St. Thomas the Apostle Parish

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. 

 

Homily for Tuesday of the 3rd Week of Advent

Jesus tells a brief parable today about two sons: one who said he would do his father’s will but failed to do so, and the other who, at first, refused but then did so.

True discipleship, that is, following the will of God, is found in the depths of our hearts and our souls, and it is expressed most powerfully in our actions, but in our words and attitudes as well. Discipleship is the expression of a deep desire to follow the will of God and to serve God with humility and, through our words, actions, and attitudes, to mirror to others Christ’s love for us.

Many things keep us from answering the call of discipleship: human limitations, imperfections, and sinfulness. But the true disciple humbly acknowledges these failures and limitations and continues to work toward the fullest expression of what it means to call oneself a follower of Christ.

Let us ask God for the graces we need to truly live as Disciples of Christ. May Christ dwell in the depths of our hearts and souls, and may we live, learn, and love as His faithful followers.

Homily for Monday of the 3rd Week of Advent

The question posed to Jesus by the chief priests and the elders in today’s Gospel passage comes soon after He expelled the merchants and money changers from the Temple in Jerusalem. As we heard, they wanted to know by whose authority He could do such things. They asserted authority over the Temple for themselves, and they had not permitted Jesus to do what He did.

Jesus did not answer the question about His authority, but the careful reader of the Gospel knows its source. From before His birth, Jesus was called Emmanuel, meaning “God-with-us.”

Because Jesus is “God-with-us,” He has the authority to say how God’s Temple was used. He knows that it was not being used nor operated with due faith and reverence. And He responded with righteous anger.

As we draw closer to the celebration of the birth of our Emmanuel, He shows us how to honor God rightly and helps us by filling our hearts with the grace of the Holy Spirit. May our hearts be genuinely open to that grace, who is always present and always active in our lives.

Homily for the Memorial of Saint Lucy, Virgin and Martyr

In today's Gospel passage, Jesus compared John the Baptist to the prophet Elijah, who was expected to return just before the arrival of the long-awaited Savior. Jesus said that people did not recognize John the Baptist and treated him however they wanted.

 

John the Baptist’s fate would soon become Jesus’ fate as well. As Jesus said, “So also will the Son of Man suffer at their hands.” Both John and Jesus preached the values of God’s kingdom, and they suffered greatly for doing so. Even as we approach the celebration of Jesus’ birth, we are reminded of the Cross that awaited this Child.

 

At Christmas, we celebrate the Good News that God loved the world so much that He gave us His only Son. Today’s Gospel reminds us that God’s gift was a giving unto death—a giving that cost everything.

 

During this season of Advent, we pray for the same generosity, so that we may give to others what God has given to us.

Homily for the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe

On a December morning in 1531, a humble man named Juan Diego was on his way to church. As he passed Tepeyac Hill, near what is now Mexico City, he heard a voice gently calling his name. Looking up, he was astonished to see a young Aztec woman. She asked him to go to the bishop and request that a shrine be built on the hill, which had once been the site of an ancient Nahuatl sanctuary. Despite Juan's earnest message, the bishop was skeptical and dismissed his request.

 

During her second apparition, the woman revealed herself as the Mother of God and urged Juan to return to the bishop with her plea. Yet again, the bishop refused to believe Juan's account.

In her third appearance, the woman instructed Juan to gather roses blooming miraculously out of season at her feet. Juan collected the flowers in his cloak and brought them to the bishop. When he opened his cloak to present the roses, both the bishop and Juan Diego were amazed to see a vibrant image of the woman, imprinted on the fabric.

 

Today, the feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe commemorates a pivotal moment for the Church in the Americas. The apparitions took place ten years after the Spanish conquest of Mexico in 1521. While Christianity was the faith of the conquerors, it initially offered little hope or comfort to the native people.

 

After the appearance of Our Lady of Guadalupe, everything changed. Mary spoke to Juan in his native language, Nahuatl, rather than Spanish. She appeared as one of their own, and the symbols she bore resonated deeply with the native people. She expressed her wish that her shrine would radiate love and compassion to all the land's inhabitants.

 

Mary's apparitions sparked a profound transformation within the Church and among the Aztec people. In just six years, nearly nine million Aztecs embraced Christianity. This event marked a turning point, prompting the Church to focus on serving the poor and oppressed. Rather than being seen as the religious arm of the conquerors, the Church became a beacon of God's compassion and justice.

 

Homily for Thursday of the 2nd Week of Advent

In today's Gospel, Jesus praises John the Baptist and his prophetic significance in fulfilling the Jewish Scriptures. Jesus speaks highly of John, stating that there has been none greater than him among those born of women.

 

John is the Elijah figure, believed to precede the coming of the Messiah. Notice how Jesus, however, says that even the least significant person in the kingdom of heaven is greater than John the Baptist. While John never heard or responded to Jesus' preaching of the kingdom of God, you and I have access to it through the Gospels and the Holy Spirit.

 

Let this fill our hearts with gratitude for the gift of the Gospel and our faith response to it. During Advent, let us intentionally set aside time to reflect on this gift, actively deepen our appreciation, and make concrete plans to live out our faith with renewed purpose.

 

Homily for Wednesday of the 2nd Week of Advent

Several years ago, The New York Times told a story about a woman who, instead of cashing in her cans and bottles, usually tossed her bag of empties into the nearest trash can or handed it to someone in need in her neighborhood.

Two days before Christmas, while on her way to exchange a gift at a clothing store, she carried her bag of empties to give away. The first person she encountered on the street wasn’t one of the regulars, but she handed him the bag anyway, mentioning that she would probably have even more for him after her dinner party on Sunday. The man looked at the bag, then at her, and simply said, “Goodbye.”

After taking just a few steps, she heard the jingling of empty cans in the bag she was carrying. Suddenly, she realized she had given away the clothing store bag that contained a man’s large turtleneck sweater. She hurried back to the spot where she had last seen the man, but he was nowhere to be found.

The next night, on Christmas Eve, she saw him again; he was bent over a trash can collecting bottles. “Do you remember me?” she asked. “I gave you a shopping bag yesterday.”

“Yes,” he replied. “I also have new pants, and tomorrow I’m wearing them with the sweater. Thanks.” He then returned to searching for bottles in the trash can.

At that moment, she knew how she would spend her Christmas in the future: she decided she would gift-wrap her presents for the homeless.

Ultimately, she received the greatest Christmas gift: the joy of embodying the work of the Messiah—witnessing God’s love by extending love to others; being advocates for justice through unwavering commitment to what is right and good; reflecting Christ’s light through forgiveness, mercy, and compassion; and harvesting souls through humble and dedicated service.

Homily for the Optional Memorial of Saint Juan Diego Cuauhtlatoatzin

The action of the shepherd in today's Gospel passage may seem unrealistic or even irrational. He left ninety-nine sheep on the hillside to search for one that had wandered off, potentially putting itself in danger. Why would the shepherd leave the rest of the flock unprotected to find the lost sheep? Why would he risk the ninety-nine for the sake of just one that had gone astray? This attitude contrasts sharply with that of Caiaphas, the high priest, who advised the Jews that it was better for one man to die than for the people.

In today's parable, the shepherd embodies a different perspective. He represents God and reflects Jesus's caring nature. God, through Jesus, is genuinely concerned about the lost. The Lord values each of us individually; He calls each of us by name, and none of us is insignificant in His eyes. He cares equally for every one of us.

Homily for the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary

Today, the Church celebrates the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary with great solemnity. From the very beginning, she was chosen to be the daughter of God the Father, the spouse of the Holy Spirit, and the Mother of Jesus Christ. Because of this, she is honored as the queen of angels and all people.

Early Christian teachers reflected on Mary’s roles and believed she was conceived without Original Sin. Throughout history, no saint has challenged this belief. Decisions made by bishops in the early Church supported this idea.

As human beings, we have many limitations. We are finite, which means we do not have everything we need within ourselves. We depend on external resources to live. Sometimes, this dependence can hurt us if we misuse these resources. However, when we use them wisely, they can help us grow and make the world a better place.

When we connect with God’s love and grace, we become whole and can overcome our limitations. When the Church talks about Original Sin, it addresses the weakness of our human existence and our need for something to make us feel complete.

Mary demonstrated through her actions that God is what completes her. She fully relied on God to fill any gaps in her life as a human being. Mary trusted that God loved her and would help her become everything she was meant to be in this life and the next.

Mary’s life and faith encourage us to trust that God is always devoted to us. As Meister Eckhart said, “No matter how devoted you are to God, you can be sure that He is even more devoted to you.”