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 relationship with Jesus shaped his identity. 

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 Mary, the Holy Mother of God

Today we honor Mary, the Mother of Jesus. We recognize her as the Mother of Jesus and as a heavenly mother to all of us.

As we know, Mary lived a good life without sin. Her life became even more special when she agreed to become the mother of Jesus. When the angel Gabriel spoke to her, Mary said, "Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word."[1]

Mary’s words help us understand what is important in life. Our lives become more meaningful when we, like Mary, give our lives to God. We find our true purpose when we let Jesus into our hearts. Today, we, like Mary, say to God: "I am the servant of the Lord."

If we want to grow in faith, we must do what God wants and welcome His love. When we let Jesus into our lives, we can find true happiness.

To open our hearts to God, we must trust that He will be with us as we try to follow Him. Mary trusted God’s goodness and love. Because of her trust, she could say yes to God’s plan. We also want to have this kind of trust and ask Mary to help us by her example and prayers.

As a new year begins, we think about starting fresh. Many people make plans to improve their lives. This year, let us try to trust God more, open our hearts to Him, and live as He wants us to live.

When we open our hearts like Mary did, we may also pray her prayer: "My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord, my spirit rejoices in God my Savior for he has looked with favor on his lowly servant. From this day all generations will call me blessed:  the Almighty has done great things for me, and holy is his Name. He has mercy on those who fear him in every generation. He has shown the strength of his arm, he has scattered the proud in their conceit.

“He has cast down the mighty from their thrones, and has lifted up the lowly. He has filled the hungry with good things, And the rich he has sent away empty.

“He has come to the help of his servant Israel for he remembered his promise of mercy, the promise he made to our fathers, to Abraham and his children forever." [2]

 

[1] Luke 1:38

[2] Luke 1:46-55

Homily for the 7th Day in the Octave of Christmas

As we prepare to start a new year tomorrow, we are reminded that a new beginning can bring hope and excitement. At this time of year, we think about the chance to begin again. Even though it is winter, we know that over the next six months, each day will slowly grow a little longer. More daylight helps us look forward to new life.

 

The beginning of John’s Gospel talks about new beginnings, showing the start of a new light on Earth. The first words are “In the beginning.” This passage tells us about a light that shines in the darkness, a light that darkness cannot defeat, a true light that helps everyone understand.

 

This part of the Gospel is not talking about the light from the sun. It is talking about a different kind of light—the light of the Word, who was with God from the start. Because the Word became a human, His light is now with us. We live in this special light. Later in John’s Gospel, Jesus says, “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 had difficult times in our lives. We can feel darkness in our hearts, minds, or spirits. Sometimes, we suddenly face hard situations. In these moments, the message from today’s Gospel is very important: “A light shines in the darkness, a light that darkness could not overpower.” Our faith tells us that there is no darkness in the world that the light of Christ cannot enter.

 

Homily for the 6th Day in the Octave of Christmas

In the opening chapters of the Gospel of Luke, we meet several faithful individuals, among them the elderly widow Anna. While Mary, Joseph, Zechariah, Elizabeth, and Simeon are noteworthy, Anna is particularly remarkable for her age—eighty-four years—and for her unwavering commitment to the Temple, where she spent her days and nights in prayer and fasting.

 

When we think about serving God, we often picture active roles: visiting the sick or elderly, providing food, or meeting community needs. Yet Anna’s service was different. She remained in the Temple, dedicating herself to unceasing prayer and fasting. Her quiet life of devotion became a profound testimony to God’s work in the world.

 

When Mary and Joseph brought Jesus to the Temple, Anna gave thanks to God and spoke about the Child to all who were looking for redemption. Through her prayer, fasting, and proclamation of Jesus’ story, Anna became a vital witness to God’s continuing presence in our lives.

 

Anna’s example reminds us that there are many ways to serve God, and prayer is integral to this service. In prayer, we open ourselves to God’s will, and through this devotion, we, like Anna, can be empowered to share God’s presence with those who still long for His coming.

Homily for the Fifth Day in the Octave of Christmas

Whenever a mother gives birth, family members and friends lovingly admire the new baby and want to hold the bundle of new life, and it is difficult for us to take our eyes off them. Babies are captivating and make us think of the future.

When Mary and Joseph entered the temple with their newborn son, Jesus, they met Simeon, a faithful elderly Jewish man, who took the infant in his arms and glorified God. If every baby is captivating, how much more true is this about the infant Jesus?               

Having cradled Jesus in his arms and having gazed upon Him, Simeon was prepared to depart this world, saying, “Lord, now let your servant go in peace.” His heavenly prayer is now part of Compline, the official night prayer of the Church.

Although we cannot hold the infant Jesus in our arms, we still recognize and welcome Him into our hearts, as did Simeon and Anna. We see Him in the breaking of the bread of the Eucharist, we listen to His voice when the Gospels are proclaimed, and, if we are observant, we see Him in our daily interaction with one another. And, in faith, we cast our attention to that day when we will see him face to face.

Homily for Wednesday of the 4th Week of Advent

Zechariah’s canticle reflects a strong belief that God keeps His promises. When Zechariah doubted, he lost his voice and stayed silent until the event God had announced happened. Eight days after John was born, Zechariah and Elizabeth followed the tradition given to Abraham and brought their child to be circumcised. When it came time to name him, Elizabeth said he should be called John, just as God had said. The people turned to Zechariah, and when he agreed, his voice returned. Zechariah then praised God, who always fulfills His promises.

 

On this Christmas Eve, Zechariah’s canticle encourages us to look for a deeper sense of God’s presence in our lives. We notice hope growing, waiting for it to become the true light of God’s incarnation in Jesus Christ.

 

We live in the space between what has happened and what is still to come. Light has come, but there is still darkness around us. As followers of Jesus, we know the divine light is here, even if we wait to see it fully. Sometimes we have doubts about the future. But like Zechariah, we can look toward the dawn and notice the first signs of the hope God has for us.

Homily for Tuesday of the 4th Week of Advent

Choosing a baby’s name can spark lively debates among family members, with everyone eager to share their favorites. But at the end of the day, it’s the parents who hold the ultimate authority.

 

Take Zechariah and Elizabeth, for example. Their relatives and neighbors just assumed their baby boy would be named “Zechariah,” following the age-old tradition of naming sons after their fathers. But Zechariah and Elizabeth knew that God had a surprise in store—a unique name chosen for their child by divine inspiration.

 

Long-standing customs were set aside because God was about to do something brand-new. This child was destined to break the mold, and everyone wondered what kind of man he would become.

 

John the Baptist would prepare a path, getting people ready for the arrival of someone even greater—Emmanuel, meaning “God is with us.” God was moving in fresh, unprecedented ways, setting up a brand-new covenant with humanity. This incredible gift is what we celebrate at Christmas, and it should fill our hearts with wonder and thanks.

Homily for Monday of the 4th Week of Advent

In today's Gospel reading, we witnessed Mary's heartfelt, grace-filled response to her cousin Elizabeth, who joyfully recognized her as the Mother of our Lord. This prayer, famously known as the Magnificat, resounds each evening in the official Prayer of the Church, echoing across the world in a chorus of faith.

 

Mary's canticle overflows with joy and wonder as she lifts up the humble—those often overlooked or dismissed by society—as specially chosen by God. With faith-filled grace, she proclaims the dramatic reversal of fortunes and the fulfillment of ancient promises, weaving the hopes of the Old Testament into her praise.

 

Mary's words shine with praise, recognizing God's abiding presence and gentle providence guiding every life on earth.

 

May we, too, open our eyes, ears, minds, and souls to God’s presence in our daily journey, responding with grateful praise and sharing that radiant joy with everyone we meet.

Homily for the 4th Sunday of Advent

In her book, My Grandfather’s Blessings, Dr. Rachel Naomi Remen recounts how, on Yom Kippur—the solemn Jewish Day of Atonement—a rabbi delivered a memorable sermon to his congregation on the theme of forgiveness and mercy.

Before he began, he walked into the congregation, took his infant daughter from his wife, and, carrying her in his arms, stepped up to the synagogue podium. From her father’s arms, the little girl, barely a year old, smiled at the congregation. Every heart melted. The child turned toward her father and patted him on the cheek with her tiny hands. As he began to speak, the little girl grabbed his nose and tugged. Then she took his tie and put it in her mouth. The entire congregation began to chuckle. The rabbi rescued his tie and smiled at her; she put her tiny arms around his neck. The rabbi tried to continue his sermon, but it was of no use. By now, the synagogue was filled with laughter.

The little girl had made the rabbi’s point.

He said, “Think about it.  Is there anything she can do that you could not forgive her for?”

As the congregation members nodded in recognition, the little girl reached up and grabbed his eyeglasses.  Retrieving his glasses and settling them on his nose, the rabbi hugged his little girl, laughing as well.

Then the rabbi asked, “And when does that stop? When does it get hard to forgive? At three? At seven? At fourteen? At thirty-five? How old does someone have to be before you forget that everyone is a child of God?”[1]

As the rabbi teaches a powerful lesson about forgiveness with the help of his infant daughter, we are reminded of a greater lesson echoed throughout our own spiritual traditions. Just as the rabbi’s daughter, in her innocence and vulnerability, opens hearts to laughter and mercy, so too does the story of God’s compassion come alive in the Child of Bethlehem. In the birth of this Child, God enters human history not with power or might, but with gentleness and humility, changing the course of humanity forever.

His presence offers us a new vision—one in which hope is not just a distant dream, but a living reality; justice is not an abstract ideal, but a seed planted in every act of kindness; and peace is not only possible, but promised to those who embrace the spirit of reconciliation.

Each and every one of us is recreated and transformed by the love of a God who humbles Himself to become a helpless baby. This act of divine vulnerability invites us to see divinity in ourselves and in one another, no matter our flaws or failures.

God becomes one of us—sharing in our joys, our struggles, and our hopes—so that, one day, we might grow in compassion, forgiveness, and love, becoming more like Him. May the blessings of this holy birth fill every season of our lives with hope, and may the mercy and justice of this Child inspire us to bring light and healing to the world around us.

[1] Rachel Naomi Remen, M.D., My Grandfather’s Blessings [New York: Riverhead Books, 2000], “All in the Family,” pages 99-100.

Homily for Saturday of the 3rd Week of Advent

As we count down the days to Christmas, our Gospel reading invites us to journey back nine months to the Annunciation—the moment when the Virgin Mary first heard the angel reveal God's extraordinary plan for her within His greater purpose. We're drawn into Mary's world, feeling her confusion and fear, and then reassured by the angel's gentle words: "Do not be afraid."

 

Today, fear can creep into our lives in many forms. But those same comforting words spoken to Mary echo for each of us: "Do not be afraid." When we, like Mary, choose to trust and follow God's will, we discover there's truly nothing to fear—because we walk every step in the presence of the Lord.

 

In these final days of Advent, may we look to Mary as our guiding light—a model of trust and courage—as we strive to embrace God's will and play our unique part in His divine story.