St. Thomas the Apostle Parish

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.

Homily for the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe

On a December morning in 1531, a humble man named Juan Diego was on his way to church. As he passed Tepeyac Hill, near what is now Mexico City, he heard a voice gently calling his name. Looking up, he was astonished to see a young Aztec woman. She asked him to go to the bishop and request that a shrine be built on the hill, which had once been the site of an ancient Nahuatl sanctuary. Despite Juan's earnest message, the bishop was skeptical and dismissed his request.

 

During her second apparition, the woman revealed herself as the Mother of God and urged Juan to return to the bishop with her plea. Yet again, the bishop refused to believe Juan's account.

In her third appearance, the woman instructed Juan to gather roses blooming miraculously out of season at her feet. Juan collected the flowers in his cloak and brought them to the bishop. When he opened his cloak to present the roses, both the bishop and Juan Diego were amazed to see a vibrant image of the woman, imprinted on the fabric.

 

Today, the feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe commemorates a pivotal moment for the Church in the Americas. The apparitions took place ten years after the Spanish conquest of Mexico in 1521. While Christianity was the faith of the conquerors, it initially offered little hope or comfort to the native people.

 

After the appearance of Our Lady of Guadalupe, everything changed. Mary spoke to Juan in his native language, Nahuatl, rather than Spanish. She appeared as one of their own, and the symbols she bore resonated deeply with the native people. She expressed her wish that her shrine would radiate love and compassion to all the land's inhabitants.

 

Mary's apparitions sparked a profound transformation within the Church and among the Aztec people. In just six years, nearly nine million Aztecs embraced Christianity. This event marked a turning point, prompting the Church to focus on serving the poor and oppressed. Rather than being seen as the religious arm of the conquerors, the Church became a beacon of God's compassion and justice.

 

Homily for Thursday of the 2nd Week of Advent

In today's Gospel, Jesus praises John the Baptist and his prophetic significance in fulfilling the Jewish Scriptures. Jesus speaks highly of John, stating that there has been none greater than him among those born of women.

 

John is the Elijah figure, believed to precede the coming of the Messiah. Notice how Jesus, however, says that even the least significant person in the kingdom of heaven is greater than John the Baptist. While John never heard or responded to Jesus' preaching of the kingdom of God, you and I have access to it through the Gospels and the Holy Spirit.

 

Let this fill our hearts with gratitude for the gift of the Gospel and our faith response to it. During Advent, let us intentionally set aside time to reflect on this gift, actively deepen our appreciation, and make concrete plans to live out our faith with renewed purpose.

 

Homily for Wednesday of the 2nd Week of Advent

Several years ago, The New York Times told a story about a woman who, instead of cashing in her cans and bottles, usually tossed her bag of empties into the nearest trash can or handed it to someone in need in her neighborhood.

Two days before Christmas, while on her way to exchange a gift at a clothing store, she carried her bag of empties to give away. The first person she encountered on the street wasn’t one of the regulars, but she handed him the bag anyway, mentioning that she would probably have even more for him after her dinner party on Sunday. The man looked at the bag, then at her, and simply said, “Goodbye.”

After taking just a few steps, she heard the jingling of empty cans in the bag she was carrying. Suddenly, she realized she had given away the clothing store bag that contained a man’s large turtleneck sweater. She hurried back to the spot where she had last seen the man, but he was nowhere to be found.

The next night, on Christmas Eve, she saw him again; he was bent over a trash can collecting bottles. “Do you remember me?” she asked. “I gave you a shopping bag yesterday.”

“Yes,” he replied. “I also have new pants, and tomorrow I’m wearing them with the sweater. Thanks.” He then returned to searching for bottles in the trash can.

At that moment, she knew how she would spend her Christmas in the future: she decided she would gift-wrap her presents for the homeless.

Ultimately, she received the greatest Christmas gift: the joy of embodying the work of the Messiah—witnessing God’s love by extending love to others; being advocates for justice through unwavering commitment to what is right and good; reflecting Christ’s light through forgiveness, mercy, and compassion; and harvesting souls through humble and dedicated service.

Homily for the Optional Memorial of Saint Juan Diego Cuauhtlatoatzin

The action of the shepherd in today's Gospel passage may seem unrealistic or even irrational. He left ninety-nine sheep on the hillside to search for one that had wandered off, potentially putting itself in danger. Why would the shepherd leave the rest of the flock unprotected to find the lost sheep? Why would he risk the ninety-nine for the sake of just one that had gone astray? This attitude contrasts sharply with that of Caiaphas, the high priest, who advised the Jews that it was better for one man to die than for the people.

In today's parable, the shepherd embodies a different perspective. He represents God and reflects Jesus's caring nature. God, through Jesus, is genuinely concerned about the lost. The Lord values each of us individually; He calls each of us by name, and none of us is insignificant in His eyes. He cares equally for every one of us.

Homily for the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary

Today, the Church celebrates the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary with great solemnity. From the very beginning, she was chosen to be the daughter of God the Father, the spouse of the Holy Spirit, and the Mother of Jesus Christ. Because of this, she is honored as the queen of angels and all people.

Early Christian teachers reflected on Mary’s roles and believed she was conceived without Original Sin. Throughout history, no saint has challenged this belief. Decisions made by bishops in the early Church supported this idea.

As human beings, we have many limitations. We are finite, which means we do not have everything we need within ourselves. We depend on external resources to live. Sometimes, this dependence can hurt us if we misuse these resources. However, when we use them wisely, they can help us grow and make the world a better place.

When we connect with God’s love and grace, we become whole and can overcome our limitations. When the Church talks about Original Sin, it addresses the weakness of our human existence and our need for something to make us feel complete.

Mary demonstrated through her actions that God is what completes her. She fully relied on God to fill any gaps in her life as a human being. Mary trusted that God loved her and would help her become everything she was meant to be in this life and the next.

Mary’s life and faith encourage us to trust that God is always devoted to us. As Meister Eckhart said, “No matter how devoted you are to God, you can be sure that He is even more devoted to you.”

Homily for the 2nd Sunday of Advent

Seven hundred years before Christ, as the Kingdom of Israel fell apart, God promised not to abandon His people. He vowed to send a Savior, a descendant of King David, known as a "shoot from the stump of Jesse" (Jesse being David's father). This promise was fulfilled when Jesus was born 2,000 years ago.

To prepare the people for the arrival of the Messiah, God sent John the Baptist as a messenger. Just as dignitaries send delegations ahead of them, Jesus also had a forerunner to announce His forthcoming ministry and to remind the Israelites of their covenant with God.

These actions reflect a faithful God who keeps His promises. He fulfilled His promise to Israel and continues to fulfill His promises to us. On the day of our baptism, God promised never to abandon us, adopting us as His children and assuring us of His continuous support through grace, love, and truth.

John the Baptist's message today reminds us of this essential truth: our God is faithful.

Francis Thompson, a British poet from the late 1800s, wrote one of the greatest Christian poems, "The Hound of Heaven." Despite a difficult life marked by a failed medical career, homelessness, and an opium addiction, he explored profound themes in his work. The poem illustrates a protagonist who searches in vain for happiness while being pursued by a hunting dog, symbolizing God's unwavering love and determination to reach even the most wayward sinner. It begins with the protagonist fleeing from God, highlighting his futile quest for fulfillment in the wrong places.

"I fled Him, down the nights and down the days;

I fled Him, down the arches of the years;

I fled Him, down the labyrinthine ways

Of my own mind; and in the mist of tears

I hid from Him, and under running laughter."

But at the end, with nowhere else to run to, the hound catches up to him and says,

"Rise, clasp My hand, and come!

...Ah, fondest, blindest, weakest,

I am He Whom thou seekest!

Thou drivest love from thee, who drivest Me."

Nothing we do can diminish God's love for us; he is faithful, and his hand is always outstretched to save us from ourselves.

If God is faithful, as today's celebration and the Advent season remind us, He is worthy of our trust. In a world filled with contradictory opinions and endless distractions, we need a reliable source of truth.

God's Gospel is trustworthy and unchanging. His Church guides us despite its imperfections, reminding us of essential truths and the path to meaning and peace. To obey His voice—expressed in the Scriptures and Church teachings—is to secure ourselves and our loved ones on the journey to heaven.

God's faithfulness is affirmed as we receive Him in the Eucharist today. Let us thank Him and renew our commitment to trust and obey Him.

Homily for Saturday of the 1st Week of Advent

We believe that Jesus was like us in every way except for sin, but the Gospels rarely mention His emotions. However, in today’s reading from Matthew, we see that when Jesus saw the crowds, “His heart was moved with pity for them because they were troubled and abandoned, like sheep without a shepherd.” Compassion arises when we empathize with the needs of others and feel compelled to act. Jesus’ compassion for the crowd is evident in two significant ways in the Gospel.

First, He instructed His disciples to pray for God to send workers into His harvest. The troubled and abandoned people needed those who could journey alongside them and guide them.

Second, Jesus appointed workers Himself. He summoned twelve of His disciples and instructed them to share His life-giving message with others.

As we reflect on today’s Gospel reading, we should ask ourselves: Where do we see ourselves in this story? Who do we relate to?

At times, we may find ourselves among the troubled and abandoned. In these moments, today’s Gospel reassures us that the Lord is with us in our distress, drawing near with His compassion.

At other times, we might be among the workers whom the Lord sends forth, tasked with helping the troubled and abandoned. In these instances, the Gospel assures us that the Lord will empower us for the work He calls us to do.

Let us pray that, regardless of our circumstances, we may always feel the Lord’s presence within and around us, and that we may both experience and share His compassion with others.

Homily for Friday of the 1st Week of Advent

In today’s Gospel passage, the two blind men do more than simply ask Jesus for healing; they approach Him and cry out, “Son of David, have pity on us.” This statement clearly demonstrates their faith in Him. They follow Jesus until He reaches the house where He is going, and once inside, He turns to them and asks, “Do you believe that I can do this?” Their response, “Yes, Lord,” further illustrates their faith.

This scene of the two blind men calling out as Jesus walks by encourages us to keep reaching out to Him in faith. Like them, many of us often turn to prayer when we recognize our needs. We all experience various forms of neediness in our lives, facing areas of weakness that require healing. Each of us has imperfections and vulnerabilities that can leave us feeling broken.

The example of the two blind men inspires us to continually turn to the Lord in prayer, even when it seems as though He is not listening. Ultimately, our prayers of faith will not go unanswered.

Homily for Thursday of the 1st Week of Advent

We can all relate to the weather metaphors Jesus uses in today's Gospel. He talks about rain, floods, and winds—concepts that are easy to grasp. Living in New England, we can even add snow to that list and still understand the message Jesus conveys.

Beyond the weather, we each face personal storms, no matter where we live. We may find ourselves struggling with life's challenges and confronting difficulties that seem overwhelming.

Jesus warns us that storms will come, but He is here to help us overcome them. When these storms arrive, we can choose to feel helpless and be tossed about or find the strength to stand firm and move beyond them.

Jesus wants to be our rock during these turbulent times. If we listen to and follow His teachings, we can remain safe even when the storms rage around us. He emphasizes the importance of doing God's will and encourages us to consistently focus on that. By doing so, we can endure any storm we encounter.