St. Thomas the Apostle Parish

At the beginning of our Gospel story, the blind man is too far from Jesus to talk with Him. When he shouts, “Jesus, Son of David, have pity on me,” the followers of Jesus reprimand the man and tell him to keep quiet.

Jesus, on the other hand, rebuked those who hindered others from believing in Him. He held them accountable for stopping children from being brought to receive His blessing. He disregarded those who tried to stop blind Bartimaeus from approaching Him. Instead of closing doors in people's faces, He wants us to open the kingdom of heaven to others. We are meant to guide each other to the Lord, reveal the Lord to each other, and, in doing so, support each other on our journey towards God.

Well-meaning individuals obstructed this man's path to Jesus. Our calling is to do the opposite—to assist others in encountering Him and in walking with Him.

Today, we hear a story about a disagreement of sorts between Jesus and His disciples as they traveled to Jerusalem. The disciples seem to have different priorities from Jesus, as shown by the questions they ask each other.

 

James and John ask for glory, honor, and status, but Jesus asks whether they are willing to share in the rejection and suffering He will face. He asks them, “Can you drink the cup that I must drink, or be baptized with the baptism with which I am baptized?” This refers to the suffering and challenges that Jesus knows are ahead.

 

While James and John seek recognition, Jesus emphasizes the importance of selflessness. He explains that true discipleship involves showing selfless love and serving others, even if it means enduring hardship. Jesus Himself lived this way, knowing that the path to glory involves sacrifice and putting others first.

 

James and John, as well as all of us, are called to follow Jesus' example. He came not to be served but to serve, and His life was about selfless love and sacrifice. Only by following this path can we truly share in Jesus' glory.

 

Today's Gospel recounts Peter's declaration to Jesus: "We have left everything and followed you." Peter and the others sacrificed a great deal to stay with Jesus, prompting them to wonder if their commitment was truly worth it. In a similar way, we have also answered His call, even if our sacrifices may not be as dramatic as those of the first disciples, who left behind their livelihoods and families for an uncertain future. During times of doubt, we may find ourselves asking, "Is this struggle to live by the Gospel every day really worth it?"

 

The clear answer is: "Yes, it is worth the effort." Jesus assures us that when we give of ourselves for His sake, we will receive far more than we give up. We gain a new sense of family that goes beyond our blood relatives. We discover ourselves journeying alongside others who, like us, strive to live the Christian life. We experience the warmth of the Church, the community of the Lord's followers. This community includes not only those of us still on our journey, but also all who have passed beyond this life, including the saints and the "great cloud of witnesses."

Those who have grown up in the Catholic faith have always understood Mary, the Mother of Jesus, to be our Blessed Mother. Today's Gospel highlights when Jesus proclaimed her the Mother of the Church. 

As the Church's Mother, Mary plays a vital role in our relationship with the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. She answered God the Father's call during her encounter with the angel Gabriel. She gave birth to and raised Jesus, His Son, and was present at the original Pentecost when the Holy Spirit descended upon the Church's first leaders.

When she stood at the foot of the Cross, just moments before her Son died, Jesus declared her to be not only the Mother of His beloved disciple but also the Mother of all His disciples—essentially, the Mother of the Church.

As members of the Church, may we live out our faith as our Blessed Mother did. Let us be guided by her example and rely on her heavenly intercession.

Chicago priest Fr. Dominic Grassi tells the story of attending the wake of a priest who had died suddenly. He overheard those gathered, in their sadness, say they believed he had “walked the talk.”

That’s an interesting expression. Many of us can express our concerns with passion. We can articulate the needs and issues we face. But how many of us are willing to go beyond words and act on what we believe? That priest, Fr. Grassi says, was always there when someone needed to take a risk, to put himself on the line. So, with heavy hearts, people came from all over to pay their last respects.

After people lamented how much he would be missed, something happened that turned the wake into a true Pentecost experience. Seeing people from all over whose lives had been touched by this one priest—who was willing to act on what he believed—seemed to give those gathered to mourn encouragement and renewed faith.

Before the evening was over, people had committed themselves to picking up where he left off, to “walk the talk” as he did. The mood lightened. You could begin to sense and hear the joy, courage, and trust coming from everyone present. They had become one body in one Spirit, and this priest’s vision would live on in their actions.

When Jesus ascended into heaven, His disciples were left with a great deal of fear and a sense of abandonment. How could they possibly continue the work that Jesus came to do and, after His Ascension, called them to do? It seemed impossible. They didn’t trust in their own abilities and gifts.

But Jesus didn’t leave them alone; He gave them the gift of His Holy Spirit to guide them, to be with them, and to give them the ability to be the hands, the feet, and the voice of God in our world.

Those feelings of fear and abandonment are something the Church has struggled with since that first Ascension and Pentecost nearly 2,000 years ago. Despite Jesus’ promise to be with us always and the gift of His Spirit, we can still doubt our ability to be true messengers of God’s love and mercy, especially when our human faults and sinfulness get in the way.

But the message of Pentecost is that we do have the gifts to truly be the Church—the Body of Christ on earth. Jesus has entrusted us with this mission and, although we sometimes fail, it’s incredible to think that the Church has survived this long through wars, famines, disasters, and even our own sinfulness. We have survived precisely because we have been gifted with God’s Holy Spirit.

May this Solemnity of Pentecost, which we celebrate today, remind us of our responsibility and strengthen our confidence, knowing that God is with us every step of the way. May we wholeheartedly give ourselves to the mission of the Church, spreading the message of peace and love to everyone we meet.

In today’s Gospel, we encounter three main characters: Jesus, Peter, and the Beloved Disciple. Peter had just received an important mandate: "Feed my lambs and my sheep." But instead of asking what this new responsibility might entail, Peter asks about the future of the Beloved Disciple: "Lord, what about him?" Jesus’ response could be paraphrased as, "I have other plans for him. You follow me, doing the work I have given you."

Peter and the Beloved Disciple had different roles to play. Peter’s ministry ended with his martyrdom in Rome during the first persecution under Emperor Nero, while the Beloved Disciple stayed in the East and seems to have died an older man, either in Ephesus or on the island of Patmos.

The Lord has a unique role for each of us, something that no one else can do. Rather than wondering, like Peter, what God wants from others, we need to discern the task given to us personally. Comparing ourselves to others is just a distraction; we can only be ourselves.

 

After Jesus was arrested, Peter denied Him three times. However, after the Resurrection, Jesus appeared to Peter and asked him three times, "Do you love me?" This question focused not on Peter's past actions, but on his present love for Jesus.

 

Jesus asks us the same question: "Do you love me?" This question invites us to make Jesus the center of our affection and devotion. In the Gospel of John, Jesus says, "As the Father has loved me, so I have loved you; remain in my love." This loving relationship between the Lord and us is fundamental to our faith, and everything we do in His name depends on it.

 

Peter could not be entrusted with caring for the Lord's flock until he publicly declared his love for Him. Similarly, our personal relationship with the Lord must come before any work we might do in His name. Our life of faith and our participation in the Lord's work of caring for His flock are the result of our personal relationship of love with Him.

The Resurrection of Jesus stands as the very foundation of Christianity. If Jesus truly conquered death and rose again, then everything He taught and accomplished is worthy of our trust. As Saint Paul powerfully asserts, without the Resurrection, our faith loses its meaning and purpose.

 

After His Resurrection, Jesus chose not to appear to the Pharisees or the crowds; instead, He revealed Himself only to His Apostles and a select group of followers. The Apostles were the sole witnesses to the empty tomb on the third day. Facing immense danger, these ordinary people did not falter or recant their testimony. Instead, they courageously gave their lives as martyrs, boldly proving the depth of their conviction in what they saw.

 

At the Last Supper, Jesus prayed for His Apostles and for everyone who would come to believe in Him through their witness. The world may not have recognized Jesus, but these chosen ones knew Him intimately. He entrusted them with a powerful mission: to share His truth so that all who believe in Him might be united on earth and experience the joy of God’s presence in heaven.

 

Just as Jesus depended on His Apostles, He now depends on us. By spreading the faith, we carry forward the vital work the Apostles began after Jesus’ death, Resurrection, and Ascension. Let us stay committed to that mission and inspire others to embrace this life-changing belief.

 

Jesus has always been a guide and protector for His disciples. In today’s Gospel, He continues to care for them through His intercessory prayer, lifting their needs and concerns to the Father. This prayer is not just a momentary act but a reflection of the deep relationship and commitment Jesus has to those He loves. Throughout His ministry, Jesus served His disciples by teaching, encouraging, and supporting them in times of challenge. His intercessory prayer is a powerful reminder that His care did not end with His earthly presence. Likewise, when we pray for others, we participate in this loving act of service, showing our care and following Jesus’s example of compassion and concern for others.

 

Jesus taught us the importance of intercessory prayer by praying for His disciples, showing that lifting others up to God is an essential part of our faith. Since then, praying for others has become an integral part of the Church’s prayer life, shaping how Christians care for one another and build community. The Apostle Paul also mentions praying for his congregations and encourages his followers to pray for him, highlighting the mutual support that intercessory prayer provides. This type of prayer has a long and rich history in the Jewish tradition, where praying on behalf of others was seen as a sacred responsibility. Through intercessory prayer, we express our unity and connection with others in Christ, reminding ourselves that we are all part of one body and are called to support one another in love.

Today's Scripture readings share some "famous last words" from St. Paul and Jesus. Each expresses the idea that most of their work is finished. St. Paul prepares to go to Jerusalem, praying that he will travel to Rome and Spain if he leaves the city alive. Jesus, on the other hand, declares that He has completed the work assigned to Him by His Father and prays, "Father, the hour has come. Glorify your Son." St. Paul offers guidance on the responsibilities of pastors and church leaders, while Jesus prays for them and for all who will join the ministry in future generations.

 

St. Paul's address and Jesus' prayer emphasize a hopeful future rooted in faith; they openly acknowledge having given their best in their efforts. St. Paul reflects, "You know how I lived among you the whole time from the day I first came here. I served the Lord with all humility and with the tears and trials that came to me." Jesus affirms the identity of His followers, saying to His Father, "I revealed your name to those you gave me out of the world. They belonged to you, and you gave them to me, and they have kept your word."

 

St. Paul faces an uncertain future, with possible imprisonment awaiting him in Jerusalem. Jesus does not predict the exact challenges ahead; instead, He prays that His disciples will remain faithful to Him and His teachings.

 

Our situation today is no different. We, too, should face the uncertain future with faith and peace, knowing that when we finish the work given to us by the Father, God will welcome us to Himself.