St. Thomas the Apostle Parish

Homily for the Memorial of Saint Frances Xavier Cabrini, Virgin

Sometimes, we overlook the significance of seemingly ordinary things and fail to recognize their value, even when they are right in front of us. When the Pharisees asked about the arrival of the kingdom of God, they were surprised by Jesus' response: "The kingdom of God is among you." This revelation, though not in the form they expected, was a powerful reminder that God's kingdom is indeed present.

Christ's presence is not always grand or dramatic, but it is always felt in our lives. He works through those who uplift, heal, and bring life to others. His influence, though subtle, is profound, shaping our daily experiences in ways we may not even be aware of. He promised, "I am with you always," assuring us that we will never be without His healing power. We need faith, as well as open eyes and ears, to recognize His presence. Let us pray for an increase in our faith.

Homily for the Memorial of Saint Josaphat, Bishop and Martyr

It is easy to forget that every good thing in our lives is a gift from God. The story of the Samaritan leper in today's Gospel highlights this vital truth. Ten lepers were cured by Jesus, but only one returned to thank God and acknowledge Him as the source of his healing. This man recognized that it was God who healed him.

Jesus praised the Samaritan for his gratitude and understanding. He didn't seek recognition for Himself; instead, He wanted to emphasize God's healing power. Jesus said, "Your faith has saved you." This leper had a heart full of gratitude and was able to see God's hand in his healing.

Let us recognize God's work in our lives, praise Him for His goodness, and give thanks for the many blessings we receive.

Homily for the Memorial of St. Martin of Tours

In the passage that precedes today's Gospel, the Apostles asked Jesus to increase their faith. His response is a powerful reminder that faith is not just a set of requirements; it is a transformative force that has the power to shape our lives and motivate us to exceed expectations. This transformative power of faith fills us with hope and inspires us to actively live out our faith.

Jesus wants us to understand that true faith goes beyond simply going through the motions. It involves living and embodying our faith in every aspect of our daily lives. We are called to be active participants in the mission of Jesus Christ. Therefore, we should remember that faith is not only about what we do but also about who we are. We need to reflect our faith through our actions, words, and attitudes. This call to reflect our faith in all aspects of our lives guides us and keeps us focused on the mission that Jesus has entrusted to us.

Homily for the Memorial of St. Leo the Great

It's not uncommon for people with high ideals to be intolerant, easily scandalized, or easily offended. While some may suggest that they need to be more streetwise, Jesus teaches us not to give anyone a reason to be scandalized, regardless of how hardened they may be to life's challenges.

Idealistic people often struggle to forgive the weaknesses and flaws of others. Despite their admirable virtues, they may struggle to understand the power of temptation and overlook the goodness in those around them. This difficulty with forgiveness can become a stumbling block for unbelievers, potentially pushing them away from the Church.

Yet, Jesus reminds us that sin and failure are inevitable. He doesn't ask us to condemn those who sin; instead, He calls us to balance our pursuit of holiness with faith in God's work in the lives of others, even those who fall short—something that applies to all of us.

Let's strive to be more forgiving, understanding, and merciful as we journey toward our shared goal of spiritual perfection.

Homily for the Feast of the Dedication of the Lateran Basilica in Rome

The first Christian emperor, Constantine, commissioned the construction of a church on land that once belonged to the Laterani family. This 4th-century church was the precursor to the present Basilica. The Baptistery attached to the current Basilica is where Emperor Constantine was baptized. Today, this Basilica serves as the Cathedral of the Diocese of Rome. It is considered the Pope's church as Bishop of Rome. For this reason, it is called the "mother and head of all the churches of the city and the world," including our parish church, where we gather for prayer and worship.

While our church is much smaller than the Basilica of Saint John Lateran in Rome, both serve as important monuments to the people's faith. In the first reading, Paul tells the Christians in Corinth, "You are God's building; you are God's temple." More fundamental than the physical structure we call a church are the people we refer to as the Church. The church building exists to help us express our identity as a community of faith called to worship God through Christ in the Spirit.

For our worship to be authentic, the shape of our worship must reflect the shape of our lives. Our entire lives should be a movement towards God, through Christ and in the Spirit. This is the essence of being the Church, the temple of God in the world, and it lies at the heart of our baptismal calling.

Homily for Friday of the 31st Week in Ordinary Time

In today’s Gospel reading, a parable describes a rich man who confronts his steward about the mismanagement of his property. He orders the steward to prepare a full accounting and informs him that he will no longer be employed.

Recognizing his predicament, the steward courageously decides to seek help from his master’s debtors. He calls each of them and reduces the amounts they owe. While this action involves a level of dishonesty, it conveys a more profound message.

Interestingly, the master seems less angry with the steward after seeing how he has eased the burden on the debtors. Perhaps witnessing the steward’s mercy towards the debtors softened the master’s response as well. This highlights the transformative power of mercy in the face of wrongdoing.

Homily for Thursday of the 31st Week in Ordinary Time

In today's Gospel reading, we see the persistent tendency of the Scribes and Pharisees to exclude individuals they consider imperfect. They criticize Jesus for eating and spending time with these people.

However, Jesus responds to His critics with parables, encouraging them to focus on the very individuals He is with. He reminds them that He has not come for the righteous, but to save the lost and forsaken. To do this, He meets people where they are, rather than waiting for them to redeem themselves. This means that Jesus will eat with, speak to, spend time with, and love them.

We, too, are called to seek out the lost and forsaken and to serve those in need: the sick, the oppressed, the poor, and even sinners. 

May our lives reflect Jesus's teachings as we strive to be His voice, His hands, His feet, and His instruments in the world.

Homily for Wednesday of the 31st Week in Ordinary Time

Many people find today's Gospel passage challenging, especially the part about needing to "hate" family members. This idea can be uncomfortable and seems to contradict what Jesus and the Scriptures, including the Ten Commandments, say about honoring our parents. So, what is Jesus really trying to convey?

Jesus is not speaking about "hate" in the way we commonly understand it. Instead, He emphasizes that we must love Him and our heavenly Father even more than we love our parents or family members. He is teaching us that when we face a choice between following Him or our family, we must always prioritize Him, even if it creates tension.

While Jesus' wording may sound harsh, He often used strong language to capture the attention of His listeners. He aimed to highlight that, at times, following Him can be challenging and, in rare instances, may even put us at odds with those we love the most. We must be prepared to choose Him over our family when necessary.

Let us pray for unwavering faith and trust in Jesus, even when following Him requires us to bear difficult crosses and burdens.

Homily for the Memorial of Saint Charles Borromeo

In today's Gospel passage, a man hosts a lavish dinner and invites many people to attend. However, they are too preoccupied with their own concerns to accept the invitation. As a result, the man sends his servants into the streets and alleys to invite the poor, the crippled, the blind, and the lame, even reaching out to those on the outskirts of town to invite anyone they can find.

This reflects how God interacts with us. He invites us to embrace His love and grace and to experience the joy of His kingdom, even while we are still living on earth.

For many of us, the immediate demands of life can hinder us from accepting that invitation. We often think we will find time for God once we have addressed all our earthly and material concerns. However, we risk waiting too long.

God's invitation to experience His love and grace is extended to everyone. Let us pray that we remain attentive to that invitation at every moment in our lives, so we can grow in God's love and actively share in the Banquet of Life.

Homily for Monday of the 31st Week in Ordinary tIme

In today's Gospel, a wealthy Pharisee invites Jesus to dinner. This is unusual because Pharisees typically dined only with those who shared their views. During the meal, Jesus suggests that His host should often invite people he wouldn't ordinarily welcome—those who are outsiders or who are experiencing illness, hunger, and poverty.

Unlike the Pharisees, who limited their social circles, Jesus regularly shared meals with a diverse array of people, including the rich and the poor, the educated and the uneducated, the devout and the outsiders, as well as men and women. His choice of dining companions reflects His inclusive nature; no one was excluded from His presence or from His mission of preaching the kingdom of God. Jesus aimed to reveal God's generous welcome for everyone, especially those who were marginalized.

Through His authentic lifestyle and the company He kept, Jesus demonstrated the wide hospitality of His Father. In contrast, the Pharisees viewed God as exclusive rather than inclusive.

Let us pray that we will follow Jesus' example and welcome those who may be considered outsiders and those in need, so that we may share our knowledge of and faith in God with others.