St. Thomas the Apostle Parish

Chicago priest Fr. Dominic Grassi tells the story of attending the wake of a priest who had died suddenly. He overheard those gathered, in their sadness, say they believed he had “walked the talk.”

That’s an interesting expression. Many of us can express our concerns with passion. We can articulate the needs and issues we face. But how many of us are willing to go beyond words and act on what we believe? That priest, Fr. Grassi says, was always there when someone needed to take a risk, to put himself on the line. So, with heavy hearts, people came from all over to pay their last respects.

After people lamented how much he would be missed, something happened that turned the wake into a true Pentecost experience. Seeing people from all over whose lives had been touched by this one priest—who was willing to act on what he believed—seemed to give those gathered to mourn encouragement and renewed faith.

Before the evening was over, people had committed themselves to picking up where he left off, to “walk the talk” as he did. The mood lightened. You could begin to sense and hear the joy, courage, and trust coming from everyone present. They had become one body in one Spirit, and this priest’s vision would live on in their actions.

When Jesus ascended into heaven, His disciples were left with a great deal of fear and a sense of abandonment. How could they possibly continue the work that Jesus came to do and, after His Ascension, called them to do? It seemed impossible. They didn’t trust in their own abilities and gifts.

But Jesus didn’t leave them alone; He gave them the gift of His Holy Spirit to guide them, to be with them, and to give them the ability to be the hands, the feet, and the voice of God in our world.

Those feelings of fear and abandonment are something the Church has struggled with since that first Ascension and Pentecost nearly 2,000 years ago. Despite Jesus’ promise to be with us always and the gift of His Spirit, we can still doubt our ability to be true messengers of God’s love and mercy, especially when our human faults and sinfulness get in the way.

But the message of Pentecost is that we do have the gifts to truly be the Church—the Body of Christ on earth. Jesus has entrusted us with this mission and, although we sometimes fail, it’s incredible to think that the Church has survived this long through wars, famines, disasters, and even our own sinfulness. We have survived precisely because we have been gifted with God’s Holy Spirit.

May this Solemnity of Pentecost, which we celebrate today, remind us of our responsibility and strengthen our confidence, knowing that God is with us every step of the way. May we wholeheartedly give ourselves to the mission of the Church, spreading the message of peace and love to everyone we meet.

In today’s Gospel, we encounter three main characters: Jesus, Peter, and the Beloved Disciple. Peter had just received an important mandate: "Feed my lambs and my sheep." But instead of asking what this new responsibility might entail, Peter asks about the future of the Beloved Disciple: "Lord, what about him?" Jesus’ response could be paraphrased as, "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 others, we need to discern the task given to us personally. Comparing ourselves to others is just a distraction; we can only be ourselves.

 

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?" This question focused not on Peter's past actions, but on his present love for Jesus.

 

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 says, "As the Father has loved me, so I have loved you; remain in my love." This loving relationship between the Lord and us is fundamental to our faith, and everything we do in His name depends on it.

 

Peter could not be entrusted with caring for the Lord's flock until he publicly declared his love for Him. Similarly, our personal relationship with the Lord must come 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 are the result of our personal relationship of love with Him.

The Resurrection of Jesus stands as the very foundation of Christianity. If Jesus truly conquered death and rose again, then everything He taught and accomplished is worthy of our trust. As Saint Paul powerfully asserts, without the Resurrection, our faith loses its meaning and purpose.

 

After His Resurrection, Jesus chose not to appear to the Pharisees or the crowds; instead, He revealed Himself only to His Apostles and a select group of followers. The Apostles were the sole witnesses to the empty tomb on the third day. Facing immense danger, these ordinary people did not falter or recant their testimony. Instead, they courageously gave their lives as martyrs, boldly proving the depth of their conviction in what they saw.

 

At the Last Supper, Jesus prayed for His Apostles and for everyone who would come to believe in Him through their witness. The world may not have recognized Jesus, but these chosen ones knew Him intimately. He entrusted them with a powerful mission: to share His truth so that all who believe in Him might be united on earth and experience the joy of God’s presence in heaven.

 

Just as Jesus depended on His Apostles, He now depends on us. By spreading the faith, we carry forward the vital work the Apostles began after Jesus’ death, Resurrection, and Ascension. Let us stay committed to that mission and inspire others to embrace this life-changing belief.

 

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, lifting their needs and concerns to the Father. This prayer is not just a momentary act but a reflection of the deep relationship and commitment Jesus has to those He loves. Throughout His ministry, Jesus served His disciples by teaching, encouraging, and supporting them in times of challenge. His intercessory prayer is a powerful reminder that His care did not end with His earthly presence. Likewise, when we pray for others, we participate in this loving act of service, showing our care and following Jesus’s example of compassion and concern for others.

 

Jesus taught us the importance of intercessory prayer by praying for His disciples, showing that lifting others up to God is an essential part of our faith. Since then, praying for others has become an integral part of the Church’s prayer life, shaping how Christians care for one another and build community. The Apostle Paul also mentions praying for his congregations and encourages his followers to pray for him, highlighting the mutual support that intercessory prayer provides. This type of prayer has a long and rich history in the Jewish tradition, where praying on behalf of others was seen as a sacred responsibility. Through intercessory prayer, we express our unity and connection with others in Christ, reminding ourselves that we are all part of one body and are called to support one another in love.

Today's Scripture readings share some "famous last words" from St. Paul and Jesus. Each expresses the idea that most of their work is finished. St. Paul prepares to go to Jerusalem, praying that he will travel to Rome and Spain if he leaves the city alive. Jesus, on the other hand, declares that He has completed the work assigned to Him by His Father and prays, "Father, the hour has come. Glorify your Son." St. Paul offers guidance on the responsibilities of pastors and church leaders, while Jesus prays for them and for all who will join the ministry in future generations.

 

St. Paul's address and Jesus' prayer emphasize a hopeful future rooted in faith; they openly acknowledge having given their best in their efforts. St. Paul reflects, "You know how I lived among you the whole time from the day I first came here. I served the Lord with all humility and with the tears and trials that came to me." Jesus affirms the identity of His followers, saying to His Father, "I revealed your name to those you gave me out of the world. They belonged to you, and you gave them to me, and they have kept your word."

 

St. Paul faces an uncertain future, with possible imprisonment awaiting him in Jerusalem. Jesus does not predict the exact challenges ahead; instead, He prays that His disciples will remain faithful to Him and His teachings.

 

Our situation today is no different. We, too, should face the uncertain future with faith and peace, knowing that when we finish the work given to us by the Father, God will welcome us to Himself.

 

Jesus invites us to turn away from sin and believe in the Good News. Doing this means continually renewing our repentance and commitment to Jesus throughout our lives. John the Baptist baptized people as a sign of repentance, while Jesus offered hope and redemption through His baptism. St. Paul said that John's baptism was for those who wanted to turn back to God. In contrast, Jesus’ baptism gives the Holy Spirit and the promise of eternal life.

 

If we want to overcome the world and find authentic life, we must go through Jesus, guided by the Holy Spirit. Jesus is not just a teacher but also our source of strength and hope. Only through Him can we find true redemption and life. So, let’s work on building our relationship with Him, for He is the Way, the Truth, and the Life.

In the final days of her life, late morning was Amelia’s favorite time of day. The hospice volunteers helped her get washed and dressed. After making her breakfast, they would quietly take care of whatever household tasks needed to be done. That gave Amelia some peaceful time in her sunroom.

Amelia was at peace. She was grateful for the days—though numbered—that she had left. In this quiet time every morning, she held her rosary beads, but the photographs of her family members covering the table near her rocker were her real prayer beads.

She would gently pick up each one. She prayed that her son would do well in his new job... that her daughter would continue to overcome the challenges of her medical career... that her grandson would choose the right college and grow into adulthood... and that her granddaughter, who at that time was still in the womb, would be born healthy and whole.

She prayed, “Hold them all, O Lord, in your hand. Bless them as you have blessed me these many years.”

In today’s Gospel passage, we witness Jesus praying earnestly for the Church He is about to leave. His words are filled with the same anxieties and hopes that Amelia carried in her heart as she prayed for her family—those she loved and would soon leave behind. Just as Amelia entrusted her loved ones to God’s care, Jesus entrusts His followers to the Father, asking for their protection, unity, and strength in the days to come.

This moving scene from John’s account of the Last Supper allows us to hear the profound love and concern Jesus holds for every disciple, across every generation and place—including each of us. In His “high priestly prayer,” Jesus draws us into a sense of belonging that stretches from the first Easter to the present. We become aware of how our prayers, hopes, and struggles are woven into the living tradition of faith, uniting us with believers throughout history and around the world.

Just as Amelia gathered her family in prayer, may we gather one another—always and everywhere—into prayer before the God to whom we all belong, who gives us everything in Christ. Let us remember that our own prayers, like those of Amelia and Jesus, have the power to connect us with those we love and with the wider community of faith.

In today's reading from Acts, we learn how early Christians supported and helped one another in their faith. Paul strengthened local communities, while Apollos deepened his faith in Jesus with the help of the married couple Priscilla and Aquila, who befriended him and provided further instruction. When Apollos decided to travel to Achaia, the Christians in Ephesus encouraged him and sent a letter of recommendation to the Church there ahead of him.

When Apollos arrived, his knowledge of the Scriptures proved invaluable to the believers. The reading paints a beautiful picture of the Church at its best - believers helping, supporting, and encouraging each other in their faith and helping each other grow in the Lord. This is what the Church is called to be in every generation - a place where the Spirit of Christ is alive and active. 

As we approach the Solemnity of Pentecost, let us pray for an increase of the gift of the Spirit among us, as Jesus says in today’s Gospel, “Ask, and you will receive, so that your joy will be complete.”

In today's Gospel passage, Jesus, fully aware of the depth of grief and sadness His disciples would endure after His departure, offered them a profound promise of lasting joy. He assured them that their current sorrow, though overwhelming in the moment, would not be permanent. Instead, His Resurrection and the promise of His return would completely transform their grief, turning it into everlasting joy that surpasses all understanding.

 

When we place our trust in Jesus, we discover comfort and hope in the assurance that our sorrows are only temporary. He is not a distant figure from the past; rather, He is an abiding and living presence in our daily lives. His Risen Life empowers us to face challenges, inspires us in moments of doubt, and strengthens us when we are weary. The transformation from sorrow to joy is not merely a distant promise for the future; it is an ongoing reality that touches our lives even now, shaping our journey and filling it with meaning and hope.