St. Thomas the Apostle Parish

Homily for Monday of Holy Week

In the last week of His life, Jesus faced hostility from many people. However, six days before Passover, a family He loved invited Him to dinner, showing Him kindness. One family member, Mary, anointed Jesus's feet with expensive perfume and dried them with her hair, offering a thoughtful service. This act was seen by Jesus as preparation for His death and burial. It also exemplified the loving service He would later show His disciples. 

Despite the challenges we face in life, we will hopefully encounter supportive people like Mary. We are encouraged to offer kindness to others, just as Mary did for Jesus, giving them support and encouragement in our sometimes hostile world.

Homily for Palm Sunday of the Lord's Passion

Crucifixion is regarded as one of the most horrific ways to die. Scourging, which often preceded crucifixion, was also a tormenting experience; it was not uncommon for a person to die during this stage of punishment.

These horrifying scenes may lead one to question why Jesus willingly endured such suffering. The answers to this question can generally be summarized in three main points.

First, Jesus wanted His death to demonstrate what He often told His disciples: "No one has greater love than this, to lay down one's life for one's friends."

Second, Jesus intended His death to serve as an invitation to follow His command to His disciples, "Love one another as I love you."

Finally, Jesus aimed for His death to reveal that life includes suffering. He stated, "Whoever wishes to come after me must deny themselves, take up their cross, and follow me."

While we hope not to suffer for suffering's sake, we do need to make sacrifices throughout our lives to make the right choices. Sacrifice inherently involves some degree of suffering.

As we reflect on our lives this Holy Week, considering God's call and the sacrifices it may require, let us remember the supreme sacrifice Jesus made on our behalf. We should seek God's courage to act as we ought and the wisdom to recognize that our sacrifices for the betterment of the world are insignificant compared to the gifts God has given us and the ultimate gift we will receive in the everlasting Kingdom of Heaven.

Homily for Saturday of the 5th Week of Lent

In today's Gospel passage, the Sanhedrin conclude that Jesus' message of justice and compassion has become too much for them. To justify their actions, they create a "prophecy" to eliminate Jesus.

This Gospel is relevant to our lives today as we witness men and women who dare to speak the truth to those in power. Anyone who takes seriously God's call to be His prophet must be prepared for ridicule, isolation, rejection, and even death. These are the costs of proclaiming God's compassion, forgiveness, and justice to societies and institutions that oppose these fundamental principles.

However, the promise of the Resurrection is for those who courageously advocate justice and reconciliation. These individuals proclaim that God has redeemed His people.

Let us pray for the courage and strength to proclaim the truth of the Gospel of Jesus Christ through our words, deeds, and our very lives.

Homily for Friday of the 5th Week of Lent

Jesus faced persecution for challenging those who prioritized rituals and rules over people. The individuals enforcing these rules were not inherently bad, but their rigid devotion to the laws distorted their reflection of God's mercy.

When religious rules are applied too rigidly, they can become idols, misused as a way to judge every action. Some religious followers may find a false security in fixed, unchangeable rules.

Jesus teaches us that the two greatest commandments are to love God and to love our neighbors. By following these commandments, we align ourselves more closely with Christ and gain confidence that our lives are fulfilling God's purpose for us.

Homily for Thursday of the 5th Week of Lent

The promises to Abraham look to the future, imagining a time when all nations come together as if they are family, like descendants of Abraham. This connection doesn't come from bloodlines but from sharing faith and ideals. It calls for faith in a promised land for everyone, a shared journey to salvation, equal access to Earth's resources, and respect for the dignity of every person. These promises encourage us to think big, respond openly, and aspire to the ideal of one world and one people, as the family of God.

Jesus' words go back to the time of Abraham and even to the moment before creation. When He says, “Before Abraham came to be, I AM,” He is saying He is Yahweh. This name is sacred to Israel and means “He who is always present.”

In St. John’s message, Jesus goes beyond Abraham’s faith. He is one with God, who had plans for Abraham before creation. Jesus is the Word of God and He guides our history. His plans will be fully realized when everyone is united. In his letter to the Galatians, St. Paul tells us that through baptism into Christ, we are all one, no matter our background or status. We also inherit the promises made to Abraham so long ago.

Homily for Wednesday of the 5th Week of Lent

Jesus said, "The truth will set you free." Later in John's Gospel, He declared, "I am the truth." He is the source of genuine freedom for His followers. Jesus also stated, "If the Son frees you, then you will be truly free." By staying close to Him, we can experience what St. Paul calls "the glorious freedom of the children of God."

Our relationship with Jesus and the Holy Spirit, who He pours into our hearts, enables us to live according to God's will in ways that align with our best selves. True freedom means having the ability to love and give ourselves to others, just as Jesus gave Himself to us. This is the freedom we pray for during these final days of Lent.

Homily for Tuesday of the 5th Week of Lent

"O LORD, hear my prayer, and let my cry come to you."

Today's psalm response begins with a heartfelt plea for God to hear the psalmist's prayer and reminds us that the psalmists always listened to the people's cries. 

Ultimately, the psalm reassures us that God hears our prayers, especially during our struggles, and helps us avoid succumbing to our trials.

Furthermore, this part of the prayer alludes to the end times and reinforces our belief that, regardless of what we experience in this life, joy and salvation await us in the next. 

Let us always trust that God hears our prayers and has offered us His pledge of eternal life.

Homily for Monday of the 5th Week of Lent

“Even though I walk in the dark valley I fear no evil; for you are at my side.”

Our psalm today is one of those passages we often hear in Scripture. It sounds comforting, but we must ask ourselves if we truly take it to heart. When it feels like our prayers are not being answered – or at least not in the way we hope – do we fall into despair, or do we remember the words of the great psalmist? Do we trust that God's love and grace are with us, regardless of our circumstances in this life? This trust (or at least this hope) is what defines the faithful people of God.

May we strive to believe that God is with us at every step – in both good times and bad. As we walk alongside Him, He will guide us to the everlasting peace and joy of heaven.

Homily for the 5th Sunday of Lent

The aftermath of adultery is often a significant theme in novels or movies, but today,  it also appears in Sacred Scripture. 

In today's scene, the Scribes and Pharisees bring a woman caught in adultery before Jesus, demanding His judgment according to the law of Moses, which commands stoning for such acts. In reality, they are not seeking justice; they hope to trap Jesus between upholding the law and showing mercy.

Instead of immediately confronting the woman, Jesus bends down and writes in the dust, looking away from her, demonstrating respect and humility. When pressed for an answer, He tells the crowd, "Let the one among you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her." This challenges them to reflect on their sinfulness.

Silence falls as people realize their own guilt. They leave one by one until only the woman remains. Jesus forgives her, saying, "Neither do I condemn you. Go, and from now on do not sin any more." 

This moment embodies the sacrament of reconciliation, reminding us that it's not just about confessing our sins but also about receiving God's forgiveness and being called to a better life, a life of love, compassion, and understanding. Like the woman, we all have our faults, and the gift of reconciliation offers us a chance for healing and renewal.

Homily for Saturday of the 4th Week of Lent

We often believe we want the truth, but when Jesus proclaimed the Gospel, it was more than people expected. The reign of God that Jesus spoke of was rooted in a kind of justice and reconciliation that could be intimidating. It threatened the cocoons people created for themselves and shattered their self-centered approach to the world.

To those who truly understood Jesus, His teachings were not comforting or joyful. They saw Him as a dangerous firebrand, an idealistic radical who seemed oblivious to the complexities of reality.

The Gospel of Jesus is not one of comfort, especially for comfortable people. It is not a Gospel of peace for those at war with themselves or others, nor a Gospel of love for those solely focused on themselves.

Jesus taught us to love our enemies, pray for them, invite those experiencing poverty to our tables, forgive endlessly, seek the lowest place, and take up our cross and follow Him. These radical teachings challenge comfortable and complacent lifestyles and threaten the values that the world often holds dear.

Let us have the courage and humility to look deep within our hearts and souls, to seek to understand Jesus's Gospel message, and to turn to Him for the support, help, and guidance we need to follow in His ways.