St. Thomas the Apostle Parish

Homily for Thursday of the 12th Week in Ordinary Time

We have been reading the Sermon on the Mount at Mass for weeks, and today we read the final section. In this great Sermon, Jesus outlines three essential activities for his followers: speaking, listening, and doing. When we gather for public prayer, we speak, calling on Jesus as Lord. In public worship and private prayer, we listen to the Word of God and let it pour into our hearts. Speaking and listening are prominent in the life of a disciple. However, Jesus emphasizes that their value is diminished unless they lead to good actions.

It's not enough to just call on the Lord. We must also do the will of God. Merely listening to Jesus' words isn't enough; we must act on them. Our actions should align with our words and what we hear. When our prayer and listening to God's Word result in good deeds, mirroring Jesus' life, our lives become firm and solid, like a house built on rock. Today's Gospel assures us that if our words to God and God's words to us influence our attitudes and behavior, we can better withstand life's storms.

Homily for Wednesday of the 12th Week in Ordinary Time

A good tree is recognized by its good fruit, year after year. Jesus' followers are deeply rooted in Him to live productive and meaningful lives. We must remain vigilant to avoid compromising our faith and beliefs, especially in the face of daily temptations. As the analogy continues, we understand that a tree typically doesn't die suddenly but decays gradually from within.

Our commitment to God must be reaffirmed continually. However, certain significant moments in life are essential turning points when it is critical to declare our stance. An example of such a dramatic turning point was when the Law of Moses was rediscovered after being neglected in a hidden corner of the Temple for a long time. The king had the book read to diverse groups of people. He then solemnly rededicated to the covenant before all the people.

If we have wandered from the path set by the Lord or if our initial eager hopes and ideals have wilted, we need to turn to prayer, meditate on the Scriptures, and be open to be revitalized in our commitment to the Lord. While the good tree was only partially decayed, it didn't have to be cut down; it only needed to be pruned and brought back to health, and once again, yield good fruit. This is a powerful testament to the hope and renewal that God can bring to our lives. He, in His infinite wisdom and love, will reaffirm our faith and revive the bond of life with us.

Homily for Tuesday of the 12th Week in Ordinary Time

The imagery of the narrow gate and the hard road in our Gospel passage suggests that discipleship can be challenging to follow. While one can stroll through a wide gate without a second thought, getting through a narrow gate requires concentration and focus. It takes commitment to get through such a narrow gap. Being a faithful follower of Jesus requires all of our goodwill.

The word "narrow" is generally negative; we often think we are broad-minded. No one wants to be considered narrow-minded. But the Gospel calls for narrowing our focus in following Christ, excluding some accessible and well-trodden pathways. Saying "Yes" to Christ's way requires saying "No" to selfish ways. However, any narrowing down and self-denial in the following of Jesus ultimately leads to a full sharing of God's life.

Homily for the Solemnity of the Nativity of Saint John the Baptist

Names play an essential role in our lives here on earth. Our name gives us an identity; it tells us and others who we are. The name that our parents gave us may have a special meaning. It may be a name that is traditional in our family. We may also be named after someone in our family or a close friend. Or our parents chose our name because of its meaning. No matter the reason, our parents give us our names and are excited at the birth of a child, and there is a sense of joy and anticipation when the child's name is announced.

Elizabeth's joy at the birth of John the Baptist was not just the joy of a new mother but a joy transcending the ordinary. It was a joy born out of a lifetime of barrenness and the advanced age of both Elizabeth and Zechariah. This birth was a miracle, a testament to the power of faith and the divine plan.

As was the tradition, on the 8th day, John was circumcised and given his name. People gathered in joy and anticipation to hear his name; they assumed he would be named Zechariah after his father. This would have brought great joy to the family. However, Elizabeth said that his name would instead be John. This brought confusion since no one in their family was named John. When they asked Zechariah, he wrote on the tablet, "John is his name." His response brought even more confusion, but Elizabeth and Zechariah knew they could not have chosen another name because God chose the name John.

When John's name is proclaimed, Zechariah's tongue is freed, and he can speak. He immediately blesses and praises God for the gift of his son and his speech. They gave the power of the name that God gave them to John. Its power freed the tongue of Zechariah and would foretell the coming of the Messiah. 

Lord, help us recognize the power of our own names, help us pray, and help us preach the Good News of the Messiah, Jesus, in all that we do, just like John.

Homily for the 12th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Jesus performed many miracles in His ministry, and people came to see them. Some reacted with wonder but were essentially unaffected, while others were genuinely awed and opened their eyes to God's power and wisdom. Some approached the miracles with strong faith and were open to their transforming power.

In today's Gospel passage, Jesus and His disciples are on a boat crossing the Sea of Galilee. Sudden, unexpected, and dangerous storms were common due to the topography and wind patterns in that area. When a storm arose, and the disciples were terrified, they woke Jesus, who was fast asleep. He then commanded the sea and the wind to be quiet, and both obeyed. He questioned the disciples' lack of faith, and they responded with great awe, wondering who Jesus truly was.

This miracle reveals Jesus's immense power and authority over nature, similar to His Father's power in the Creation story.

Apart from the miracle, this story also teaches about faith and trust. Jesus remained calm during the storm, showing great faith in His Father's protection. Similarly, when we face life's challenges, we are called to respond with faith rather than fear.

We often face various difficulties and challenges, such as family problems, financial worries, conflicts, tragedies, illness, and loss. Instead of reacting with fear, Jesus calls us to respond with faith, trusting that God is with us and will bring us through life's storms.

Jesus's display of faith during the storm teaches us to trust in God and believe He will bring us to His kingdom, our ultimate goal, even when the miracles we pray for do not materialize.

Indeed, when we are not focused on the ultimate goal—living in heaven forever in God's glory—the storms of this life seem frightening and overwhelming. But, as St. Paul says, "Think of what is above, not of what is on earth." [1]

From the midst of great turmoil and sadness, the Book of Lamentations says: "My life is deprived of peace, I have forgotten what happiness is. Remembering it over and over, my soul is downcast. But this I will call to mind; therefore I will hope: The LORD's acts of mercy are not exhausted, his compassion is not spent; They are renewed each morning— great is your faithfulness! The LORD is my portion, I tell myself, therefore I will hope in him." [2]

 

 

[1] Colossians 3:2

[2] Lamentations 3:17, 20-24

 

Homily for Saturday of the 11th Week in Ordinary Time

Every person must carefully consider their life and how to live it. We must make the wisest choices we can and follow them with conviction. Often, people make themselves miserable by not taking the time to assess their values and instead adopting the values of those around them, often basing their decisions on pleasure, which can be contradictory and always changing. Settling issues based solely on seeking pleasure leads to serious problems and confusion.

In our first reading Joash, instead of standing on his own feet, followed the values of those around him whose interests were in their own pleasure and power. Zechariah confronted Joash, making him realize the contradiction in his life. But Joash refused to consider and accept this revelation. This led him to the terrible decision to kill Zechariah. This illustrates the impossibility of serving two masters and the importance of making a positive choice.

Jesus urges us to pursue divine things rather than earthly things. He reassures us that God cares for His creation and protects those who follow His will despite our inescapable ups and downs. Conversely, those who rely on earthly possessions are warned of the folly of placing their trust in things that do not last, as illustrated by the story of the man who focused on material wealth and died suddenly. Instead, Jesus urges us to prioritize the value of seeking God above all else.

Homily for the Memorial of Saint Aloysius Gonzaga

Today's Gospel reading highlights the two commandments that Jesus says are the greatest: love of God and love of neighbor. No matter how often we hear these words, we are struck by their demands on us.

Loving our neighbor as ourselves sounds very nice until we get a good look at some of our neighbors or co-workers. You know well that some folks out there push every one of our buttons. There are people out there who can be rude, selfish, and downright unbearable. But we're called to love them anyway. We are called upon to follow the example of Jesus, who hung on the Cross, looked at the people who nailed him to it, and said, "Father, forgive them…"

It may seem impossible to show love to those we encounter in the most challenging circumstances, but it is precisely in these moments, when we strive to do God's will, that we often experience the love of God most profoundly. This love doesn't come from either person but from God, residing deep within us. It is a love we tap into when we act in accordance with God's teachings, a love that can transform even the most difficult situations.

Homily for Thursday of the 11th Week in Ordinary Time

We just heard the story of Jesus introducing the Lord's Prayer, found in only two of the Gospels: Matthew and Luke. In Matthew's Gospel, Jesus precedes His teaching of the Prayer by warning us not to use too many words or to babble, as did the pagans, who did so to induce the gods to show favor to them.

Jesus tells us not to pray that way. Our heavenly Father cannot be influenced or controlled by such babbling. Instead, Jesus teaches us to surrender to God's will.

Let us reflect on the true essence of prayer. Jesus encourages us to direct our prayers toward God's glory, the coming of God's kingdom, and the fulfillment of God's will rather than our desires. In doing so, we acknowledge our reliance on God for our most fundamental needs, to navigate this world, and to advance toward the world to come.

Homily for Wednesday of the 11th Week in Ordinary Time

Jesus advises us not to flaunt our good deeds for the purpose of seeking attention from others. However, in an earlier part of the sermon, it seems as though he is suggesting the opposite, stating, "Your light must shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your heavenly Father." Although there appears to be a contrast between these two ideas, each holds real value. We are not supposed to conceal our faith and keep it hidden, pretending to be agnostic and non-committal. Instead, we should find ways to demonstrate our love for the Lord through our lives and choices, acting and speaking with humility, always keeping in mind that everything we do should be for the glory of God.

 

Homily for Tuesday of the 11th Week in Ordinary Time

Our natural human inclination is to be generous to people with whom we feel warmth and esteem. Jesus tells us to go beyond our comfort zone and show goodwill to people outside the circle of those we personally like. Following this teaching will push our generosity to the limit.

According to Jesus, we should reflect some aspect of God in our interactions with others. His love makes the sun shine on the good and the bad people alike, and the rain fall on the just and the unjust. This lifestyle option taught by Jesus is possible only with the guidance of the Holy Spirit, who lives among us and within us.

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