St. Thomas the Apostle Parish

Homily for Tuesday of the 11th Week in Ordinary Time

Our natural inclination is to be generous to those for whom we feel warmth and esteem. However, Jesus teaches us to extend our goodwill to individuals outside our immediate circle of friends and loved ones. Embracing this teaching challenges us to push our generosity beyond its limits.

According to Jesus, we should reflect some aspect of God in our interactions with others. His love shines equally on good and bad people, and the rain falls on the just and unjust. This lifestyle, as taught by Jesus, is only possible with the guidance of the Holy Spirit, who dwells among us and within us.

Regardless of the depth of our hurt or the validity of our anger, we can seek God’s forgiveness for those who have wronged us. Embracing this act of forgiveness can have transformative power in our lives.

Homily for Monday of the 11th Week in Ordinary Time

Jesus encouraged His disciples to respond to evil not with more evil but with kindness. The worst human instinct is to react to goodness with malicious intent, which is exemplified by the rejection and crucifixion of Jesus, who "went about doing good; for God was with Him." The best human instinct is to conquer evil with goodness, reflecting a divine impulse—God's own impulse. This was a defining characteristic of Jesus Christ. In response to the evil committed against Him, He consistently chose to act with goodness. Even when unjustly rejected, He expressed His love fully, living and dying to defeat evil with goodness.

Remaining good in the face of evil is incredibly challenging. It is difficult to stay loving amid hostility, to be faithful when betrayed, and to serve as peacemakers in a hostile world. We cannot rely solely on our own strength for this; we need God's strength, resources, and Spirit. However, we should not fear failure, as God's strength and grace are always available to us. Saint Paul urges us "not to receive the grace of God in vain." God continually offers us grace, and by depending on Him, we can strive toward the ideal of overcoming evil with good.

Homily for the Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity

God's infinite beauty and grandeur were among the late Pope Benedict's favorite topics. One of the symbols on his coat of arms, the shell, reflects this belief.

The shell is inspired by a story about St. Augustine. One morning, while walking along the seashore, he was trying to understand the mystery of the Most Holy Trinity. Suddenly, he noticed a little child playing nearby. The child had dug a hole in the sand and repeatedly walked between the hole and the ocean, holding a small shell in his hands. He would fill the shell with water at the sea, then carefully carry it back to pour it into the hole. He continued this effort persistently.

After a while, St. Augustine asked the child what he was doing. The child replied, "I am going to empty the sea into this hole I have dug in the sand." St. Augustine laughed and said, "That's quite impossible. Look at how big the ocean is compared to your small hole!"

The child looked at him and responded, "And yet, it would be easier for me to do this than for you to understand the mystery of the Holy Trinity." With that, the child disappeared.

By placing a shell on his coat of arms, Pope Benedict reminded himself and the whole Church of God's infinite wonder. We must always remain humble and confident in Him, much like little children.

The mystery of the Most Holy Trinity may seem abstract and impractical, but the reality is the opposite. The Trinity is humanity's only realistic source of hope in our increasingly connected world.

Social media has transformed much of our world into a tightly linked global community. We encounter different races, religions, traditions, and cultures within that community. If globalization erodes the rich diversity of cultures, we will foster anger, resentment, and revenge in people's hearts and minds. Yet, if we fail to create real bonds between different cultures, serious conflict results

We need unity and diversity — we must become one human family with many different cultures. We know we can achieve this.

Because we are created in God's own image, and He is both one and three, God embodies perfect unity as well as perfect diversity. He is, by His very nature, an unbreakable communion of persons. The Church — which unifies different peoples through a common faith in and obedience to Christ — demonstrates that such unity is indeed possible.

The Trinity is the source of the human family, our ultimate purpose, and our ideal. Today, as we renew our faith in the Trinity, let us ask Him to help us build up His kingdom on earth by living truly in His image, mending our ways, encouraging one another, and living in peace.

Homily for Saturday of the 10th Week in Ordinary Time

In today’s Gospel passage, Jesus teaches His followers that they should be so truthful and honest that taking oaths becomes unnecessary. In ancient Judaism, people often swore oaths on various sacred items. However, as representatives of God’s message of reconciliation, we are encouraged not to swear at all. When a sacred object is referenced in an oath, it is as if God's name itself is being invoked.

The practice of taking oaths reflects the corrupt nature of humanity, revealing our tendency toward deceit and lack of trust in one another. According to Jesus’ new ethical teachings, truthfulness should stem from inner integrity rather than from oaths. In a society that does not assume evil as the norm, oaths have no place. We should avoid using deception or false arguments to persuade others to follow Christ; instead, we should simply present the truth of Christ through His words and actions.

Homily for the Memorial of St. Anthony of Padua

In our Gospel passage, Jesus calls for a deeper understanding and practice of morality beyond merely avoiding outward sins like adultery. He teaches that true righteousness involves guarding our hearts and addressing sinful desires before they lead to unwholesome actions. Jesus also expands our knowledge of marriage and divorce, stressing that they should represent a sacred union that reflects God's love and commitment.

While acknowledging the commandment, "You shall not commit adultery," Jesus raises the bar. He insists that it is not enough to avoid the deed itself; we must also refrain from lustful desires in our hearts. This highlights the importance of inner righteousness and confronting sinful thoughts before they become actions.

Jesus' teachings highlight the need for inner transformation, not just external obedience to rules. He calls for a radical change in our hearts and minds, leading to a way of life that reflects His teachings.

Homily for Thursday of the 10th Week in Ordinary Time

In today's Gospel passage, Jesus calls His followers to embody a standard and virtue that exceeds what the scribes and Pharisees practiced. This is not a mere suggestion, but a powerful call to action. He exhorts us to pay attention to our deep-seated attitudes and emotions, inspiring us to prevent evil actions and renewing our minds and souls.

Our efforts alone cannot achieve the profound transformation Jesus calls for. We need the power and grace of the Holy Spirit to bring about this profound change within us. 

May the Holy Spirit recreate the love that is God deep within us. May the roots of this profound virtue grow in our hearts and minds, helping us to become what God truly wants us to be.

Homily for the Memorial of St. Barnabas

In today's Gospel passage, Jesus's profound respect for the Jewish tradition is evident. He emphasizes that His purpose is to fulfill the Law and the Prophets, bringing their true meaning to completion. His respect for His religious heritage, and His receptiveness to how God intends for that tradition to evolve, is a testament to the value and respect He showed for the tradition.

Similarly, we are encouraged to appreciate the positive aspects of our religious tradition, knowing that the Lord plays a pivotal role in continually renewing and inspiring it. This understanding fills us with hope and inspiration, strengthening our faith.

Homily for Tuesday of the 10th Week in Ordinary Time

Bioluminescent bacteria are light-producing bacteria found in oceans, and they are responsible for the glowing phenomenon often observed in seawater. 

While these bioluminescent bacteria are microscopic organisms that can only be seen under a microscope, when they gather in large numbers, they emit light that can be detected from hundreds of miles in space.

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." It is important to remember that Jesus does not ask us to undertake this alone. We fulfill this call by allowing our light to shine and using the Holy Spirit's gifts to improve others' lives. When we unite with people of faith and those embodying pure goodness, our collective light becomes a powerful beacon of faith, hope, and love in our world.

Homily for the Memorial of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of the Church

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.

Homily for the Solemnity of Pentecost

Today, the Church celebrates the Solemnity of Pentecost, a day when God sent His Spirit to dwell in the hearts and souls of the Apostles and commissioned them to share that Spirit with others.

The arrival of the Holy Spirit is much more than a single event in the life of the Church; this feast, this Solemnity, focuses on being persons of the Spirit, who is described as a "driving wind" or "breath" that shakes the house; "tongues of fire" warm hearts that have grown cold with fear; "different languages" are understood; and, ultimately, we witness the gift of "peace" bestowed upon all who receive the Spirit.

Receiving the Spirit is not a passive experience—those who have received the Spirit are alive in their faith. They allow Christ to come alive within them, and their faith extends beyond themselves to embrace others through lives of service, support, and prayer.

Their worship and prayer are sincere and heartfelt. Their faith energizes them to grow in love for God and their neighbor.

A person who has received the Spirit lives as a son or daughter of God; they do not shy away from their identity as disciples of Jesus, even when it leads to conflict with the world.

People of the Spirit understand that God grants them grace to face life's challenges and joys.

On this Solemnity of Pentecost, we should each ask ourselves if we are truly people of the Holy Spirit. To be such people, we must invite the Spirit into our hearts every moment. And so, we pray:

“Come, Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful and kindle in them the fire of your love. Send forth your Spirit, and they shall be created. And you shall renew the face of the earth.

“O, God, who by the light of the Holy Spirit, did instruct the hearts of the faithful, grant that, by the same Spirit, we may be truly wise and ever enjoy His consolations. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.”