St. Thomas the Apostle Parish

Homily for Saturday of the 20th Week in Ordinary Time

In today's Gospel, Jesus emphasizes the importance of humility and authenticity in the lives of all Christians. He contrasts the actions and attitudes of the Scribes and Pharisees with His own teachings. Jesus calls His followers to avoid hypocrisy and prioritize serving God and others over mere outward displays of piety. He reminds us to acknowledge God as the ultimate source of authority.

As followers of Jesus, we are called to act with integrity, ensuring our words and actions align with what we profess to believe. We must understand that the external appearance of faithfulness is far less significant than the genuine service to God and others that springs forth from our faith in Him. And, we should always recognize our need for God's help and guidance to truly follow His will and grow in His love.

Homily for the Memorial of the Queenship of the Blessed Virgin Mary

By the Middle Ages, the Blessed Virgin Mary was venerated as Queen of the angels and the saints. In 1955, Pope Pius XII proclaimed the Queenship of the Blessed Virgin Mary. The feast was given the date of August 22nd to emphasize its connection with the Solemnity of the Assumption, one week earlier.
There are many "vocational stories" throughout the Scriptures. Today, we hear about the call to Mary, which showed a wide range of responses to her encounter with the angel. First, she was "deeply troubled" at being called "full of grace." Then, she was confused that she would conceive and bear a son. Then, only after reflection, she submitted to what God asked of her, saying, "May it be done to me according to your word."
Mary's question, "How can this be?" shows that she struggled before reaching her famous response. There is always some struggle in understanding what God wants from us. Mary's response of total surrender to God's purpose for her life did not come easily, just as it may not come easily to us. However, in our struggle to live in harmony with God's will for us, we have the promise of Gabriel's words to Mary, "Nothing will be impossible for God." What seems impossible to us is always possible with God's help. In the words of St. Paul: "By the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace to me has not been ineffective."

Homily for th Memorial of Saint Pius X

On the surface, the tossing out of the guest without the wedding garment seems cruel. However, as with all of Jesus’ parables, what we see on the surface is simply a metaphor for a much deeper reality.
 
In today’s parable, the host is God the Father, and the wedding is the salvation He offers to us. He offers salvation to the good and the bad; he offers salvation even to those who will reject this invitation. Some will accept the invitation but fail to be faithful to God through the sacraments, praise, and worship, and do good works in Jesus’ Name. These things are what the wedding garment stands for.
 
When we accept God‘s invitation, we do so with a willingness to accept and live out the demands that such acceptance requires. Our wedding garment is the faith and love we share with others, acting as an instrument of God‘s love and peace.
 
Let us pray that we will always work hard to create a beautiful wedding garment that will carry us into the feast of the kingdom of heaven.

Homily for the Memorial of St. Bernard

Many people find today's parable about the workers in the vineyard difficult to accept. It doesn't seem fair, but this parable isn't about fairness; it's about generosity and mercy. It serves as a reminder of God's boundless love and His willingness to show mercy even when we don't deserve it.

The vineyard owner symbolizes God, and we are fortunate that God is generous and compassionate in His love for us. Even when we strive to follow God's will in our lives, we often fall short. In those moments, we hope for God’s mercy rather than His judgment based on fairness.

God's kingdom is a gift to us, a manifestation of His limitless love. Our role is to love God and our neighbors, trusting that He will provide us with all the graces we need for our salvation. God deeply loves each of us, and no one can earn or demand that love.

Homily for Tuesday of the 20th Week in Ordinary Time

Certain phrases in the Scriptures carry profound inspiration. For example, the assurance that "for God, all things are possible" is comforting. This echoes the response given to Mary when she asked the angel, "How can this be?" To which the angel Gabriel replied, "Nothing will be impossible for God."

In today's Gospel passage, we witness the moment when the rich young man, seeking the path to eternal life, left feeling disheartened after Jesus's response indicated a sacrifice greater than he believed he could make. This raises the question: How can a wealthy person find the way to eternal life, especially considering that some may find such sacrifices unfeasible? Jesus assures us that it is possible, but only with a unique grace from God.

Throughout our lives, we all face challenges that seem insurmountable. We may feel anxious as we navigate a health crisis, cope with a family loss, manage a marriage breakdown, or endure a severe bout of depression. In these moments, it is reassuring to remember that for God, all things are possible. St. Paul embraced this belief and expressed it beautifully when he wrote, "I have the strength for everything through him who empowers me." How comforting it would be to share in that deeply held conviction!

Homily for Monday of the 20th Week in Ordinary Time

The young man's question to Jesus in today's Gospel passage is heartfelt. He sincerely sought spiritual guidance and asked, "What good must I do to gain eternal life?" In response, Jesus recited several commandments that emphasize being just and kind to others, highlighting that the path to eternal life involves being life-giving and law-abiding.

The young man, who already followed these commandments, felt there was more he could offer. When Jesus suggested that he sell his possessions and give the proceeds to the poor, the young man found this request overwhelming and left feeling saddened.

While such a challenging lifestyle may not be for everyone, the journey to eternal life that God desires for us always requires some level of self-denial and an unselfish relationship with others. Through His teachings and example, Jesus shows us what we must do to attain eternal life.

Homily for the 20th Sunday in Ordinary TIme

Dietrich Bonhoeffer was a professor of theology at the University of Berlin in Germany in the 1930s. At this time, German Christians were divided over Hitler. One group allied itself with Hitler; they wanted a “pure” German nation. They formed an official German church, which supported Hitler and his hatred of the Jewish people.

Bonhoeffer was among those who could not go along with Hitler’s anti-Jewish and radical vision. With others, he set up an underground church, which explicitly refused to ally itself to Hitler’s Third Reich vision. It was dangerous.

Eventually, he fled to London. Two years later, he was faced with a choice: He was offered one of the most prestigious theology appointments in the world – lecturing at Union Theological Seminary in New York - or returning to Germany to head up an illegal, underground seminary for the churches that refused to comply with Hitler.

He chose New York, but shortly after he arrived, he regretted his decision. He decided his faith was meaningless if he took the easy option. So, he headed back to Germany and found Hitler so evil that he abandoned his commitment to non-violence and got involved in a group that was related to multiple plots to assassinate Hitler. The plots failed, and in 1943, Bonhoeffer was arrested.

 In prison, he led worship services for his fellow prisoners until April 9, 1945, when he was executed by the Nazis.

Throughout his final years, what distressed Bonhoeffer most was the way so many Christians could sell out to Hitler’s evil vision. He wondered how people who claimed the name of Christian could betray Christ. How could they pray in a church that supported the hatred of an entire people?

It convinced Bonhoeffer that religiosity, in and of itself, was worthless. It didn’t matter how fervently a person believed in Jesus, how many times they prayed each day, or how earnestly and sincerely they sang hymns on Sundays. Ultimately, the measure of spirituality is not how we are in the church, but how we are in the entirety of life. The measure of spirituality is to live in the world as a man or woman who is for others.

The true disciple is the one who mirrors the vision of Christ in today’s Gospel reading. The true disciple, in the best sense of the term, is one who stands apart from the whims and demands of society and stands by the truth of the Gospel. To live by the Gospel has always been a contradiction to society, and that’s why it has always been very demanding. The person with great integrity of faith is the one who can stand by that Gospel regardless of what society says and regardless of outside pressures.

The Gospel has never been easy to follow. It has always been difficult, and God knows this. But this is the life that we are called to live. It is the Gospel to which we are called to give witness, by our words and actions. It is the Gospel that leads us to everlasting life.

As we pray to God this day, let us pray for the courage and stamina it takes to truly lead a Gospel life, that by our lives, we may lead others to the message, the kingdom, and the glory of God.

Homily for Saturday of the 19th Week in Ordinary Time

Today's Gospel recounts an incident in which parents brought their children to Jesus, hoping that He would lay His hands on them and pray for them. They recognized Jesus as a channel of God's life-giving work and wanted the best for their children. Similarly, parents today who value Jesus and His teachings wish to bring their children to Him, seeing Him as an extraordinary gift from God and wanting what is best for their children's spiritual well-being.

In the Gospel, the parents faced obstacles along their journey. The disciples initially tried to deter them from bringing the children to Jesus. However, Jesus, in His wisdom, insisted that the children be brought to Him, overcoming the resistance of His disciples.

This story serves as a powerful reminder to trust in the Lord's plan. He is always at work, guiding our efforts to lead our loved ones to Him. His desire for others to find life in Him will ultimately prevail, overcoming any obstacles we may encounter. We must hold onto our faith, knowing that the Lord will always find a way to bring people to Him, regardless of any resistance we face.

Homily for the Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary

It's natural to ponder what happens after we die. Every religion seeks to provide answers to this ultimate question. Today's solemnity reflects on what occurs after death, offering insights into the profound mysteries of our lives. From a Christian perspective, we find hope and purpose in understanding that our journey continues beyond death.

If we look at Mary's life as recorded in the Gospels, we may not initially see anything remarkable; it appears to be a life of faith, not visions. Only through divine revelation can we catch a glimpse of the hidden glory of her existence. Revelation teaches us that upon her death, her body and soul were assumed into Heaven. This belief signifies her unique role in salvation history and her special relationship with her son, Jesus.

Because of Christ's Resurrection and Mary's Assumption, we have hope that death is not an end but a beginning. Furthermore, we can look back from this perspective and find the infinite within the finite. There is so much more happening in our lives than we can see, understand, or even imagine. When Mary conceived Jesus, she carried a life within her life. Every woman who has conceived must resonate with this experience—a life within her life. This serves as a model for the Christian life: we also have the life of God within us. We must be attentive to this life we bear, nurturing it and bringing forth its fruit. Nothing is as it seems. Death leads to life, suffering is redemptive, and mortality becomes immortality.

Homily for Thursday of the 19th Week in Ordinary Time

Peter was a prominent figure in the community where Matthew lived. It is only in Matthew's Gospel that Jesus refers to Simon Peter as the "rock" upon which He will build His Church. It is also only in Matthew's Gospel that Peter asks, "Lord, if my brother sins against me, how often must I forgive him? As many as seven times?"

In their culture, the number seven symbolized fullness and completion. To forgive someone seven times would be seen as the greatest extent of forgiveness. However, Jesus responds to Peter and us by saying, "I say to you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times." This emphasizes that our willingness to forgive one another should have no limits.

Jesus understands that it is part of human nature to impose harsh limits on our willingness to forgive. Yet, He encourages us to look to God's infinite mercy as a model for how we should forgive.

In today's parable, Jesus highlights how forgiving God is. Setting a high standard, He calls on us to mirror God's mercy in our readiness to forgive those who have wronged us. As stated in Chapter 5 of Matthew's Gospel, we are encouraged to "Be perfect as your heavenly Father is perfect."