St. Thomas the Apostle Parish

Homily for the 1st Sunday of Advent

Many people today do not generally value patience while waiting. They want things to be done quickly and efficiently. We have microwaves that cook food much more rapidly than conventional methods, mobile phones so that we are immediately available, texts to communicate simple things right away, emails to get written information to their destination instantly, computers, and personal organizers—all to save time so we do not have to wait.

A man recently told a story about trying to work through some new variations on his computer. It took a little time to resolve and crank the work on his laser printer. So, as he waited, he went to the kitchen to make himself a cup of tea. He filled the cup with hot tap water and put it in the microwave. He said that he was frustrated because he had to wait for the printout for his computer and the cup of tea. His mind then flashed back to many years when he was young and lived on a farm without computers or microwave ovens. He said, “If I wanted a cup of tea, I would have to go out to the well in the backyard, and I would have to pump the water, bring it back, and put it on the wood-burning stove. It would have been a half hour before I could drink my tea, and here I am, frustrated because it takes two minutes to get my tea and to have my computer turn out what it should.”

Waiting patiently, as I said, is not always our strong point. Yet, this weekend, we begin the new Church Year with Advent — a period of waiting. One woman, with good insight, likens Advent to being with child. She writes, “Waiting is an impractical time in our thoughts, good for nothing, but mysteriously necessary to all that is coming. As in pregnancy, nothing of value comes into being without a period of quiet incubation. Not a healthy baby, not a loving relationship, not a reconciliation, a work of art, and never a transformation. A shortened period of incubation brings forth what is not strong.” And so we must wait patiently.

Perhaps this is why Mary is Advent’s chief figure. Even though she said “yes” to God’s call, Mary had to wait. Patiently, she had to create space in her womb and in her life. She had to wait nine months to look into the face of her Savior and ours. She could not make it happen; she had to let it happen.

This is what we are asked to do during this period of Advent. We will make all kinds of necessary preparations for our celebration of Christmas. This includes Christmas cards, shopping for and wrapping gifts, working out the details for parties, etc. But we are also asked to make room in our hearts and our lives for some quiet waiting to reflect on what we are gearing up for in a few weeks: the birth of our Savior. Like Mary, we need to take time in this busy season to sit quietly and let the Spirit do what it will.

Homily for the Feast of St. Andrew, Apostle

The story of the calling of Andrew and his brother Simon, along with the brothers James and John, possesses a beautiful simplicity. Jesus saw Simon and Andrew casting their nets into the sea as they went about their daily work. He called out to them, “Come after me, and I will make you fishers of men.” We are told that the brothers immediately followed Him.

It is natural to expect some hesitation when responding to Jesus' call, as doing so would mean leaving behind everything they had ever known, including their livelihood, and venturing into "uncharted waters." Catching people is much harder than catching fish. Nonetheless, whatever reluctance Andrew and Simon may have felt, they immediately overcame it and chose to follow Jesus, becoming great evangelists who preached the Gospel of Christ.

Perhaps it can be said that the Lord works in our lives much like He did in the lives of Andrew, Simon, James, and John. He often calls us amid our daily tasks—in the ordinary, sometimes monotonous moments of life. He invites us to step beyond our familiar surroundings and comfort zones to serve God's kingdom. This call can come in small, subtle ways. While we may initially resist it, if we listen and allow it to resonate within us, responding positively can lead to surprising and good works through us by the Lord.

Homily for Friday of the 34th Week in Ordinary Time

We live in a world that is constantly changing and doing so at a rapid pace. Many people find change challenging; most of us need certain constants in our lives, and we find it easier to manage change when some things remain the same.

In today’s Gospel passage, Jesus speaks about a profoundly significant change. He proclaims that even heaven and earth will pass away, which is difficult to imagine. Yet, He immediately highlights something that will never change: "My words will not pass away.”

Amid even the most drastic changes, the Lord’s word remains solid and unyielding because the Lord Himself is perpetual and true. He is the rock that stands firm when everything else fades away. Amid unsettling change, we can take comfort in knowing that the Lord remains constant. Our relationship with Him helps to keep us steady when everything else seems to be falling apart.

Homily for Thanksgiving Day

Today, people all across the United States will celebrate Thanksgiving. As we observe this day of gratitude, we are particularly mindful of the harvest. Family tables will be adorned with squash, pumpkins, colorful leaves, corn, grapevines, and other seasonal decorations that reflect the day we celebrate.

Families will gather to enjoy abundant feasts of turkey with all the trimmings and desserts like apple or pumpkin pie. We will indulge in the bounties of the harvest. In prayer and action, we will remember the poor and the less fortunate. We will host dinners at churches, shelters, and soup kitchens and contribute a little extra to food banks. We will feel good about these efforts.

It is right to celebrate and thank God for what He has provided; it is good to share the earth's bounty and express our gratitude for God's goodness. However, Thanksgiving may feel incomplete, depending on our overall attitude toward life and what God has done and continues to do for us.

There is a significant difference between giving thanks on one specific day and living in a state of gratitude every day. Thanksgiving Day is an event with a clear beginning and end. The spirit of Thanksgiving, however, should be more than just a single occasion; it should be a way of life.

Giving thanks is essential. When we express gratitude as a community of faith or as a family, we are reminded of the many blessings and good people that God has provided us. We acknowledge that we have been blessed and recognize that there is a greater good beyond ourselves. We become aware of our dependence on God and His goodness.

However, the temptation is to return to our independence, to forget God, and to think that we alone are responsible for our achievements, forgetting that even our ability to act is a gift from Him. This is where living a life of gratitude comes in. We begin to truly "live thanks" when we open our lives to God and prioritize Him above all else.

As we embrace a life of Thanksgiving, humbling ourselves before God and acknowledging Him as the source of all good things, our awareness of our blessings increases. Our joy becomes fuller, and we find ourselves in a state of grace. 

Our continual gratitude for our blessings can evolve into a lifelong commitment to living out those blessings and sharing them as we understand deep down that God is the giver of it all. 

As you give thanks this Thanksgiving Day, remember your calling to be joyful always, to pray continually, and to give thanks in all circumstances. This is what God desires for you. In embracing this attitude, you will discover the fullness of what God has in store for you.

Homily for Wednesday of the 34th Week in Ordinary Time

Jesus teaches us that through our perseverance, we can save our lives. His message about perseverance reflects the harsh realities faced by the Church, particularly in the first century. Being a witness to Jesus and His values under the oppressive rule of imperial Rome often meant risking imprisonment or even death. A believer's faith could be betrayed by a family member or a friend. Being openly recognized as a Christian could cost someone their life. While it was possible to keep one's faith secret and lead a quiet life, the danger of persecution was always present. The risks associated with following Jesus were genuine, especially during the early days of Christianity.

 

Our relationship with Jesus today should not be hidden; it is not meant to be a private matter without concern for others. If our friendship with Jesus is the most essential relationship in our lives, it will influence our other relationships and guide our words and actions. We should not keep our faith to ourselves but strive to live it out visibly. In today's culture, that can be a challenging endeavor. However, we can trust that God provides us with the resources to live as Jesus' disciples and witnesses to our faith. His enduring presence inspires us to genuinely live as His followers.

Homily for Tuesday of the 34th Week in Ordinary Time

This coming weekend, we will begin a new liturgical year by celebrating the first Sunday of Advent. Despite the dark days ahead, the liturgical readings will take on a much brighter tone, inviting us to look forward to the arrival of the light.

In today’s Gospel passage, Jesus speaks about the destruction of the Temple in Jerusalem and other troubling events. Those living in Jesus' time could not have imagined the Temple's destruction, especially since it had taken nearly fifty years to build and was still unfinished. However, even the strongest and finest buildings do not last forever.

Today’s Gospel reminds us not to become overly attached to things that are temporary. Instead, we should connect ourselves to the One who declared in Matthew’s Gospel, “something greater than the Temple is here.” When everything else fails, disappears, and turns to dust, He remains eternal. Through our relationship with Him, we, too, can endure.

Homily for Monday of the 34th Week in Ordinary Time

The phrase "widow's mite" finds its source in the Gospel passage we just heard. It illustrates the paradox that sometimes those who seem to give the least are actually giving the most, while others who give more may not be sacrificing as much. 

In terms of money, the widow contributed less than anyone else to the temple treasury. However, her donation was significant because she gave everything she had. This paradox can also be seen in our own lives. Sometimes, we appear to be giving very little, but in reality, we are offering a lot because we are giving as much as we can. Our health might be suffering, or our energy levels may be low due to personal struggles. In these moments, what we can afford financially or in terms of time and energy may be significantly less. Nevertheless, even a small contribution or effort can represent a substantial sacrifice. 

The widow in today's Gospel reminds us that even when we have little to give, we can still be incredibly generous.

Homily for the Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe

The Preface of today’s Mass describes Christ’s kingdom as one of truth and life, holiness and grace, justice, love, and peace. This manifestation is not simply a hope for the future but something to be lived in the present. The kingdom is our hope, but we are also in the midst of the evolving process of being a part of it.

The Gospel reveals how we are to advance the fuller coming of God’s kingdom in our midst. It comes whenever we bring about justice for the hungry, the thirsty, the naked, and the oppressed. To conduct ourselves this way is to imitate the Servant-King Himself presented in our Gospels as the One who rescues us from alienation, hunger, spiritual fatigue, illness, and weakness in various parts of our being. Among His final words was a promise to the thief crucified next to Him that the eternal love of God in Paradise would surround him.

The best way to honor Christ our King is to labor to make His kingdom a reality right here on earth. Anything we do to relieve the suffering and poverty of people in our world is also a service to Christ because He identifies Himself personally with those in need.

A faithful follower of Christ the King cannot afford the indulgence of living comfortably for oneself while ignoring the needy and suffering among us. Ignoring the cries of those in need is to close our ears to Christ. Averting our eyes to the anguish of the dying is to close our eyes to Him. If we follow Jesus Christ as our Servant-king, we must somehow be servants ourselves for His sake and in His Name.

 

 

Homily for Saturday of the 33rd Week in Ordinary Time

Today's Gospel passage occurs when the Sadducees, Pharisees, and chief priests had grown frustrated with Jesus and His message. They wanted to kill Him, but they knew He had the support of the people, which made them hesitant to act.

The questions they posed to Jesus were designed to trap Him and provoke Him into blasphemy, providing them with a reason to put Him to death. Their intentions were self-serving, hidden beneath the surface of what may have seemed to be innocent questioning.

Similarly, we often bring our own agendas when we approach Jesus. Typically, we seek something we want, a desired change, or a struggle with aspects of our lives or faith that we find difficult. Sometimes, without realizing it, our agendas can contradict Jesus’ message.

Whatever we pray for, we must offer these prayers with a genuinely open heart, mind, and soul. We should strive to set aside our agendas to more perfectly align with God's will.

Homily for the Memorial of Saint Cecilia, Virgin & Martyr

Although we have only a few stories about Jesus' early life, we know that the last three years of his time on Earth were filled with intense activity. Today's Gospel illustrates Jesus' passion and energy, particularly during his visits to Jerusalem.

In this passage, Jesus confronts the pillars of society and expresses his righteous anger toward their corrupt use of the Temple for personal gain. At the same time, he advocates for the marginalized and oppressed—those whom the powerful look down upon.

Although Jesus' ministry was brief, he utilized every moment to disrupt the status quo and challenge those in power. His message of love and compassion posed a threat to those who wished to maintain control, leading them to seek ways to silence him.

As we carry on the mission of spreading the Good News of the Gospel, we may encounter opposition and conflict. However, we must remain steadfast in our commitment to living out Jesus' message, standing up for the marginalized, and challenging those who misuse their power. Let us be bold like Jesus, using our words and actions to bring about lasting change in the world.