St. Thomas the Apostle Parish

Homily for the Feast of St. Matthias, Apostle

After Judas' betrayal, the Twelve Apostles faced a significant void. The number twelve held great importance, symbolizing the twelve tribes of Israel and representing the new Israel, a community of God that includes Jews and non-Jews. To restore the integrity of this sacred number, Matthias was chosen to fill the vacancy left by Judas and gather the full team of Apostles.

However, this decision was not merely a human one. Jesus had chosen the original Twelve, and now it was the Apostles' responsibility to select a replacement for Judas. They understood the gravity of their task and sought someone who had witnessed Jesus' entire public ministry. After nominating two suitable candidates, they turned to prayer, humbly asking the Lord to reveal His chosen one.

This situation reflects a blend of human judgment and submission to divine guidance. The early disciples employed their judgment and discernment while recognizing the importance of seeking insight from God.

Similarly, we need both in our lives. We should use our judgment and experience to determine the steps we should take while also entrusting ourselves to the Lord in prayer.

Homily for the Optional Memorial of Our Lady of Fatima

What a contrast to the previous reception of the Apostles in the areas surrounding Jerusalem, which we read about in today's passage from the Acts of the Apostles. Despite being fearful for their lives, especially after Stephen's death, they were actively spreading the Good News. Despite the threats against those who converted to Christianity, the Apostles won many over.

What drove their actions was a deep sense of joy and commitment. Despite the dangers, they proved their dedication by risking their lives to share the Good News of Jesus; their faith in Him radiated joy. This joy was so evident and powerful that many people they preached to couldn't help but joyfully and wholeheartedly embrace faith in Jesus Christ.

As we know, all of us are called to share the Good News of our salvation in Jesus. Do we do this with a sense of joy or fear? Do we approach it with an understanding of the freedom of God's children or a feeling of obligation? Are we guided by the letter of the law, or do we embody the spirit that embraces Jesus' commandments to love God above all things and our neighbor as ourselves? Do we act with a sense of judgment or the mercy and compassion Jesus showed when he ate with sinners?

Let us aim for a commitment and joy to draw others to our faith. May we be beacons of light in the darkness, just as the Apostles were in their time.

Homily for Monday of the 4th Week of Easter

In our Gospel reading, Jesus compares Himself to a shepherd who protects and keeps the flock. The message is clear and simple: we need Jesus in our lives. His influence is essential for us to follow God's will and to live a life filled with faith, hope, and love. If we ignore Jesus, we miss out on the incredible gifts that God has given us. Consequently, we will be unable to share these gifts with others and fulfill our mission of spreading the Good News to everyone we encounter.

Homily for the 4th Sunday of Easter

In today's first reading, from the Acts of the Apostles, we see that Paul and Barnabas were passionate about preaching the Gospel. They disregarded every attempt by their detractors to silence them. Threats were brushed aside, and they seemed driven by an inner, God-given sense of mission to foster faith in Jesus Christ. This aligns well with the image of Jesus as the Good Shepherd, who invites people to follow Him to eternal life. Today, the Church encourages us to pray for vocations to the priesthood and consecrated life, as these vocations play a vital role in transmitting the faith. As do the vocations of mother and father. All Christians believe that God embodies love and goodness, and it is essential to communicate that love and goodness to others at all times.

The Holy Spirit inspired evangelical passion in the early Church, making its members keen to share their faith. When the first missionaries passed away, there was no shortage of others ready to take their place. This willingness to be actively involved kept the Church vibrant and growing.

Most vocations to a life of service are nurtured within the family. Parents are the first and most significant teachers of the faith and ideals. By incorporating daily prayer into family life, they can sow the seeds of vocations that will meet the spiritual needs of the next generation.

Just as Christ called some to be His evangelists, He calls each of us into His service. How I live as a follower of Christ also affects others. On this special Sunday, we ask for God’s blessing that all of us will feel inspired to continue Christ’s work. His desire for His disciples was clear when He said, “Pray to the Lord of the harvest to send laborers into his harvest.” (Matthew 9:37)

Homily for Saturday of the 3rd Week of Easter

Today's Gospel passage centers around the conversations that followed Jesus' statement that whoever eats His flesh and drinks His blood will attain eternal life. This statement proved too challenging for some of His followers, so they decided to leave Him. In doing so, they resembled the seed that falls on the path, on rocky ground, or among thorns. Their faith was weak, and they lost interest in Jesus' message.

After this incident, Jesus asked the Twelve if they would also leave Him. In response, Peter made a powerful declaration of faith, saying, "Master, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. We have come to believe and are convinced that you are the Holy One of God."

For someone with such strong faith, there would be no reason to abandon Jesus, despite the challenges, distractions, and difficulties that accompany being His follower. In Christ, we find everything we truly need.

A prayer of St. Julian of Norwich might also be ours. I often begin my day with this prayer, and I have shared it before:

"God, of your goodness, give me yourself, for you are enough for me, and I can ask for nothing which is less which can pay you full worship. And if I ask for anything else, always I am in want; but in you do I have everything."[1]

 

[1] Julian of Norwich, Showings, 1978, Paulist Press, New York, NY, p. 184.

Homily for Friday of the 3rd Week of Easter

"Go out to all the world and tell the Good News."

The refrain from our Responsorial Psalm today presents the fundamental command to all the baptized: to go forth into the world and share the Good News of our salvation in Christ, which encompasses the Gospel and our mission as ambassadors of Jesus’s healing presence.

In our first reading, we find the well-known story of Saul, who later becomes Paul, on the road to Damascus. He experiences a profound and terrifying encounter with Jesus that leaves him shaken. During his recovery, he learns everything about Jesus, and once he feels better, he begins to share the Good News passionately. He will continue to do so for the rest of his life.

May we, too, embrace this call with energy, dedication, and faithfulness as baptized members of Christ’s Body, the Church.

Homily for Thursday of the 3rd Week of Easter

Today's readings emphasize the importance of God's Word, Baptism, and the Eucharist in nurturing the followers of Jesus. In the first reading, an Ethiopian pilgrim returning from a visit to the Jerusalem temple is inspired by a passage from Isaiah and asks questions. This inquiry leads to his Baptism by Philip, introducing him to the faith.

In the Gospel passage, Jesus promises to provide bread for the life of the world, which relates to the Eucharist. In many parishes, the typical sequence begins with Baptism, followed by an introduction to Jesus through the Gospels, the Acts of the Apostles, St. Paul's letters, and the Jewish Scriptures. This progression culminates in the reception of Holy Communion. The connection between the Word and the Eucharist remains strong for the baptized.

During Mass, the Liturgy of the Word nourishes our faith before we partake in the Liturgy of the Eucharist, which we approach with that nourished faith. The bread of the Word prepares us for the bread of the Eucharist.

Homily for Wednesday of the 3rd Week of Easter

In our first reading, we encounter the deacon Philip, who shared the Gospel with the people of Samaria and was warmly welcomed. In the first volume of Luke's writings, Jesus attempted to speak to the Samaritans, but they rejected Him because He was on His way to Jerusalem. However, after hearing the Gospel from the cheerful and open-hearted Philip, the Samaritans welcomed it joyfully. This illustrates that God's Word can thrive even in places where it was initially rejected. Even when we sometimes turn away from the Lord, He never turns His back on us. In fact, we have Jesus' promise that He will not reject anyone who comes to Him.

Easter celebrates God's unwavering faithfulness to His Son, Jesus, and all of us. This encourages us to trust in Him. Even after we may have rejected Him in various ways, He will never reject us. Though we often fail to respond to the grace of Jesus Christ, He continues to offer Himself to us as the Bread of Life. He assures us that if we come to Him, we will never hunger; if we believe in Him, we will never thirst.

Homily for Tuesday of the 3rd Week of Easter

As Jesus said, "Father, into your hands I commend my spirit," Stephen also prayed, "Lord Jesus, receive my spirit." He then asked the Lord not to hold the sin of those killing him against them. The message is that Jesus' followers should adopt His attitudes.

Today, the Risen Lord continues to live in and through us, His followers. He extends a generous invitation to each of us, inviting us to receive Him as our Bread of Life and to live guided by His Spirit. 

When we come to Him in the Eucharist, we partake in a sacred act that provides us with spiritual nourishment and strength to follow His example. Jesus says, "I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me will never hunger."

Homily for Monday of the 3rd Week of Easter

In today’s Gospel passage, Jesus distinguishes between bread that quickly becomes stale and bread that provides nourishment for eternal life. He had fed the people with bread and fish to address their physical hunger. However, as they continued to seek more food, He invited them to consider the spiritual nourishment that satisfies their deeper desires. Jesus came not only to meet our physical needs but also to offer us the spiritually nourishing food of God’s presence.

He reminds us that while we need material things because we are physical beings, our search for fulfillment must go deeper. There is more to life than merely satisfying our bodily needs. We also have a deeper spiritual hunger that must be fulfilled to live fully and find peace within ourselves and others.

Jesus Himself offers us the food of eternal life, which satisfies our deepest longings. Our quest for fulfillment must ultimately lead us to God; as St. Augustine eloquently stated, “Our hearts cannot find true rest until they rest in God.”