St. Thomas the Apostle Parish

Homily for the 6th Day in the Octave of Christmas

In the opening chapters of the Gospel of Luke, we meet several faithful individuals, among them the elderly widow Anna. While Mary, Joseph, Zechariah, Elizabeth, and Simeon are noteworthy, Anna is particularly remarkable for her age—eighty-four years—and for her unwavering commitment to the Temple, where she spent her days and nights in prayer and fasting.

 

When we think about serving God, we often picture active roles: visiting the sick or elderly, providing food, or meeting community needs. Yet Anna’s service was different. She remained in the Temple, dedicating herself to unceasing prayer and fasting. Her quiet life of devotion became a profound testimony to God’s work in the world.

 

When Mary and Joseph brought Jesus to the Temple, Anna gave thanks to God and spoke about the Child to all who were looking for redemption. Through her prayer, fasting, and proclamation of Jesus’ story, Anna became a vital witness to God’s continuing presence in our lives.

 

Anna’s example reminds us that there are many ways to serve God, and prayer is integral to this service. In prayer, we open ourselves to God’s will, and through this devotion, we, like Anna, can be empowered to share God’s presence with those who still long for His coming.

Homily for the Fifth Day in the Octave of Christmas

Whenever a mother gives birth, family members and friends lovingly admire the new baby and want to hold the bundle of new life, and it is difficult for us to take our eyes off them. Babies are captivating and make us think of the future.

When Mary and Joseph entered the temple with their newborn son, Jesus, they met Simeon, a faithful elderly Jewish man, who took the infant in his arms and glorified God. If every baby is captivating, how much more true is this about the infant Jesus?               

Having cradled Jesus in his arms and having gazed upon Him, Simeon was prepared to depart this world, saying, “Lord, now let your servant go in peace.” His heavenly prayer is now part of Compline, the official night prayer of the Church.

Although we cannot hold the infant Jesus in our arms, we still recognize and welcome Him into our hearts, as did Simeon and Anna. We see Him in the breaking of the bread of the Eucharist, we listen to His voice when the Gospels are proclaimed, and, if we are observant, we see Him in our daily interaction with one another. And, in faith, we cast our attention to that day when we will see him face to face.

Homily for Wednesday of the 4th Week of Advent

Zechariah’s canticle reflects a strong belief that God keeps His promises. When Zechariah doubted, he lost his voice and stayed silent until the event God had announced happened. Eight days after John was born, Zechariah and Elizabeth followed the tradition given to Abraham and brought their child to be circumcised. When it came time to name him, Elizabeth said he should be called John, just as God had said. The people turned to Zechariah, and when he agreed, his voice returned. Zechariah then praised God, who always fulfills His promises.

 

On this Christmas Eve, Zechariah’s canticle encourages us to look for a deeper sense of God’s presence in our lives. We notice hope growing, waiting for it to become the true light of God’s incarnation in Jesus Christ.

 

We live in the space between what has happened and what is still to come. Light has come, but there is still darkness around us. As followers of Jesus, we know the divine light is here, even if we wait to see it fully. Sometimes we have doubts about the future. But like Zechariah, we can look toward the dawn and notice the first signs of the hope God has for us.

Homily for Tuesday of the 4th Week of Advent

Choosing a baby’s name can spark lively debates among family members, with everyone eager to share their favorites. But at the end of the day, it’s the parents who hold the ultimate authority.

 

Take Zechariah and Elizabeth, for example. Their relatives and neighbors just assumed their baby boy would be named “Zechariah,” following the age-old tradition of naming sons after their fathers. But Zechariah and Elizabeth knew that God had a surprise in store—a unique name chosen for their child by divine inspiration.

 

Long-standing customs were set aside because God was about to do something brand-new. This child was destined to break the mold, and everyone wondered what kind of man he would become.

 

John the Baptist would prepare a path, getting people ready for the arrival of someone even greater—Emmanuel, meaning “God is with us.” God was moving in fresh, unprecedented ways, setting up a brand-new covenant with humanity. This incredible gift is what we celebrate at Christmas, and it should fill our hearts with wonder and thanks.

Homily for Monday of the 4th Week of Advent

In today's Gospel reading, we witnessed Mary's heartfelt, grace-filled response to her cousin Elizabeth, who joyfully recognized her as the Mother of our Lord. This prayer, famously known as the Magnificat, resounds each evening in the official Prayer of the Church, echoing across the world in a chorus of faith.

 

Mary's canticle overflows with joy and wonder as she lifts up the humble—those often overlooked or dismissed by society—as specially chosen by God. With faith-filled grace, she proclaims the dramatic reversal of fortunes and the fulfillment of ancient promises, weaving the hopes of the Old Testament into her praise.

 

Mary's words shine with praise, recognizing God's abiding presence and gentle providence guiding every life on earth.

 

May we, too, open our eyes, ears, minds, and souls to God’s presence in our daily journey, responding with grateful praise and sharing that radiant joy with everyone we meet.

Homily for the 4th Sunday of Advent

In her book, My Grandfather’s Blessings, Dr. Rachel Naomi Remen recounts how, on Yom Kippur—the solemn Jewish Day of Atonement—a rabbi delivered a memorable sermon to his congregation on the theme of forgiveness and mercy.

Before he began, he walked into the congregation, took his infant daughter from his wife, and, carrying her in his arms, stepped up to the synagogue podium. From her father’s arms, the little girl, barely a year old, smiled at the congregation. Every heart melted. The child turned toward her father and patted him on the cheek with her tiny hands. As he began to speak, the little girl grabbed his nose and tugged. Then she took his tie and put it in her mouth. The entire congregation began to chuckle. The rabbi rescued his tie and smiled at her; she put her tiny arms around his neck. The rabbi tried to continue his sermon, but it was of no use. By now, the synagogue was filled with laughter.

The little girl had made the rabbi’s point.

He said, “Think about it.  Is there anything she can do that you could not forgive her for?”

As the congregation members nodded in recognition, the little girl reached up and grabbed his eyeglasses.  Retrieving his glasses and settling them on his nose, the rabbi hugged his little girl, laughing as well.

Then the rabbi asked, “And when does that stop? When does it get hard to forgive? At three? At seven? At fourteen? At thirty-five? How old does someone have to be before you forget that everyone is a child of God?”[1]

As the rabbi teaches a powerful lesson about forgiveness with the help of his infant daughter, we are reminded of a greater lesson echoed throughout our own spiritual traditions. Just as the rabbi’s daughter, in her innocence and vulnerability, opens hearts to laughter and mercy, so too does the story of God’s compassion come alive in the Child of Bethlehem. In the birth of this Child, God enters human history not with power or might, but with gentleness and humility, changing the course of humanity forever.

His presence offers us a new vision—one in which hope is not just a distant dream, but a living reality; justice is not an abstract ideal, but a seed planted in every act of kindness; and peace is not only possible, but promised to those who embrace the spirit of reconciliation.

Each and every one of us is recreated and transformed by the love of a God who humbles Himself to become a helpless baby. This act of divine vulnerability invites us to see divinity in ourselves and in one another, no matter our flaws or failures.

God becomes one of us—sharing in our joys, our struggles, and our hopes—so that, one day, we might grow in compassion, forgiveness, and love, becoming more like Him. May the blessings of this holy birth fill every season of our lives with hope, and may the mercy and justice of this Child inspire us to bring light and healing to the world around us.

[1] Rachel Naomi Remen, M.D., My Grandfather’s Blessings [New York: Riverhead Books, 2000], “All in the Family,” pages 99-100.

Homily for Saturday of the 3rd Week of Advent

As we count down the days to Christmas, our Gospel reading invites us to journey back nine months to the Annunciation—the moment when the Virgin Mary first heard the angel reveal God's extraordinary plan for her within His greater purpose. We're drawn into Mary's world, feeling her confusion and fear, and then reassured by the angel's gentle words: "Do not be afraid."

 

Today, fear can creep into our lives in many forms. But those same comforting words spoken to Mary echo for each of us: "Do not be afraid." When we, like Mary, choose to trust and follow God's will, we discover there's truly nothing to fear—because we walk every step in the presence of the Lord.

 

In these final days of Advent, may we look to Mary as our guiding light—a model of trust and courage—as we strive to embrace God's will and play our unique part in His divine story.

Homily for Friday of the 3rd Week of Advent

Zechariah received wonderful news from the angel Gabriel: his wife, Elizabeth, who had been unable to have children, would soon give birth to a special son. This son would be chosen to prepare the people for the Lord. However, Zechariah found it hard to believe this amazing news.

 

Sometimes, we also struggle to believe good news because we are surrounded by negativity. We might find it hard to accept the Good News from God, or we may believe it in general but not see how it applies to us personally.

 

During this time of year, we celebrate the Good News that God has become Emmanuel—God-with-us—through the birth of Jesus, Mary's Son. This is Good News for all of us, both as a community and as individuals. Christ is with us in every part of our lives, surrounding us with his love and guidance. Let's embrace this Good News with great joy during this special season.

Homily for Thursday of the 3rd. Week of Advent

The Gospel of Matthew stands apart from the other Gospels because it omits the Annunciation to Mary and instead focuses on the angel’s message to Joseph.

In Luke’s Gospel, the angel reassures Mary with the words, "Do not be afraid." Similarly, in Matthew’s Gospel, the angel offers Joseph the same encouragement: "Do not be afraid."

God was working in unprecedented and significant ways in the lives of Mary and Joseph—ways that would prove crucial for humanity’s redemption. The miraculous conception of Jesus was a profound demonstration of God’s grace, which naturally raised doubts and uncertainties in the hearts of those most affected. Both Mary and Joseph needed reassurance to face the challenges before them.

In times of change and uncertainty, we all need the same reassurance: "Do not be afraid." May we, like Mary and Joseph, trust in God’s presence—in Emmanuel, "God with us"—and become willing participants in God’s unfolding plan.

 

Homily for Wednesday of the 3rd Week of Advent

Although Christmas celebrates the birth of Jesus, it took about 300 years after His birth before the Church formally recognized this celebration.

Christmas and Advent are the newest additions to our liturgical calendar. While the early Church celebrated the Lord’s Resurrection from its very beginnings, the first recorded celebration of the Lord’s birth dates back to between 274 and 336 AD. The Romans held an annual festival called Sol Invictus, or the "Birthday of the Invincible Sun," which was observed on what was then the shortest day of the year, December 25th. This day marked the first day of increasing daylight as the sun began to rise higher in the sky.

As Christianity expanded throughout the Roman Empire, the Church adopted the celebration of the “Birthday of the Invincible Sun” to honor the dawning of the Son of God. Over the centuries, the liturgical season of Advent emerged as a time for prayer and preparation for Christmas.

In today’s Gospel, Matthew presents a genealogy of Jesus’ ancestors. Both Matthew’s account of Jesus’ lineage and the early Church’s choice of the timing for this celebration reflect our belief that Jesus fulfills the vision God had for the world from the very beginning of creation—a world characterized by justice and peace. Jesus enters our world as a “new” sun, illuminating it once more with the peace and justice of God.