St. Thomas the Apostle Parish

The imagery of the narrow gate and the hard road in our Gospel passage suggests that discipleship can be challenging. While one can stroll through a wide gate without a second thought, getting through a narrow one requires concentration. It takes commitment to get through such a narrow gap. Being a faithful follower of Jesus requires all of our goodwill.

The word "narrow" is generally negative; we often think we are broad-minded. No one wants to be considered narrow-minded. But the Gospel calls for narrowing our focus in following Christ, excluding some accessible and well-trodden pathways. Saying "Yes" to Christ's way requires saying "No" to selfish ways. However, any narrowing down and self-denial in following Jesus ultimately lead to a full sharing in God's life.

Jesus presents an amusing image of someone with a wooden beam in their eye struggling to remove a tiny splinter from someone else's eye. This illustrates a common tendency to be more aware of others' faults and shortcomings than of our own. However, acknowledging our own faults keeps us humble.

 

When we understand and accept ourselves, including our imperfections, we are better able to empathize with others' faults and failings. Recognizing our limits and weaknesses allows us to work on them. Essentially, Jesus is telling us to prioritize addressing our own faults rather than focusing on others'.

 

He recognized that correcting our own shortcomings is often more challenging than correcting others'. He challenges us to examine ourselves first before judging others. Importantly, when we do this self-reflection, we should first turn our gaze to the Lord. We look to Him before we examine ourselves, just as we evaluate ourselves before we assess others. Understanding God's love for us frees us to examine ourselves without fear, and His love in our hearts empowers us to grow closer to Him.

Back in the summer of 2007, after years on the brink of extinction, the eagle was finally removed from the endangered species list. The main threat to the eagle had been pesticides and fertilizers, which leached into streams and rivers and were absorbed by small fish. These small fish were then eaten by larger fish, which the eagles in turn consumed, causing the toxins to build up in the eagles' bodies and resulting in eggs with thinner shells. The eagle population nearly disappeared until the use of these chemicals was restricted. The eagle’s story reminds us that we live in an interconnected ecosystem, where the health of even the smallest plants and animals impacts all life.

 

The people St. Paul addressed in his letter saw humanity as living in deep solidarity, much like an ecosystem where what happens to one affects the whole. This reflects the Jewish concept of "corporate personality." In this understanding, Adam and Eve's sin affected all of humanity, introducing evil into the world and corrupting it.

 

We often hear that people who hate were taught to hate. We shape the next generation not only through our words and actions as individuals, but also through the collective example set by society—in neighborhoods, schools, television, advertising, the internet, and more.

 

Evil spread from Original Sin, and sin reigned over humanity. This was our reality, and it held power over us—until Jesus freed us. Just as one person's action brought about sin for all, so too has one person's action brought liberation for all. Grace is more powerful than sin; goodness overcomes evil. Now, as members of a new humanity through baptism, we can face evil equipped with the power of goodness.

 

God relies on us to continue Christ's work: to bring goodness into the world and reverse the effects of sin. We are called to hear the Word of God and proclaim it—to be a contrary voice that speaks out against discrimination and anything that causes harm to others. This calling is difficult, as it often exposes us to criticism and ridicule.

 

Yet, in faith, we know that God is with us during these times, and that God Himself faced similar criticism and rejection. Ultimately, when we proclaim our faith and speak for justice, we help create a better world and bring about the kingdom of God on earth.

In today’s Gospel, Jesus calls us to trust our lives completely to God, inviting us to put our deepest confidence in His care. He teaches that we can’t serve both God and money, and urges us to let go of our worries about material needs. By pointing to the birds in the sky and the flowers in the field, Jesus reminds us that God’s care reaches every living thing. The birds don’t worry about tomorrow, yet God feeds them; the flowers don’t work or spin, yet they are dressed with beauty. Through these simple examples, Jesus reassures us that our Heavenly Father knows what we need and cares for us even more.

 

Honestly, letting go of worry isn’t easy. In a world filled with uncertainty, money problems, and daily challenges, anxiety can feel almost unavoidable. Jesus’ words don’t mean we should ignore our responsibilities, but they invite us to trust that God is with us in every situation. This trust grows as we practice gratitude, remembering all the ways God has taken care of us before. It deepens through prayer, as we bring our fears and worries to God and open our hearts to His peace.

Jesus teaches the distinction between earthly and heavenly treasures, emphasizing the need to prioritize spiritual wealth over material possessions. He exhorts His followers to store up spiritual treasures in heaven, where they are lasting and secure, rather than earthly treasures, which are temporary and often devoid of real meaning. 

Our hearts are directed by what we value most in life. If our treasure is on earth, earthly concerns will consume our hearts. If our treasure is in heaven, our hearts will be guided toward God's will and His kingdom. 

We must periodically reflect on what we truly value in life and recognize what our hearts are truly invested in. We must constantly work on building up our relationship with God, putting Him first and spiritual and heavenly pursuits above earthly ones. We do this through prayer, worship, and acts of generosity and kindness toward those in need.

In the ancient world, prayer was often a ritual to persuade or manipulate gods. Jesus shifts the focus from self-centered requests to a relationship founded on trust. He invites us to approach God as a loving Father who already knows our needs, not as a distant figure who must be persuaded to pay attention.

 

Jesus tells us not to pray that way, babbling on and on like the pagans. By offering the Lord's Prayer, He gives us a model for genuine communication with God. He teaches that prayer isn't about empty words or outward displays of religiosity, but about aligning our hearts with God's will. This surrender isn't passive resignation, but an active trust—a willingness to set aside our own plans and embrace the path God sets before us.

 

As we pray the words Jesus taught, we're reminded that God cares about every part of our lives—our daily bread, our need for forgiveness, and our hope for deliverance from evil. The Lord’s Prayer centers us on what truly matters and draws us into deeper connection with God and with each other. It becomes less about what we want and more about who we're becoming as followers of Christ.

 

In today’s Gospel passage, Jesus warns us not to perform good deeds just to be noticed by others. He calls those who make a show of their piety "hypocrites." In Jesus’ day, the word "hypocrite" referred to actors who wore masks on stage. When our faith becomes nothing more than a performance, we put on a mask and hide our true intentions.

 

When we do good so that others praise us, we get our reward right away, but it is empty because it lacks grace. We trade the eternal gifts of God’s grace for the temporary admiration and approval of others.

 

Jesus explains three disciplines of spiritual life, focusing on the how rather than the what:

 

He tells us that when it comes to charity or giving alms, we shouldn’t let our left hand know what our right hand is doing. True generosity is done in secret, coming from real love for others, not from a desire for recognition.

 

He tells us that when we pray, we should go to our inner room, close the door, and pray to our Father in secret. While public prayer is a time for the community to gather and pray, private prayer is an intimate conversation with God, where we both speak and listen.

 

Finally, He tells us that when we fast, we shouldn’t change our appearance to get attention for our sacrifice. Instead, we should take care of ourselves so our offering is just between God and us.

 

Jesus promises that our Father who sees in secret will repay us. God isn’t a distant, judgmental observer looking for reasons to punish us. He is a loving Father. He sees our sacrifices and hears our quiet prayers. He notices our goodness when no one else does.

 

This Gospel invites us to examine our motivations. Are we living our faith to be seen by others or by God? Let’s take off the masks of ego, pride, and vanity. Let’s embrace the quiet places in our hearts, where God dwells and pours out His grace abundantly.

 

In today's Gospel passage, Jesus elevates the Mosaic Law. Where the predominant culture often justified loving only one's neighbor and disdaining one's enemies, Jesus dismisses that standard. He calls us to reject conditional, reciprocal love—the kind of love even the tax collectors and pagans shared.

Such a standard seems to run counter to our human tendencies. So, how do we attain it? Jesus looks to His Father's actions in the world: “He makes his sun rise on the bad and the good, and causes rain to fall on the just and the unjust.” This is the core of agape love—a deep, intentional desire for the good of others, whether or not they deserve it or can return it. God’s love is not a reward for perfection; it is His free gift to us. And as His children, we are called to mirror His love to others.

It is important to know that loving our enemies does not mean that we ignore or condone the evil done to us, nor are we required to even relate with those who wish us harm. But it does mean that we pray for them. Sincerely asking God for what is good for them can heal our hearts of pain and resentment.

It means resisting the urge to pay them back for what they’ve done, thus breaking the cycle of revenge.

It means being a person of forgiveness. Again, not necessarily opening ourselves to further hurt and harm, but freeing ourselves of bitterness and hatred.

Jesus encouraged His disciples to respond to evil not with more evil but with kindness. The worst human instinct is to react to goodness with malicious intent, which is exemplified by the rejection and crucifixion of Jesus, who "went about doing good; for God was with Him." The best human instinct is to conquer evil with goodness, reflecting a divine impulse—God's own impulse. This was a defining characteristic of Jesus Christ. In response to the evil committed against Him, He consistently chose to act with goodness. Even when unjustly rejected, He expressed His love fully, living and dying to defeat evil with goodness.

Remaining good in the face of evil is incredibly challenging. It is difficult to stay loving amid hostility, to be faithful when betrayed, and to serve as peacemakers in a hostile world. We cannot rely solely on our own strength for this; we need God's strength, resources, and Spirit. However, we should not fear failure, as God's strength and grace are always available to us. Saint Paul urges us "not to receive the grace of God in vain." God continually offers us grace, and by depending on Him, we can strive toward the ideal of overcoming evil with good.

Today's Gospel gives us a glimpse at Jesus’ compassion for the people. Before He ever gave a command or told the Apostles about His plans for them in His mission, He looked at the crowds and saw people who were "troubled and abandoned, like sheep without a shepherd.” He didn’t look at the crowds with any sense of frustration or judgment. Instead, His “heart was moved with pity for them”. He understood their spiritual weariness, their hidden wounds, and their desperate search for meaning in an imperfect world. That same compassionate gaze rests on us. With whatever burdens we bear, Jesus sees us, and desires to heal us and to walk with us.

 

But our Gospel today tells us that we are not merely recipients of Jesus’ compassion. He tells the twelve disciples, "The harvest is abundant but the laborers are few; so ask the master of the harvest to send out laborers for his harvest." At that time, Jesus was the only worker in His mission. He looked to His Apostles and, despite their many flaws, called them to work in the field. He “gave them authority over unclean spirits to drive them out and to cure every disease and every illness.” He told them that as they went about their work they were to proclaim that “the kingdom of heaven is at hand.'"

 

There is a very important lesson for us in this scene. Following Jesus is not meant to be a private, comfortable experience; it commands a mission that is often challenging and even painful. By virtue of our baptism, Jesus gazes upon us and, despite our many flaws, calls us to be laborers in His harvest.

 

So, are we, like the Apostles, called to drive out demons and to cure every disease and every illness?

 

Yes, we are. And you may ask, “How?”

 

We do so with the powerful yet gentle grace and guidance of the Holy Spirit. Our harvest fields are our homes, workplaces, schools, and neighborhoods, where we seek out the sick, lonely, and poor. We "cure the sick" when we console the grieving, help the poor, the homeless, and the stranger. We "cast out demons" when we forgive those who have wronged us and seek the forgiveness of those we have wronged, or when we refuse to participate in gossip and false rumors.

 

Evangelization is more than theological debates and “Bible-thumping”; often, it simply means listening patiently to someone with different opinions, offering a helping hand and a listening ear to someone burdened by anxiety, or a host of other ways to help anyone in need.

Jesus tells the Apostles: "Without cost you have received; without cost you are to give." All we have—our lives, faith, talents, love —is a free, invaluable gift from God. We are called to share these gifts, not for personal gain or recognition, but out of love for God and neighbor and to be instruments of God’s love and peace in our world.

 

Let us pray that we may see our neighbor with the compassionate eyes of Jesus, and that we may bring the healing love of God to those who are heavily burdened.