St. Thomas the Apostle Parish

Homily for the 31st Sunday in Ordinary Time

A high school teacher in Manhattan asked her students to write about poverty. A wealthy girl from the Upper East Side began her story like this: "Once there was a poor little girl. Her father was poor, her mother was poor, her chauffeur was poor, and her butler was poor. They were all very, very, very poor." This girl had never experienced material poverty; however, her story could reflect another type of poverty that Jesus describes in the Book of Revelation: "You say, 'I am rich, I have prospered, and I need nothing.' You do not realize that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked." St. Ambrose reminds us that the entire human race, rich and poor alike, fell into the hands of thieves who took away our greatest treasure: the grace of eternal life.

A scribe approached Jesus, questioning Him. As a scholar of the Sacred Scriptures, he wanted to determine whether this wandering teacher truly understood the Law. Was Jesus qualified to be called Master and Rabbi? Having heard Jesus reply wisely to the Pharisees and Sadducees, he asked, "Which is the first of all the commandments??" Jesus responded with not one but two of the greatest commandments: love of God and love of neighbor.

His question is of the utmost importance. Recall the rich man who feasted extravagantly every day and ignored a starving person at his gate, wrongly believing the purpose of life was to eat, drink, and be merry. Yet, he was living in dire spiritual poverty, while the beggar, clothed in rags, was rich in what truly matters. Nonbelievers do not inquire about the way to eternal life because they lack hope. The scribe speaks for us when he asks, "Which is the first of all the commandments?"

Hearing Jesus' reply, the scribe says, "You are right…" He gives Jesus a stellar grade for His answer. More importantly, the scribe demonstrates that he is a good student by repeating Jesus' answer, even including what he did not specifically ask: the second commandment, which is "like the first," to love one's neighbor as oneself. 

Jesus shows us the way; He loved us so much that He became our neighbor, brother, and Savior. St. Paul expresses this beautifully: "While we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly… God proves His love for us in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us" (Romans 5:6-8). Jesus came to us to restore our lost inheritance and to teach us what is truly important in life.

Homily for the Commemoration of All the Faithful Departed (All Souls)

Today, we take a moment to remember those we have known and loved who have passed away. The entire month of November is dedicated to honoring our deceased in a special way.

As Christians, our remembrance of those who have died occurs within the context of faith and prayer. One of the ways we actively and spiritually connect with our beloved deceased is by praying to God for them. We take comfort in the belief that they are with God and that God is also present with us in this life. This shared connection with the Lord helps maintain our communion with our loved ones who have passed, and reassuring us of God’s constant presence.

In our prayers for our dearly departed, we ask God to grant them the fullness of life. We also express our deep gratitude for their time on Earth and for the many blessings they brought into our lives. Their presence has enriched us, and we are thankful for the love and joy they shared with us.

Today, we entrust our beloved deceased to God. As it is written in Romans 5:5, “God’s love has been poured into our hearts by the Holy Spirit which has been given to us.” We trust in this love, and we pray that our departed loved ones may experience that love fully in God’s kingdom of everlasting love and peace. This hope sustains us in our grief, knowing that they are in His loving embrace.

Homily for the Solemnity of All Saints

All Saints Day, which we celebrate today, is not just a day to honor those who have attained sainthood; it is also a day to reflect on our call to follow and become disciples of Jesus, living lives that resemble those of the saints.

How does one become a saint? Usually,  it involves proof of a miracle attributed to the intercession of the candidate for sainthood and living a holy life. Technically, the Church does not make someone a saint; instead, it recognizes the sanctity of a person's life and the belief that they are in heaven.

However, sainthood is the byproduct of a larger goal: to know and love God with all our hearts, minds, and souls. Each of us, with our unique strengths and weaknesses, is called to embrace this intense and genuine desire. Those who embody this passion in every aspect of their lives, including us, can achieve the byproduct of sainthood.

Sanctity is something we should all strive for. The lives of the saints, which we celebrate today and throughout the year, serve as models of inspiration in our pursuit of unity with God. For instance, the humility of Saint Francis of Assisi or the courage of Saint Joan of Arc can guide us in our own spiritual journeys. 

As we celebrate All Saints Day, let us also take a moment to reflect on our own lives and actions and how we can emulate the virtues of the saints in our daily lives.

Homily for Thursday of the 30th Week in Ordinary Time

In today's Gospel passage, Jesus compares Himself to a hen who longs to gather chicks under her wings. He wanted to unite the people of Jerusalem and lead them to salvation. However, His desire to gather and save them went unfulfilled because they chose not to listen.

Jesus doesn't force anyone to accept His message or invitation. God grants us the precious gift of human freedom, which means He seeks from us a genuine desire for salvation; He does not impose it upon us. We must make an effort and cooperate with God's grace.

Let us pray that the Holy Spirit fills our hearts with a genuine desire for closeness with God and the salvation offered by our Lord.

Homily for Wednesday of the 30th Week in Ordinary Time

"Will only a few people be saved?" Jesus does not provide a direct answer but encourages us to enter through the narrow gate. Achieving salvation and a full life requires effort on our part—just as we must slim down and focus to pass through a narrow opening.

The idea of a narrow gate does not necessarily mean that only a few will succeed in entering. In fact, Jesus mentions that people from the east and west, as well as from the north and south, will take their places in the kingdom of God.

The Book of Revelation also indicates a vast multitude gathered around the throne. However, this understanding should lead us to something other than complacency. We still need to strive to enter through the narrow gate by following Jesus and seeking to do God's will.

Homily for Tuesday of the 30th Week in Ordinary Time

Both scenarios in today’s gospel passage—one about a man gardening and the other about a woman baking—share a common theme: they compare the initial smallness of an object to the enormous impact it can have. A tiny mustard seed grows into a massive tree that provides a home for the birds of the air. Similarly, a small amount of yeast transforms flour into a large batch of bread. As images of the kingdom of God, Jesus seems to suggest that in God’s sight, what is very small can become highly significant.

Even our smallest acts of kindness can lead to results that exceed our imagination. Small acts of kindness, mercy, and acceptance, performed to serve the Lord, can allow His grace to work powerfully in our lives.

We might be tempted to believe that only significant, extraordinary events within the Church matter. However, today’s gospel passage indicates that it is often the small actions and little initiatives that may be overlooked by most people that can herald the coming of the kingdom of heaven.

Homily for the Feast of Saints Simon and Jude, Apostles

While all the Gospels recount the story of Jesus choosing His Apostles, only Luke mentions that Jesus spent the entire night in prayer to His Father before making His choice. This choice was a direct result of His prayer. Luke emphasizes that Jesus prayed during all the crucial moments of His life—right after His baptism, before He set out for Jerusalem, while in the Garden of Gethsemane as He approached His passion and death, and even on the Cross just moments before He died.

We, too, should turn to our Father in prayer during significant moments in our lives. It is essential to recognize our need for guidance, strength, and courage from God. However, our prayers do not guarantee that everything will work out perfectly for us. Although Jesus spent the whole night in prayer before selecting the Twelve, one of them ultimately betrayed Him. Nevertheless, we can be confident that our humble surrender to the Lord in such times will always create space for Him to act, even when outcomes do not align with our hopes.

Homily for the 30th Sunday in Ordinary Time

One day, an unusually joyful Charlie Brown told Linus, “I feel good. I just got back from the grocery store. The owners, a husband and wife, both complimented me. They told me I was a very nice boy.” However, Linus replied, “In the sixth chapter of St. Luke, it is written, ‘Woe to you when all people speak well of you.’” Deflated, Charlie Brown put his head in his hands and said, “So much for feeling good!”

Bartimaeus, the blind beggar, didn’t have much luck either. When he heard that Jesus was passing by, he cried out to Him. Yet, people told him to be silent. In other stories, people brought their sick to Jesus for healing. Why did the crowd rebuke Bartimaeus?

Every event in Jesus’ life reveals both love and hate. Those who love are Jesus and those He saves, while those who hate are Satan and his followers. It is only through the heart that we can uncover the hidden struggle of love and hate occurring in this story and others in Jesus’ life.

As Jesus passed through Jericho for the last time on His way to Jerusalem, where He would be crucified, He saw people in danger and came to save them. In contrast, Satan saw a challenger and attempted to stop Him.

Three years earlier, Jesus revealed the depths of His heart in a synagogue at Nazareth when He quoted the prophet Isaiah: “The Spirit of the Lord has anointed me to preach good news to the poor, release to the captives, recovery of sight to the blind, freedom to the oppressed.”

However, the people of Nazareth didn’t see Jesus as their Savior; they saw merely their neighbor, a simple carpenter. They took offense at His claims and admonitions. That day, Satan was also present. Urged by that dark spirit, the people rebuked Jesus and tried to throw Him off the cliffs at the edge of town. As a result, He left.

Three years later, with Passover approaching, thousands were traveling to Jerusalem. Blind Bartimaeus sat by the roadside, spreading his cloak to collect coins from passing pilgrims. This beggar was so looked down upon that even his name symbolized his condition: Bartimaeus means “son of the unclean.” Back then, blindness and other illnesses were often seen as the result of personal sin. Yet, Bartimaeus possessed a beautiful heart and saw a hidden truth.

When Jesus passed by, Bartimaeus heard His voice. Someone in the crowd told him it was Jesus of Nazareth. (After three years, all they saw was a Galilean passing through.) Bartimaeus, blind but with clear insight in his heart, cried out, “Jesus, Son of David, have pity on me!”

This declaration was too much for Satan. His heart was so blinded by hate that he wanted everyone to share in his darkness. The crowd became Satan’s voice by silencing Bartimaeus.

But Bartimaeus had heard the voice of the Savior and shouted even louder, “Son of David, have pity on me!” Jesus stopped and called to him. He gazed at the blind man and asked, “What do you want me to do for you?” “Master,” Bartimaeus replied, “I want to see.” Jesus said to him, “Go your way; your faith has saved you.” Immediately, Bartimaeus received his sight and began to follow Jesus along the way.

In earlier healing miracles, Jesus instructed those healed to remain silent. However, Bartimaeus followed Jesus from the wilderness into the Holy City, proclaiming, “Son of David!” Following his example, the crowd began to call Jesus by that title: “Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest!”

Bartimaeus must have felt devastated when, just a week later, he witnessed Jesus being crucified. Satan attempted to extinguish the Light of Christ with the darkness of death. Yet, the shadow of death could not extinguish the Light of Life, which triumphed with the Dawn of the Resurrection.

The world is full of distractions that can keep us from recognizing Jesus among us. May we have pure hearts and souls that clearly see and seek the healing presence of Jesus in our lives.

Homily for Saturday of the 29th Week in Ordinary Time

Jesus used parables to encourage His followers and others to think and reflect on their meanings in relation to their lives. Even two millennia later, these parables continue to inspire us.

In today’s parable, we learn about a fig tree in a vineyard that has failed to bear fruit for three consecutive years. The vineyard owner appears reasonable in his decision to cut down the tree since it consumes resources and space that could be used for a productive tree. However, the worker has a different perspective. He sees the fruitless fig tree as still having the potential to bear fruit with some care and cultivation. He envisions a more hopeful future for the tree.

Not everything is as hopeless as the vineyard owner believes; there is still time and opportunity for the fig tree to thrive. This parable may suggest that the Lord views us not only in light of our past failures but also in terms of what we can achieve in the future. He looks at us with hope.

We are called to adopt this perspective towards one another and in every experience and situation we encounter. It is essential to be patient and to look beyond the surface for signs of new life and potential that may still exist.

Homily for Friday of the 29th Week in Ordinary Time

Here New England, we often discuss the weather due to its rapid and sometimes unpredictable changes.

The people of Jesus' time were also very attuned to the weather and could predict it based on signs in the earth and sky. However, as mentioned in today's Gospel passage, they failed to recognize God's presence in the teachings and actions of Jesus. 

Likewise, we may be adept at predicting the weather but struggle to perceive the presence of the Lord in our daily lives. Jesus promised to always be with us, and although the signs of His presence may be subtle, they are very real. 

Let us pray for a greater spiritual insight and a better awareness of the Lord's presence in our daily lives.