St. Thomas the Apostle Parish

Homily for Friday after Ash Wednesday

It is common to hear people express fear when talking about the Sacrament of Reconciliation, whether they are children or adults. The source of this fear may vary from person to person; however, it is usually related to the fear of rejection or harsh judgment. People may worry that the priest will think less of them or that God is angry with them. Perhaps they are afraid of their own judgment of themselves.

The truth is that the Sacrament of Reconciliation is about mercy, not anger. It is specifically about God's mercy. God desires us to be close to Him, and when we distance ourselves through sin, all we need to do is turn to God with genuine remorse, and He will always be there to bring us close to Him once again.

As we enter into Lent, may we genuinely become humble of heart and open ourselves to the ever-present and loving mercy of God.

Homily for Thursday after Ash Wednesday

In the first reading from the Book of Deuteronomy, we hear a message to "Choose life" by loving and following God. Our life on this earth is a constant struggle to balance our needs to live well, care for our temporal needs, and grow in our relationship with God. The key is finding balance.

Today's readings encourage us to seek the good things of the LORD first and foremost. It is in these things that we find true happiness and life. Pursuing what we need in this life is not excluded, but we must prioritize God and our need for God in everything we do.

Let us pray during this Lenten season to always put God before all else in our lives and to let our love for God guide our thoughts and actions.

Homily for Ash Wednesday

In today's Gospel, Jesus reminds us not to be hypocrites and to avoid being self-centered, arrogant, and egotistical. He warns against appearing like faithful Christians on the outside while failing to be that on the inside.

The term "hypocrite" originates from the Greek word for "actor". Actors have to pretend to be someone else on stage, which is acceptable in theater but not real life. Jesus teaches us to remove our masks, stop pretending, and embrace our true selves. This is a challenging lesson for us for two reasons.

First, many of us act like hypocrites occasionally, even if we don't like to admit it. We may sometimes try to deceive or persuade others, give a false impression, or hide our true motives. We are all probably guilty of hypocrisy at times.

Secondly, we fear that if we remove our masks, God might reject us, and nobody wants to experience rejection. However, Jesus gives us a reason to trust Him enough to accept this challenging lesson.

He already knows us entirely but still chooses to love us. He emphasizes this fact by repeating it three times when He mentions that the Father sees our hidden actions. He has witnessed even the darkest and most sorrowful moments of our inner thoughts. He knows everything about us.

Despite our imperfections, God loves us unconditionally with the kind of love that only a perfect father, mother, or friend can give. He constantly encourages us to draw nearer to Him by giving to those in need, offering our prayers, and fasting privately. His ultimate desire is for us to cultivate a close relationship with Him and live a life intertwined with His divine presence.

The ashes we use serve as a reminder of our sinful nature. Though children of God, we are still of this fallen world.

Ashes are lifeless dust; if we give in to our selfish tendencies and commit sins, we also become lifeless dust. Sin creates a separation between us and God, who is the source of all life. Without God's redeeming Spirit, we would lose all hope of eternal life.

Our faith in Christ tells us that God has not abandoned us. Christ is our Redeemer and claims us as His own. We still have a mission in His Kingdom, and He desires us to be His ambassadors.

As sinners, we bear the mark of ashes, but it is given in the sign of Christ's Cross, which brings us the grace of a fresh start and new life.

We are marked on our foreheads because Christ wants us to represent Him boldly in the world. He is not ashamed of us and wants our friendship, as He is our Savior.

May our Lenten observances bring us closer to being the people God calls us to be, deep within ourselves and in the world, as we seek to bring His love and peace to all His people.

Homily for Tuesday of the 6th Week in Ordinary Time

In today's Gospel passage, Jesus seemed annoyed and frustrated with His disciples in His conversation with them. Despite all they had seen Him do in their time with Him, it looked to Jesus that they had no idea who He was, but there was more to come. They not only failed to understand Him, but they would also eventually abandon Him. And yet, these same disciples would begin the now 2,000-year tradition of handing on the faith.

In the closing chapter of Mark's Gospel, the young man sitting in the tomb tells Mary Magdalene and Salome, "Do not be amazed! You seek Jesus of Nazareth, the crucified. He has been raised; He is not here. Behold, the place where they laid Him. But go and tell His disciples and Peter, He is going before you to Galilee; there you will see Him, as He told you." Despite their failure, Jesus met them again in Galilee to renew their call.

The Gospel shows that Jesus is faithful to us even when we fail to be faithful to Him. He goes ahead of us into all the places we find ourselves. He is there, calling us from our failures in faithfulness to begin anew.

Homily for Monday of the 6th Week in Ordinary Time

Throughout the Gospel of Mark, Jesus's emotions are more frequently referenced than in the other Gospels. As a fully divine and fully human being, Jesus experienced the full range of human emotions without sin.

In today's Gospel reading, Jesus responds to the Pharisees' argument and request for a sign with a deep sigh from the depths of His spirit, followed by the question "Why does this generation seek a sign?"

It's hard not to sense the Lord's frustration in this moment as we witness it. We've all experienced a similar sigh, both from ourselves and others, and know the emotion it conveys. However, why was Jesus sighing, and what was the frustration He was experiencing as He dealt with the Pharisees?

Throughout history, religious people have often sought out signs from heaven and extraordinary visions. However, Jesus consistently directs us towards finding the divine in the ordinary moments of our lives: a sower sowing seed in a field, a woman searching for her lost coin, a Samaritan caring for a stranger on the road from Jerusalem to Jericho, a man unexpectedly finding treasure in his field, and so on.

If we only look for God in rare, miraculous moments, we miss His presence in the ordinary moments of our everyday lives, where He dwells at all times. It is often in the ordinary that we can find the mystery of God's kingdom, for God's creation is full of His glory.

Homily for the 6th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Leprosy, a bacterial skin infection, was a dreaded disease in ancient times. It would begin with mild symptoms but soon spread, leading to the decay of the victim's limbs and a noxious odor.

In the past, people with leprosy were ostracized and excluded from society. They had to live in isolation, away from healthy people, and were not allowed to come within 100 yards of them. They had to shout "Unclean, unclean!" to warn others of their presence. The disease was believed to be a sign of God's punishment, and anyone who came in contact with a leper was considered unclean as well. This led to a slow and painful death for many lepers.

When Jesus healed the leper by touching him, it was not just another miracle. It was a revelation of Christ's mission to redeem and save humankind. He came into this fallen and sinful world to cleanse it and offer a new beginning through the power of his mercy and grace.

Jesus was all-powerful. Sometimes, in the Gospels, He performs a miracle simply with a word or even an unspoken desire. He didn't have to touch this leper, and in fact, it was against Jewish law to touch him. A word or a wave of His hand would have sufficed. Yet, Jesus makes a point of touching him. Jesus goes beyond what is strictly necessary to show us His love and mercy are super-abundant.

Jesus touched the leper out of compassion for all of us. He understands that it can be difficult for us to trust and approach Him with our wounds, sins, weaknesses, and failures. However, He wants to make it easier for us by demonstrating that He is much greater than all of these things. He desires to extend forgiveness, salvation, and a new beginning to us as often as we require it, if only we allow Him to do so.

It can be challenging for us to follow the example of Christ. However, it is the only way to attain spiritual maturity, which leads to wisdom, meaning, and joy. Knowing why it is difficult for us is a crucial step towards making it easier. There are at least two reasons for this.

The first comes from original sin.

We live in a fallen world and suffer from a fallen human nature. And so we have a built-in tendency to be self-centered instead of self-forgetful.

The second reason is the culture in which we live.

In our consumerist culture, people's worth is often measured by their possessions or abilities, rather than their character. This is the cause of what was referred to as the "culture of death" by Saint John Paul II. Instead of valuing wisdom, love, and holiness as God does, we tend to measure success by material possessions, physical appearance, popularity, comfort, or job status.

Is it possible to follow Christ's example despite the pull of consumer culture and our fallen nature?

Of course! Jesus Himself is our hope. He dwells in every Christian heart, redeeming our fallen nature and strengthening us against evil influences.

He will come to us again in the Holy Eucharist in a few moments to share his very life. When He does, let's promise that this week, we will put that life to good use by doing our part to treat others as Christ has treated us.

Homily for the Memorial of St. Scholastica

Paella is a classic dish in Spanish cuisine that consists of a simple combination of rice, seafood, and vegetables. It is flavored with the spice saffron, which comes from a type of crocus flower. The delicate stigmas and styles of the flower are carefully plucked by hand when it's in bloom and then dried. Even the tiniest pinch of saffron, ground with a mortar and pestle, can add a strong, earthy fragrance and flavor that leaves a deep impression on the palate and memory.

Jesus took the seven loaves and few fish given to him by his disciples and fed a large crowd. This story is similar to the use of saffron or even the mustard seed of faith. God can take what seems like small or insignificant offerings and create great things with them.

Let us pray that we don't underestimate the little we have to offer in terms of our gifts, talents, and stewardship. Instead, may we offer them with faith that God will use them in great ways.

Homily for Friday of the 5th Week in Ordinary Time

In today's Gospel reading, we come across an unfamiliar term, "ephphatha," which means "be opened." Essentially, it's a call to acknowledge and embrace the various opportunities that come our way to invite God's friendship and forgiveness into our lives, and to extend the same to those around us.

To observe "ephphatha" is to be grateful for who we are and the blessings that God has bestowed upon us. It is to listen to God's voice amidst all the noise and distractions that surround us, and to seek His presence when we feel overwhelmed by negative emotions like anger, jealousy, and disappointment.

Let us make "ephphatha" our prayer, that we may remain open to God's presence, both in times of happiness and sorrow. This will enable us to bring the love, mercy, and kindness of God into our own lives, as well as the lives of our loved ones and everyone we encounter.

Homily for Thursday of the 5th Week in Ordinary Time

Women play important roles in today's readings. Solomon's pagan wives led him astray, while a pagan woman surprised Jesus with her faith. These texts prompt us to reflect on how men and women influence each other in families and friendships. Our gender identities help us complement and challenge each other. The first man and woman in Genesis complemented each other as they were both created in God's image.

The women praised in the Scriptures can inspire both men and women, just as holy men can serve as examples for all. All the different talents and abilities that people possess can find unity in Jesus; as Paul explains, "There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus." Being united with Jesus can provide a solution to any conflicts or divisions based on gender.

Jesus initially ignored the request of the non-Jewish woman, but her persistence and love for her child softened his heart. Although he initially compared her to a dog, the woman's humble response changed his mind, and Jesus went on to heal her daughter. This is an example of faith and perseverance being rewarded.

Homily for Wednesday of the 5th Week in Ordinary Time

The human heart has traditionally been seen as a symbol of love. However, in the Gospel passage for today, Jesus presents a different perspective. He states that the human heart is the source of evil intentions that cause harm and destruction to others.

The heart represents a person's innermost core, which can possess both light and darkness. It can be a reservoir for good or a channel for evil.

In the Christian faith, the Sacred Heart of Jesus is a powerful image that embodies the selfless love of God. It was an image that was prominent in my home while growing up and continues to be so today. This love was fully revealed in the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus, and it is a creative and life-giving force.

Our calling as Christians is to strive for hearts that reflect, to some degree, the Sacred Heart of Jesus. We must aim to have an inner core that participates in God's inner core. This great vision of our calling is beautifully captured in the prayer, "Come Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful, and kindle in us the fire of your love."