St. Thomas the Apostle Parish

Homily for the 11th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Today's Gospel gives us a glimpse at Jesus’ compassion for the people. Before He ever gave a command or told the Apostles about His plans for them in His mission, He looked at the crowds and saw people who were "troubled and abandoned, like sheep without a shepherd.” He didn’t look at the crowds with any sense of frustration or judgment. Instead, His “heart was moved with pity for them”. He understood their spiritual weariness, their hidden wounds, and their desperate search for meaning in an imperfect world. That same compassionate gaze rests on us. With whatever burdens we bear, Jesus sees us, and desires to heal us and to walk with us.

 

But our Gospel today tells us that we are not merely recipients of Jesus’ compassion. He tells the twelve disciples, "The harvest is abundant but the laborers are few; so ask the master of the harvest to send out laborers for his harvest." At that time, Jesus was the only worker in His mission. He looked to His Apostles and, despite their many flaws, called them to work in the field. He “gave them authority over unclean spirits to drive them out and to cure every disease and every illness.” He told them that as they went about their work they were to proclaim that “the kingdom of heaven is at hand.'"

 

There is a very important lesson for us in this scene. Following Jesus is not meant to be a private, comfortable experience; it commands a mission that is often challenging and even painful. By virtue of our baptism, Jesus gazes upon us and, despite our many flaws, calls us to be laborers in His harvest.

 

So, are we, like the Apostles, called to drive out demons and to cure every disease and every illness?

 

Yes, we are. And you may ask, “How?”

 

We do so with the powerful yet gentle grace and guidance of the Holy Spirit. Our harvest fields are our homes, workplaces, schools, and neighborhoods, where we seek out the sick, lonely, and poor. We "cure the sick" when we console the grieving, help the poor, the homeless, and the stranger. We "cast out demons" when we forgive those who have wronged us and seek the forgiveness of those we have wronged, or when we refuse to participate in gossip and false rumors.

 

Evangelization is more than theological debates and “Bible-thumping”; often, it simply means listening patiently to someone with different opinions, offering a helping hand and a listening ear to someone burdened by anxiety, or a host of other ways to help anyone in need.

Jesus tells the Apostles: "Without cost you have received; without cost you are to give." All we have—our lives, faith, talents, love —is a free, invaluable gift from God. We are called to share these gifts, not for personal gain or recognition, but out of love for God and neighbor and to be instruments of God’s love and peace in our world.

 

Let us pray that we may see our neighbor with the compassionate eyes of Jesus, and that we may bring the healing love of God to those who are heavily burdened.

Homily for Saturday of the 10th Week in Ordinary Time

In today's Gospel passage, Jesus tells His followers that they should be so truthful and honest that oaths become unnecessary. In ancient Judaism, people used to take oaths on various sacred items. However, as ambassadors of reconciliation for God, we are encouraged not to swear at all. When a sacred object is mentioned in an oath, it is as if God's name itself were being used.

The concept of taking an oath reflects the corrupt nature of humanity, showcasing deceit and lack of trust in one another. In Jesus' new ethical teachings, truthfulness should be achieved through inner integrity rather than by taking an oath. In a society that does not assume evil as a norm, oaths have no place. We should not resort to deception or false arguments to persuade people to follow Christ but rather simply present the truth of Christ - His words and actions.

Homily for the Solemnity ofd the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus

Today's Solemnity of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus commemorates God's choice to come among us as a human being, experiencing every aspect of life except sin. Jesus had a human heart that felt the same emotions and struggles we do. He experienced pity, distress, and pain, ultimately dying on the Cross.

 

The significance of this is that when God chose to become human, He did not take the easy path. Jesus endured the same trials and challenges that we face, showing profound empathy. By doing so, God reveals His deep understanding of our human condition, drawing us closer to Him.

 

The Solemnity of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus invites us to reflect on how we see Jesus in our prayers. Do we picture Him as a distant, abstract figure, or do we imagine the man who lived among us and shared our experiences?

 

As we pray to Jesus, let us recognize Him as someone who deeply loves us and wants to be close to us—someone we can truly relate to. Doing this allows our hearts to unite with the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus.

Homily for the Memorial of St. Barnabas, Apostle

St. Barnabas, whose given name was Joseph, was known for inspiring others in the early Church. In today’s reading from Acts, we see him actively participating in this ministry. A profound and life-changing event was taking place within the Christian community in Antioch. The Gospel had been proclaimed to both Gentiles and Jews, sparking the birth of a new kind of Church—one that welcomed members from diverse Jewish and non-Jewish backgrounds.

When St. Barnabas was sent to Antioch by the Apostles to assess the situation, he quickly recognized it as the work of the Lord and offered his support to this new development. His discernment was accurate; it was indeed the work of the Lord.

God’s work is not limited to the past but continues to unfold in new and creative ways among us. It is both a great gift and a responsibility to recognize divine inspiration wherever it is found, and to celebrate and encourage its effects. St. Barnabas had this gift, not because he was extraordinary, but because he was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and faith. The Holy Spirit, our guide, plays a crucial role in helping us recognize the Spirit’s work. As St. Paul says in his first letter to the Corinthians, spiritual things are discerned spiritually.

Homily for Wednesday of the 10th Week in Ordinary Time

In today’s Gospel passage, Jesus showed His respect for Jewish tradition by honoring its practices and teachings. At the same time, He made it clear that His mission was not merely to preserve the past but to fulfill the Law and the Prophets, bringing their true purpose to completion. Jesus valued the wisdom and guidance found in His religious tradition, yet He remained attentive to how God was calling that tradition to grow and develop. He balanced reverence for the past with openness to God’s ongoing work in the present.

Likewise, we are called to value the richness of our own religious tradition, drawing strength from its teachings, rituals, and community. At the same time, we need to remain open to the ways the Lord continually renews and inspires our faith, guiding us to deeper understanding and fresh expressions of devotion. By holding both appreciation and openness together, we allow our tradition to remain vibrant and relevant in our lives.

Homily for Tuesday of the 10th Week in Ordinary Time

In today's Gospel, Jesus urges us, "Your light must shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your heavenly Father." This call is both a challenge and an invitation. Jesus does not ask us to undertake this journey alone. He reassures us that the grace and guidance of the Holy Spirit are always present to help us. When we open ourselves to the Spirit's gifts—wisdom, understanding, counsel, fortitude, knowledge, piety, and fear of the Lord—we become more attuned to the needs of those around us and better able to serve them with love.

Letting our light shine means living with integrity and compassion in our daily lives, whether in small acts of kindness or courageous stands for justice. Sometimes our actions may go unnoticed by the world, but they are always seen by God. Our example can inspire others in ways we may never fully realize.

When we unite with other people of faith and those who embody genuine goodness, our individual lights join together to form a radiant beacon. This collective witness has the power to dispel darkness and bring hope, comfort, and encouragement to those who are struggling. In a world often overshadowed by fear, cynicism, or despair, our shared commitment to living the Gospel becomes a source of faith, hope, and love for everyone we encounter.

Homily for Monday of the 10th Week in Ordinary Time

The Beatitudes that Jesus taught in today’s Gospel can be described as a portrayal of Jesus’ character. When He spoke these Beatitudes, He painted a picture of Himself and what He desired from His followers. He is poor in spirit, relying on the Father for everything. He is gentle and compassionate, mourns when God’s will is not being done on earth as it is in heaven, hungers and thirsts for justice, and suffers to bring that about. He is merciful to sinners, has a pure heart desiring what God desires, and works to bring about peace between God and humanity, and between people.

By presenting this image of Himself through words, Jesus also showed what His disciples should strive to become. It’s the image we are called to embody. We can’t become people of the Beatitudes on our own; we need the help of the Holy Spirit, who works within us to shape us into the likeness of Christ.

Homily for the Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ (Corpus Christi)

Throughout the history of the Church, God has made the power of the Eucharist evident in many ways. For example, some saints survived for extended periods with the Eucharist as their only source of nourishment.

 

In the fourteenth century, St. Catherine of Siena often lived for months on the Holy Eucharist alone. In the fifteenth century, St. Nicholas of Flue spent his last 19 years living as a hermit. He offered spiritual advice throughout the day and prayed throughout the night. During all those years, he was unable to eat; the Eucharist was his only food.

 

In April 2004, then-Pope Saint John Paul II beatified Alejandrina Maria da Costa, a Portuguese peasant. Injured while escaping an attack, she was paralyzed at age 14. Afterward, she spent each day offering her sufferings and prayers to God for the conversion of sinners, until her death in 1955 at age 51. During her final 13 years, Alejandrina ate and drank nothing except daily Communion. She underwent countless medical studies, none of which found a natural explanation. Alejandrina said that Jesus told her, "You will live only on the Eucharist because I want to show the whole world the power of the Eucharist and the power of my life in souls."

 

These miracles are extremely rare, but their purpose is to show us that the Eucharist is divine food that Jesus gives us to make us more like Him. It's easy to forget how incredible this sacrament is amid the hustle and bustle of life. Today, let's renew our sense of awe and gratitude for such an indescribable, miraculous gift.

 

But we shouldn't stop there. We all know that people who eat well but don't exercise soon get out of shape. The same can happen in our spiritual lives. Each week, we receive this divine food, we pray, we hear the Word of God—but if we don't put them into practice, our souls can get out of shape, becoming self-centered and self-absorbed.

 

As is always the case with God, for Christ's grace to have an impact on us and make us more like Him, we must put in the effort to bring about that transformation. We must strive to live as Jesus lived.

 

This means giving of ourselves to others, just as Jesus gives Himself to us. We all know people who are suffering, confused, or in trouble. This week, strengthened by the Word we hear and the sacred bread we receive, let's become Christ's messengers to them. There is no greater joy in life than sharing with others the love we've received from Christ. Jesus Himself said this, as St. Luke tells us in the Acts of the Apostles: "There is more happiness in giving than in receiving."

 

Today, Jesus will give Himself to us once again in Holy Communion. When He does, let's thank Him for this tremendous gift and promise that this week—and beyond—we will follow in His footsteps.

Homily for Saturday of the 9th Week in Ordinary Time

St. Paul addresses St. Timothy "in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who will judge the living and the dead." He urges him to preach the Word at all times. This is a reminder that our faith is not just a private reality that brings us comfort—it is also a public mission to spread the Word of God and all that it entails. Whether it is well received or resisted and challenged, we are all called to share the light of Christ.

St. Paul warns that there will be a time when people "will not tolerate sound doctrine" but instead will follow their own desires, turning away from the truth and straying into falsehoods. This is an important message for us to hear in today's world. It challenges us to reflect on our own lives: Do we seek the truth of the Catechism of the Catholic Church and the guidance of the bishops chosen for us, or do we sometimes want to hear only what fits our own biases, prejudices, and ignorance?

In writing to St. Timothy, St. Paul knows his earthly life will soon end and that he will be "poured out like a libation," yet we hear no fear or anxiety in his words—only peace and victory. He says, "I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith." He reminds us that Jesus Christ is the "righteous judge" who will reward righteousness to all who await His return with anticipation, hope, and joy.

Homily for the Memorial of Saint Boniface, Bishop and Martyr

The objective of reading, praying with, and studying God’s Word in Sacred Scripture is transformation. St. Paul tells us that Scripture, which is inspired by God, is given to us so that "the one who belongs to God may be competent, equipped for every good work."

 

In our daily lives, we are called not simply to pray and know God but to follow that with inspired action. We must bring the light of Christ into our communities, families, schools, workplaces, and communities. God’s Word is a spiritual tool that shapes us, corrects our paths when we stray, and empowers us to live lives of love, charity, justice, mercy, and peace.