imagery to highlight what is essential in life. He compared His ministry to new wine, indicating that this new wine required new wineskins. The traditional ways of doing things would no longer suffice. Nevertheless, Jesus also respected His Jewish traditions and the Scriptures that nourished and inspired Him.

In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus stated that He came not to abolish the Law and the prophets, but to fulfill them. He did not claim to be starting from scratch; rather, He greatly valued Jewish tradition. His aim was to bring about a greater richness and fullness within it. He sought to renew Israel’s tradition, not discard it. His perspective suggests that we should neither abandon our religious traditions nor treat them as a static set of rules and practices.

The Church constantly needs reform and renewal; the new wine of the Holy Spirit will always require new wineskins. Renewal involves honoring the best aspects of our traditions, allowing their rich potential to be fully realized.

Homily for Thursday of the 22nd Week in Ordinary Time

In today's Gospel, Peter and his companions labored all night but caught nothing. Their efforts had failed; they had done everything possible, but something was still missing.

Then Jesus arrived, and everything changed. Peter and his companions discovered the solution to their problems: they had been lacking the most essential ingredient—the help and power of God, and the guidance of His Son, Jesus.

This story holds an important lesson for us: we all need God in our lives. While our human efforts are necessary, they are not enough to solve our problems. We require God's power and assistance to face our challenges.

When we turn to God in times of struggle, we find that He desires to bless us beyond our wildest dreams. God wants to provide our lives with a fullness and strength that exceeds anything we can imagine. All we need to do is open our hearts to God's love, let His light shine upon us, and lower our nets to be filled. God will take care of the rest.

Homily for the Memorial of Saint Gregory the Great

The first part of today's Gospel offers important insights. Jesus learns that Simon Peter's mother-in-law is seriously ill with a high fever. This event has been recounted numerous times, and Luke summarizes it as follows: First, Peter's mother-in-law becomes gravely ill. Second, friends ask Jesus to help her. Third, He commands the fever to leave her. Finally, she gets up and begins to serve them, likely offering food.

After her miraculous recovery, the woman immediately gets up and waits on them. This act of service within a caring community enriches the family environment. The people around Jesus interceded on her behalf in a beautiful display of unity. Their actions convey a sense of belonging and togetherness that is truly heartwarming.

In his letter to the Colossians, St. Puls commends the people for having a similar attitude to the people we encounter in our Gospel story. He speaks about their faith and love, and their hope for heaven.

We, too, are called to care for one another in Jesus' name and to be of service to those in need. Our love and concern for others, even those outside our families and faith community, must be real and evident, marking us as followers of Christ and encouraging others to become the same.