St. Thomas the Apostle Parish

Homily for the Memorial of Saints Basil the Great and Gregory Nazianzen

The question posed to John the Baptist—“Who are you?”—is one of life’s fundamental questions. We often find it challenging to answer honestly and fully when asked, “Who are you?” While it is easy to respond at a surface level by stating our job titles, such as “I am an engineer” or “I am retired,” delving deeper and exploring our innermost selves is a more complex task. Our responses to this profound question tend to evolve as we progress through life. How we answer it at this moment may differ significantly from how we would have responded earlier or how we will respond in the future.

For people of faith, the answer to this question is closely tied to our relationship with Jesus, as that relationship profoundly impacts our core being. Saint Paul exemplifies this truth. If asked, “Who are you?” he might respond with the words from his letter to the Galatians: “I live, no longer I, but Christ lives in me.” His identity had become intimately connected with the identity of Christ. When John the Baptist was asked, “Who are you?” in today’s Gospel passage, he identified himself as “the voice of one crying out in the desert, ‘Make straight the way of the LORD.’” His identity was shaped by his relationship with Jesus. 

Our own baptismal calling is to continually grow closer to Christ so that our personal identity becomes increasingly formed by our relationship with Him.

Homily for the Solemnity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Mother of God

We gather today to honor Mary, the mother of Jesus, and to recognize her as the Mother of the eternal Son of God. She is indeed the Mother of God and our Blessed Mother.

Mary's life, though pure, took on a deeper meaning when she accepted the opportunity to bear Jesus. She responded to the angel Gabriel by saying, "Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. Let it be done to me according to your word."

These words of Mary hold the key to the deeper meaning we all seek. Our lives will gain deeper significance only when we, like Mary, turn our lives over to God. Only by allowing Jesus to be born in our hearts and souls can we move toward our true purpose. Today, we echo Mary's words to God: "Behold, I am the servant of the Lord."

For those who strive to grow in faith, it is clear that doing the will of God and opening our hearts and souls to His love and grace is the only path to true fulfillment in life. By allowing Jesus to be born within us, we can find this fulfillment.

Opening our hearts to God requires trust that He will accompany us as we seek to answer His call and fulfill His will. It was Mary’s trust in the goodness, love, and presence of God that enabled her to open her heart and soul to His requests. We aspire to that same trust in our own lives, and we ask Mary to teach us through her example and prayers on our behalf.

As we start a new year, we are reminded of fresh beginnings. Many people make resolutions to improve various aspects of their lives. Perhaps this year, we can commit to trusting in the Lord more, opening our hearts and souls, and living according to His will.

When we open ourselves up as Mary did, we may one day find ourselves praying as she prayed: "My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord. For behold, from this day all generations will call me blessed. The Mighty One has done great things for me, and holy is His name. God has thrown down the rulers but lifted up the lowly; the hungry He has filled with good things, and the rich He has sent away empty."

Homily for Tuesday, December 31st - The 7th Day in the Octave of Christmas

Tomorrow marks the beginning of a new year, approximately 2,025 years since the birth of our Lord. There is something fresh and hopeful about starting anew. This time of year invites us to consider the possibilities of new beginnings. Even though we are in the midst of winter, we know that for the next six months, each new day will gradually become longer than the one before. With the lengthening of daylight comes the anticipation of new life.

The Prologue of John’s Gospel echoes this theme of new beginnings, portraying the dawn of a new light on Earth. Its opening words are “In the beginning.” It speaks of a light that shines in the darkness, a light that darkness cannot overpower, a true light that enlightens everyone.

This Gospel passage refers not to the light of the sun but to a different kind of light—the light of the Word who was with God in the beginning. Because this Word became flesh, His light is now available to us. We live and move within this extraordinary light. Later in John’s Gospel, Jesus declares, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness but will have the light of life.”

Many of us have experienced our own personal moments of darkness. A darkness of spirit, mind, or heart can engulf us; we may suddenly find ourselves in unexpected, challenging situations. It is in these circumstances that today’s Gospel message speaks powerfully: “A light shines in the darkness, a light that darkness could not overpower.” Our faith assures us that there is no darkness in our world that the light of Christ cannot penetrate.

Homily for Monday, December 30th - The 6th Day in the Octave of Christmas

In the opening two chapters of the Gospel of Luke, we encounter several faithful individuals, including the elderly widow Anna. Alongside Mary, Joseph, Zechariah, Elizabeth, and Simeon, Anna stands out due to her age—eighty-four years old—and her dedication to the Temple, where she remained day and night, devoted to prayer and fasting.

Typically, when we consider serving God, we think of active roles such as visiting the sick or elderly, providing food, or addressing various needs in the community. However, Anna served God differently: by staying in the Temple and engaging in constant prayer and fasting. Her life of devotion served as a powerful testament to God's work in the world.

When Mary and Joseph brought Jesus to the Temple, Anna praised God and spoke about the Child to everyone who awaited salvation. Through her prayer, fasting, and sharing of Jesus' story, Anna became a significant witness to God's ongoing activity in our lives.

Anna's example reminds us that there are many ways to serve God, with prayer being one of the most crucial. In prayer, we surrender ourselves to God, and through this service, we can become empowered—just as Anna was—to share God's presence with those still yearning for His arrival.

Homily for the Feast of the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph

The transition from a childhood faith to an adult faith can be smooth for some, while it can be painfully difficult for others. This difficulty arises because our childhood faith must die before our adult faith can emerge.

In his book The Restless Believers, John Kirvan poignantly describes how the death of childhood faith can impact a young person. He quotes a high school student who states, "I don't know what's gone wrong, but I just don't believe like I used to. When I was in grade school and for the first couple of years of high school, I was very religious, and now I just don't seem to care."

The passing of childhood faith can leave young people feeling heartbroken and even guilty. This is unfortunate because they are simply navigating an essential stage in their faith development, transitioning from a childhood faith to an adult faith.

Adult Christians must remember that the journey toward adult faith is ongoing; it lasts a lifetime. This is why even adults sometimes experience darkness and struggle in their faith.

Today's Gospel reading reflects this theme. It describes Jesus' transition from religious childhood to religious adulthood, suggesting that this change was challenging for Jesus and His parents. The challenge arose not from any wrongdoing on their part but because they were all profoundly human.

Just as other people experience the loss of childhood and the emergence of adulthood, so did Jesus. Scripture tells us that Jesus was like us in all respects except for sin. Likewise, Mary and Joseph had to adapt to the loss of the child Jesus and the arrival of the adult Jesus, much like parents today cope when their children receive a driver's license, head off to college or the military, or get married. This aspect of family life is something we all experience, just like the Holy Family did.

The final paragraph of today's Gospel passage provides valuable insight. It conveys an important lesson as we celebrate this feast of the Holy Family. It states that Jesus returned to Nazareth with His parents and was obedient to them, while Mary cherished all that happened in the Temple in her heart.

In essence, both Jesus and His parents navigated the transition from childhood to adulthood with harmony and understanding. For Jesus, this meant showing obedience despite his desire for independence. For Mary and Joseph, it required patience and seeking guidance during this critical phase of their son's life. This is the lesson, message, and grace we pray for in today's liturgy as we honor the Holy Family and our own families.

Homily for the Feast of the Holy Innocents

King Herod was so obsessed with maintaining his power and eliminating any perceived threats to it that he was willing to harm even innocent children. Throughout history, many rulers have been willing to sacrifice countless lives to stay in control, and this behavior continues today.

Herod's approach to kingship starkly contrasts the kingship that Jesus proclaimed: the kingship of God. Jesus' kingship is characterized not by oppression but by humble service to others.

The infant Jesus, who escaped Herod's cruelty, grew into an adult who taught His disciples, "You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and the great ones make their authority over them felt.
But it shall not be so among you. Rather, whoever wishes to be great among you shall be your servant."

While we may not act like Herod, we must not be complacent in how we treat others. Human nature tends to seek dominance over others. The first reading today states, " If we say we are without sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us." We need to be vigilant about how we may fail to embrace the path of humble, self-emptying service to others, which is the way of Jesus.

Homily for the Feast of Saint John, Apostle & Evangelist

It is fitting that we observe the Feast of St. John the Evangelist and Apostle shortly after we celebrate the Nativity of the Lord. The opening lines of his Gospel succinctly communicate what we celebrate at Christmas: "The Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us."

This Gospel is the last of the four to be written. It is based on the eyewitness testimony of a particular disciple, often referred to as "the one whom Jesus loved." This description may lead some to believe that Jesus loved this disciple more than the others. However, other texts indicate that Jesus loved all of His disciples equally. He said to them and us, "As the Father loves me, so I also love you."

According to John's Gospel, this apostle stands apart from the others because he accepted and responded to Jesus's love more fully. He was the only male disciple present at the foot of the Cross, remaining faithful to Jesus while others proved unfaithful. His unwavering love allowed him to reach the empty tomb faster than Peter. Furthermore, his steadfast love gave him the insight to recognize the true meaning of the empty tomb before anyone else: "He saw and believed." 

He is the disciple who inspires us to love Jesus wholeheartedly, just as He has given Himself to us.

Homily for the Feast of St. Stephen

Today, the Church celebrates the feast of St. Stephen. He was the first martyr of the Church, put to death by a mob in 36 A.D., with the approval of Saul of Tarsus (the future Apostle Paul). He is the patron saint of deacons, as he was among the first group of seven deacons appointed by the Apostles to care for the poor.

During the season of Advent, which we just concluded, we directed our thoughts to the less fortunate, especially people experiencing poverty. We shopped for people who would not receive as many presents as our families. We donated food to people in need, and some of us even volunteered part of our Christmas Day to feed people experiencing poverty in “soup kitchens.” But Christmas Day has come and gone, and it could be easy for us to forget our Advent almsgiving and focus on our future for ourselves.

In his work, Pilgrim’s Almanac, Fr. Ed Hayes suggests using today’s feast to share some of our Christmas gifts with those less fortunate than ourselves. The feast of St. Stephen, known as “Boxing Day” in England and Canada, was once a day when people would box up some of their Christmas presents for the poor. However, the re-boxed gifts are more likely those we didn’t like or couldn’t use and are returned to the store.

Most of us really have no need for all the gifts we receive. So, if you plan to return a sweater, why not share it with someone who is in genuine need of one? It could be a learning opportunity for our youth to share something with other kids who don’t have so much.

A few years ago, just a few days before Christmas, there was a horrible fire in the town of Monson; the family lost everything. Before Christmas, a friend’s granddaughter and her boyfriend gave up some of their gifts so the family victimized by the fire would receive something on Christmas morning. And let’s admit it: the spirit of that gesture was the greater gift. May we freely share that gift of generosity in many ways throughout the year ahead.

Homily for the Nativity of the Lord

Who among us here has not walked through the darkness? 

We have experienced the darkness of ominous world events. 

We have faced the darkness of our own pettiness. 

We have known the darkness of grasping when we should have held tenderly. 

We have felt the darkness of broken promises—our own and others. 

We have encountered the darkness of unfulfilled ambitions from our youth. 

We have confronted the darkness of disappointment. 

We have struggled with the darkness of chronic sickness. 

We have grieved the darkness of loss. 

We have dealt with the darkness of impatience with others, even those we love—perhaps especially those we love. 

We have experienced the darkness of coveting what others have. 

We have faced the darkness of giving up on ourselves and quitting too soon. 

We have known the darkness of feeling empty in a society of consumption. 

We have lived in the darkness of being comfortable with the status quo, even when it means that children go to bed hungry, working families lack health care benefits, and people around the world are oppressed. 

We have wrestled with the darkness of sin and recognized our own limits. 

But there is a star rising in the East. Today, the light of Christ shines anew. The light of Christ enlightens our lives, our homes, our workplaces, and our neighborhoods. It shines in the empathy we show one another, in our moments of generosity, in our acts of courage, in our exercise of virtue, and in our wild abandon for the love of God. The light of Christ is reflected in the eyes of those we love and in the hearts of those who love us. This light shines forth from you and me and from all of us who gather here to become the body of Christ. 

We live in a mixture of light and shadows. Today, we witness the truth that the light has come into the world, and the darkness cannot overcome it. All the darkness in the world can never extinguish even the most minor light. And the light of Christ is no small light. May we, in our joy and anticipation and in our Christmas hope, dedicate ourselves this year to seeking the light. Let us follow the light daily through the practice of our faith, allowing the light of Christ to shine through us to everyone we meet. 

We gather today with our hearts full of hope and our faces aglow in starlight to celebrate Jesus, the Christ, the light of the world. God has seen us even as we have walked in darkness and deemed us worthy of this incredible outpouring of love: Jesus, God’s Son, becomes human for our sake on this holy night.

“A people who walked in darkness have seen a great light.” Let us follow that light wherever it leads us: to our best and brightest selves in love with God.

Homily for Tuesday of the 4th Week of Advent

Zechariah’s canticle is rooted in the belief that God’s promises are fulfilled. When Zechariah expressed doubts about his faith, he was rendered mute until the day the promised event occurred. Eight days after the birth of John, Zechariah and Elizabeth, following the ritual commanded to Abraham, took him for circumcision. When it came time to name the child, Elizabeth insisted he be named John, as God had commanded. Those present turned to Zechariah, who confirmed the name, and immediately, he regained his speech and began praising God, who always fulfills His promises.

This Christmas Eve, Zechariah’s canticle can resonate with us as we pray for a deeper personal awareness of God in our lives. We see the light on the horizon and wait in hope for it to become the full, dazzling light of God’s incarnation in Jesus Christ. 

We live in a space between what has passed and what is yet to come. A light has dawned, but it has yet to fully illuminate the darkness within and around us. As disciples of Jesus, we acknowledge that the divine light has entered our world, yet we still await its full radiance. We may even doubt that such a glorious future is possible. However, like Zechariah, we can look up at the dawn and catch a glimpse of the first twinkling light that represents the glory God has in store for His people.