St. Thomas the Apostle Parish

Homily for Thursday of the 7th Week in Ordinary Time

Today's Gospel began with a comforting promise about how acts of kindness will be well rewarded. However, it then goes on to give stern warnings against scandal. Jesus' vivid remarks cannot be taken literally, as he does not actually want us to deform ourselves, cut off a hand, or gouge out an eye. He stresses the significance of the eternal over the temporal and the heavenly over earthly life, repeating the declaration: "Whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake and that of the Gospel will save it." (Mark 8:35)

He means that if we use our hands, feet, eyes, and other faculties solely to serve ourselves and never to serve others, we have no reward. But if we give ourselves generously now, our eternal future is assured. Life is for sharing what is ours and forming bonds with others. In such a lifestyle, even small acts of helpfulness have special meaning: "whoever gives only a cup of cold water to one of these little ones to drink because he is a disciple—amen, I say to you, he will surely not lose his reward." (Matthew 10:42)

The Letter of James puts this differently but even more directly. A greedy, profit-centered life, insensitive to other people's needs, will turn against us: "Your wealth has rotted away, your clothes have become moth-eaten, your gold and silver have corroded, and that corrosion will be a testimony against you; it will devour your flesh like a fire." 

James is vigorous and outspoken on social justice, convinced that God does not forget the helpless of whom others take advantage and that the cries of the defenseless " have reached the ears of the Lord of hosts." This strong emphasis on social justice should instill in us a sense of responsibility and urgency in addressing the needs of others.

Homily for Wednesday of the Seventh Week in Ordinary Time

St. Mark often shows a clash of views between Jesus and His friends. Some of the disciples had a "them-and-us" view of other people. Only inner circle members could be trusted to do the Lord's work. 

Jesus, in His wisdom, embraced a more inclusive perspective. He recognized that even those not formally joining his circle could be conduits of God's life-giving work. His generous statement, "whoever is not against us is for us," serves as a beacon of hope for us in these challenging times, inviting all, regardless of their faith background, to contribute to the greater good.

Many of our friends and neighbors do not share our faith explicitly, or at least do not practice it as we do, yet they are not against the Gospel either. We should strive to build bridges with anyone who shows a desire to improve the lives of others and provide assistance where it is needed. We can collaborate in our mission with those who are not even professing Christians. In these times, we need to embrace Jesus's outlook rather than the narrower vision of His disciples.

Homily for Tuesday of the 7th Week in Ordinary Time

Several years ago, I was privileged to attend a Youth Ministry conference in Colorado Springs. I vividly remember one of the workshops, where a fellow attendee made a profound comment about youth, referring to them as "the future of the Church." The presenter's response was even more impactful: "Young people are not just the future of the Church; they are a real part of the Church of the present as well." This resonated deeply with me, a sentiment we should all embrace. One day, it will be their duty to teach and carry on the faith long after we are gone.

It is with tender devotion, then, that the Church prepares our youth for their First Communion and (a few years later) for their Confirmation and their future role as teachers of the faith. In these sacraments, we welcome them into the Church and receive them into the family of faith. That welcoming children is important is clearly evident from today's Gospel passage. In it, Jesus identified Himself very closely with children; He went so far as to say, "Whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me, and whoever welcomes me welcomes not me but the one who sent me."

Our Gospel passage today suggests that somehow, it is in and through children that we can best encounter Jesus and His Father. Elsewhere, Jesus identifies Himself with the most vulnerable — the sick, the hungry, the thirsty, the naked, the stranger, the imprisoned. Children, by definition, are among the most vulnerable; they are dependent on others for life in all its dimensions. Today's Gospel passage suggests that ministry to children and young people, whatever form it takes, is sacred; it is indeed holy ground.

Homily for the Memorial of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of the Church

Those who have grown up in the Catholic faith have always understood Jesus' Mother, Mary, to be our Blessed Mother. Today's Gospel depicts the moment Jesus proclaimed her the Mother of the Church.

As the Church's Mother, Mary is involved in our relationship with the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. She answered God the Father's call through her conversation with the angel Gabriel. She gave birth to and raised Jesus, His Son. She was present on the original Pentecost when the Holy Spirit descended upon the Church's first leaders.

When she stood at the foot of the Cross, just moments before her Son died, He proclaimed her to be not just the Mother of His beloved disciple but the Mother of all His disciples, the Mother of the Church.

May we live out our faith as did our Blessed Mother. May we be guided by her example and rely on her intercession for us in heaven.

Homily for the Solemnity of Pentecost

In an article featured in the November/December 2014 issue of Maryknoll Magazine, Maryknoll Missionary Sr. Janet Hockman shares a heartwarming story about the Sunday prayer gatherings of the parishioners of St. Paul's in the village of Tinak, located in the small Pacific island of Arno Atoll. Despite the unavailability of a priest to conduct the Mass on some Sundays, the community's prayer leaders step up to prepare the day's services, seek readers, and lead everyone in singing hymns.

Impaired eyesight is a common problem on the island due to limited diets and intense sun glare. The simple church's lack of electrical lighting exacerbates the issue.

On a Sunday, a woman named Marguerite led the prayer service, while her husband Anjua was one of the readers. During the service, when Anjua stood up to read, he approached Marguerite to borrow her glasses. After he finished reading, his brother Airmail borrowed the glasses from Anjua to read next. Airmail later returned the glasses to Marguerite for the remainder of the service.

The pair of glasses, shared within the community, spoke powerfully of God's love as much as their prayers did.

Like that pair of glasses shared by a family and community, the Spirit of God is a lens through which we recognize God's love in the midst of our homes and hearths, our communities and villages. 

The presence of the Spirit we celebrate today enables us to recognize what is good, right, ethical, true, and of lasting worth, guiding us on our journeys to God.

The Spirit of God calls upon us to acknowledge and appreciate our connection with God and with each other. It allows us to express our beliefs that we sometimes hesitate to put into words. It gives us the strength and elegance to pursue the dreams that we might be too doubtful or anxious to aspire toward.

May the Spirit of God, the creative breath of the Holy One, always dwell within our hearts, enlivening us with His love and filling us with hope. May this light illuminate the possibilities of bringing the promise of Jesus' Resurrection into our homes and hearts, like the first light of dawn dispelling the shadows of night.

Homily for Saturday of the 7th Week of Easter

In today's Gospel scene, we see three main characters: Jesus, Peter, and the Beloved Disciple. Peter had just received an important responsibility: "Feed my lambs and my sheep." But instead of asking what this new role might entail, Peter asks about the future of the Beloved Disciple: "Lord, what about him?"

Jesus seems to respond by saying, "I have other plans for him. You follow me, doing the work I have given you." Peter and the Beloved Disciple had different roles to play. Peter's ministry ended with his martyrdom in Rome during the first persecution under Emperor Nero, while the Beloved Disciple stayed in the East and seems to have died an older man, either in Ephesus or on the island of Patmos.

The Lord has a unique role for each of us, something that no one else can do. Rather than wondering, like Peter, what God wants from other people, we need to discern what task is given to us personally. Comparing ourselves with others is just a distraction; we can only be ourselves.

Homily for Friday of the 7th Week of Easter

After Jesus was arrested, Peter denied Him three times. However, after the Resurrection, Jesus appeared to Peter and asked him three times, "Do you love me?" The question Jesus asked was not focused on Peter's past actions, but on his present love for Him.

Jesus asks us the same question, "Do you love me?" This question invites us to make Jesus the center of our affection and devotion. In the Gospel of John, Jesus said, "As the Father has loved me, so I have loved you, remain in my love." This love relationship between us and the Lord is fundamental to our faith, and everything else we do in His name presupposes it.

Peter could not be entrusted with the responsibility of caring for the Lord's flock until he publicly declared his love for Him. Similarly, our personal relationship with the Lord comes before any work we might do in His name. Our life of faith, and our participation in the Lord's work of caring for His flock, is the result of our personal relationship of love with Him.

Homily for Thursday of the 7th Week of Easter

The Resurrection of Jesus is the cornerstone of Christianity. If Jesus truly rose from the dead, then we can believe in all that He said and did. However, if He did not, our faith would be in vain, as Saint Paul reminds us.

Following His Resurrection, Jesus did not appear to the Pharisees or the general public, but only to His Apostles and a few select followers. The only witnesses to the fact that His body was not in the tomb on the third day were the Apostles. Despite the grave danger they faced, these ordinary and fallible humans did not deny the Resurrection. Instead, they bravely offered their lives in martyrdom as a testament to their unwavering belief in what they witnessed.

At the Last Supper, Jesus prayed not only for His Apostles, but also for all those who would believe in Him through their word. Although the world may not have known Jesus, these chosen people did. He entrusted them with the mission of sharing that knowledge so that all who believe in Him could be united on earth and in the presence of God in heaven.

Jesus relied greatly on His Apostles, and now He relies on us. Our sharing of the faith is a continuation of what the Apostles took on after the death, Resurrection, and Ascension of Jesus. May we be faithful to that mission, thus guiding others to the same.

Homily for Wednesday of the 7th Week of Easter

Jesus has always been a guide and protector for His disciples. In today's Gospel, He continues to care for them through His intercessory prayer. This prayer is a natural extension of the many ways He has served them since they first began to follow Him. In the same way, when we pray for others, we show our care for them and serve them as Jesus did.

Jesus taught us the value of intercessory prayer by praying for His disciples. Since then, praying for others has been an integral part of the Church's prayer life. Paul also mentions prayers for his churches and asks his people to pray for him. This form of prayer has a long history in the Jewish tradition. Through the prayer of intercession, we express our unity and connection with others in Christ.

Homily for the Feast of St. Matthias, Apostle

After Judas' betrayal, the Twelve Apostles were left with a significant void. The number twelve held immense importance, symbolizing the twelve tribes of Israel and the heart of the new Israel, a people of God comprising both Jews and non-Jews. Matthias was chosen to restore the integrity of this sacred number, filling the vacancy left by Judas and reviving the full team of Apostles.

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

This is an exciting mixture of human judgment and submission to divine guidance. Those early disciples used their judgment and discernment but also realized that they needed to ask for insight from God.

We also need both in our lives. We must use our judgment and experience to determine what steps to take, and we must equally entrust ourselves to the Lord in prayer.