St. Thomas the Apostle Parish

Homily for Friday of the 1st Week of Lent

In our Gospel passage today, Jesus calls His followers to embrace virtues and standards that go beyond those of the scribes and Pharisees, for whom the essential commandment was "You shall not kill." Jesus' message transcends this basic commandment, targeting the underlying feelings and passions that can lead people to harm or endanger others. Addressing these deep-seated attitudes and emotions is crucial to preventing evil actions and facilitating a renewal of our minds and souls. 

The profound transformation that Jesus calls for cannot be achieved solely through our own efforts; we need the power and grace of the Holy Spirit to begin this deep change within us. 

So, let us pray that the Holy Spirit will instill within us a deep, God-like love so that the roots of this higher virtue and standard may grow in our hearts and minds, guiding us to become what God truly wants us to be.

Homily for Thursday of the 1st Week of Lent

Jesus encourages us to be seekers: “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened to you.” So, what are we to seek, and what should we ask for? The simple answer is that we should seek the Lord and His will for our lives. Many seekers are mentioned in the Gospels, and Zacchaeus is one notable example. His story reminds us that the Lord we seek is always seeking us as well. While dining with Zacchaeus, Jesus described Himself as the Son of Man, who came to seek out and save the lost.

Because we can never fully find the Lord in this life, we will always be seeking Him for as long as we are on this earth. Our journey toward the Lord is ongoing, and we never completely arrive at our destination. Like Abraham, we are continually embarking on a journey in response to the Lord’s call. As Saint Paul writes in his letter to the Philippians, we must strain “forward to what lies ahead” and press on toward our ultimate goal: the Lord.

Jesus assures us in the Gospel that if we remain faithful in our search for the Lord and the journey it entails, we will receive good things from God. By seeking the Lord, we open ourselves to His many gifts and graces.

Homily for Wednesday of the 1st Week of Lent

Today's Psalm response comes from one of my favorites, Psalm 51. At times, during the Sacrament of Reconciliation, I assign the praying of this Psalm to people as a form of penance.

While Psalm 51 reflects on the sinful nature of humanity, it is ultimately a Psalm of hope. It reassures us that a truly repentant heart will never be ignored by God. The Psalm conveys the message that a person can be cleansed of their sins and made anew in the deepest parts of their soul.

Moreover, it stresses that nothing can merit God's forgiveness more than a genuinely contrite and humble spirit. No offering or action, no matter how grand, can earn God's merciful attention more than a sincere expression of remorse for our sins.

Homily for Tuesday of the 1st Week of Lent

Our reading from the book of Isaiah reminds us of the profound truth that when God speaks, His Word fulfills its purpose without fail. This powerful message, never returning to Him empty, is a testament to His divine power. As we are blessed with life, we are called to share God's love and mercy with those around us. By doing so, we participate in God's work on earth and present Him with the fruits of our labor. 

May this Lenten season, a time of reflection and spiritual growth, deepen our understanding of our role as ambassadors of God's love. Let it inspire us to offer back to Him everything He has given us, as we strive to be His faithful messengers in the world.

Homily for Monday of the 1st Week of Lent

In today's Gospel reading from Matthew, we are reminded that serving those in greatest need is serving Jesus Himself. It's essential to recognize that Jesus is present in all of us, regardless of our socioeconomic status or level of independence. In the mutual act of serving and being served, we will encounter Jesus as He lives and acts within us. Therefore, let us strive to recognize the presence of Jesus in every person we meet today, valuing and respecting each individual as a bearer of His presence.

Homily for the 1st Sunday of Lent

Our faith tells us that Jesus is divine and human, like us in all things but sin. We know that He experienced love for people, sometimes grew frustrated with the silly arguments of the Pharisees and even His disciples, and even experienced righteous anger, as demonstrated by His response to the merchants in the Temple. So, it makes sense that Jesus would also experience temptation, as He did in today's Gospel passage when He was directly approached by the devil, making Him promises in the desert. He understands our temptations and the struggle to say no to them.

Of course, Jesus experienced these things without sinning. He relied on His divine nature and strength from His Father and the Holy Spirit to resist the temptations to put things and power above God.

In today's Gospel, Jesus doesn't just give us the ideal of resisting temptations; He leads us by His example because He experienced real temptation but did not fall prey to it.

Let us pray that Jesus' example and the power, strength, and resolve that we get from God may help us in our times of temptation and keep our focus on God's kingdom, which is to come.

Homily for Saturday After ash Wednesday

In today's Gospel passage, the Scribes and Pharisees questioned Jesus' disciples about why they were eating with tax collectors and sinners. They believed that associating with such people posed a risk, as it could lead to moral contamination and deterioration of their own integrity. They thought it was better to distance themselves from those deemed sinful.

However, Jesus was not worried about being tainted by others' sins. He understood that His goodness, which reflects the goodness of the Father within Him, would instead transform and uplift those He encountered. The Lord is never diminished by our failings; instead, we are enriched by His holiness.

This is why the Lord does not separate Himself from us, even when we may distance ourselves from Him due to our actions or inactions. He is always ready to sit with us, share a meal with us, and engage in communion with us. In our moments of weakness, we can draw strength from Him, and in our many failings, we can find His goodness and love.

Homily for Friday After Ash Wednesday

Many people, both children and adults, often express fear when discussing the Sacrament of Reconciliation. This fear can stem from various sources, but it typically relates to concerns about rejection or harsh judgment. Individuals may worry that the priest will think less of them or that God is angry with them. Some may even fear their own self-judgment.

However, it’s important to understand that the Sacrament of Reconciliation is about mercy, not anger. It focuses on God's mercy and His desire for us to be close to Him. When we distance ourselves from God through sin, all we need to do is turn to Him with genuine remorse. God will always welcome us back into His embrace.

As we enter Lent, let us strive to be humble of heart and open ourselves to the ever-present and loving mercy of God.

Homily for Thursday After Ash Wednesday

In our reading from the Book of Deuteronomy, we receive a message to "Choose life" by loving and following God. Our life on this earth involves a constant struggle to balance our needs for a good life, our temporal needs, and our growth in our relationship with God. Finding balance is essential.

Today's readings encourage us to seek the good things of the Lord above all else. It is in these pursuits that we discover true happiness and life. While meeting our needs in this life is important, we must prioritize God and our need for Him in everything we do.

Let us pray during this Lenten season to always put God first in our lives and to allow our love for God to guide our thoughts and actions.

Homily for Ash Wednesday

Today we begin the season of Lent by gathering together and placing on our foreheads a mark made from ashes. It’s a pretty unusual thing for people do but it is also something that has a deep significance and a long history for the people of God.

Ashes remind us of our helplessness and our dependence on God who alone is our help and salvation. The church traces the use of ashes from ancient traditions to outwardly remind us of the need to turn away from sin and turn toward God in whom alone there is forgiveness. It is by turning to God that we can move forward from darkness and sin into new light and new life.[1]

Lent is often a time when people give something up. Often, at the end of Lent, people resume whatever it is that they gave up. There is a certain value to sacrificing these things. Lent, however, is much more than giving something up for a few weeks.

The word Lent comes form an old English word for springtime, referring to the time when the earth is released from the cold grip of winter. Lent is the time for revival and renewal; it’s the springtime of the spirit.

As we get older, we realize that we won’t be completely transformed in a few weeks, regardless the dedication and fervor we put into this holy season. Such total conversion is something that takes place throughout our lifetime. But each little step that we take is very important to the whole process of transformation. Lent is a time when we can take a look at one or two areas of our lives that need some work and to, hopefully, have some renewal during this time of focused prayer.

Each one of us has some part of our life that needs healing or reworking. Each one of us is called during this season of Lent to do more than give something up for a few weeks. Lent is far deeper and far more important than that. Lent is a time for us to make lasting change; change that will make us better persons and change that will bring us closer to what God has called us to be.[2]

Let us pray for the wisdom we need to determine what area of our lives is most in need of change, and may we have the humility and courage to seek the help we need.

 

[1] Collins, Kenneth W., 2000

[2] Krempa, Rev. S. Joseph, Daily Homilies, Seasonal and Sanctoral Cycle, Volume 3, Alba House, New York, NY, 1985. Pp. 59-60.