December 29 2023 - St. Thomas Becket - The crib, the cross, and the world

 A little over 850 years ago, the Catholic archbishop of Canterbury England was martyred in his own cathedral while praying vespers. 

From his youth, Thomas Becket had been a good friend of King Henry II and had been named by the king as both chancellor of England in 1155 and Archbishop of Canturbury in 1162.

The King no doubt hoped that Becket would use his ecclesiastical office to benefit the crown, but the Archbishop recognized that his first loyalty was not to the world, but to God. When the King began to overstep his authority and infringe upon the Church, Thomas dutifully opposed the king.

The rift escalated when the king confiscated church property in retribution and the archbishop issued the king’s excommunication. 

According to one account, one day the king publicly denounced the archbishop "What miserable drones and traitors have I nourished and brought up in my household, who let their lord be treated with such shameful contempt by a low-born cleric?"

On the 29th of December in the Year of Our Lord 1170, four of the king’s knights, set out for Canterbury to confront the archbishop and bludgeoned him to death.

Within 4 days of Christmas, we have the celebration of St Stephen, martyred for the faith, St. John the Apostle, not martyred, but excruciatingly tortured for the faith. We have the slaughter of babies, on the Feast of the Holy Innocents yesterday, and then today, we have the martyrdom of St. Thomas Becket, a bishop of England who was assassinated on his Cathedral steps. It is almost as though the red Christmas poinsettias decorating the sanctuary witness to blood—blood spilt for Christ.

These faithful ones, celebrated in proximity to the birth of our savior, remind us that loving the one born on Christmas has consequences. He was opposed by Herod, by his own people, by the powers of sin and death, and by Satan the accursed one. And those who love Christ and follow him will also know and experience the hostility of those same powers and principalities. 

For it is not just archbishops and apostles who are called to stand up for the Truth of the Gospel, but all Christians. Kneeling before the crib, carrying our cross, and standing against evil are all the same thing. 

Thomas Becket, when those four knights with weapons drawn approached him in his Cathedral said, “I am ready to die for God.  I am ready to die for the defense of justice. I am ready to die for the freedom of the Church. Would only that my lifeblood might purchase Her peace and freedom”.

Where did he get that courage and readiness? He loved Christ more than anything. May we do the same. For the glory of God and salvation of souls.

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We bring forth now our prayers of petitions.

That the joyful celebration of our Savior’s birth may bring renewed conviction for Christ’s truth to the Pope, all bishops, clergy, and lay faithful.

That our President and all leaders of nations may protect and promote religious liberty for all. 

For Christians who are persecuted throughout the world, especially those who face martyrdom, that they may have a faith that is constant and pure.

For those oppressed by hunger, sickness or loneliness, that through the mystery of the Nativity of Christ, they may find relief in both mind and body. 

For all who have died, and for all the poor souls in purgatory, and for X. for whom this Mass is offered.

Incline your merciful ear to our prayers, we ask, O Lord, and listen in kindness to the supplications of those who call on you. Through Christ our Lord

December 29 2021 - St. Thomas Becket - The bloody Octave of Christmas

 

Within 4 days of Christmas, we have the celebration of St Stephen, martyred for the faith, St. John the Apostle, not martyred, but excruciatingly tortured for the faith, we have the slaughter of babies, on the Feast of the Holy Innocents yesterday, and then today, we have the martyrdom of St. Thomas Becket, a bishop of England who was assassinated on his Cathedral steps. It is almost as though the red poinsettias decorating the sanctuary and the church witness to the blood shed by those who love him.

Can’t we just sing cheerful Christmas carols for a few days? Why does it have to be so bloody? 

These bloody feast days following Christmas are a shocking reminder of the world’s hatred of the one born on Christmas. For it is clear that Jesus came to this world, ultimately to die. 

There is a little debate whether his crib, the manger of Bethlehem was made out of wood or stone. If wood, it reminds us of the wood of the cross; if stone, it reminds us of his tomb. His swaddling clothes which would bind his arms and feet as a baby point to his arms and legs bound to the cross, and to the linen shroud that would wrap him tightly at his burial.

The blood of the Christmas octave also reminds us that many of us too will share in Christ’s lot. This world hated Christ and had “no room for him.” Nor does it have room for us. The blood of martyrs stretches down through the centuries in testimony to the world’s hatred for authentic disciples of Christ and the truth they propose.

During the octave of Christmas, we celebrate our savior, we draw near to him to adore him, and worship him, and hold him close, that we may have the strength and courage and willingness to suffer for him, to exert the energy needed to pursue the sanctification of our souls for him.

Thomas Becket, when those four knights with swords drawn approached him in his Cathedral said, “I am ready to die for God.  I am ready to die for the defense of justice. I am ready to die for the freedom of the Church. Would only that my lifeblood might purchase Her peace and freedom”.

Where did he get that courage and readiness? He loved Christ more than anything. May we do the same. For the glory of God and salvation of souls.

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We bring forth now our prayers of petitions.

That the joyful celebration of our Savior’s birth bring renewed conviction for Christ’s truth to the Pope, all bishops, clergy, and lay faithful.

That our President and all leaders of nations may protect and promote religious liberty for all. 

For Christians who are persecuted throughout the world, especially those who face martyrdom, that they may have a faith that is constant and pure.

For those oppressed by hunger, sickness or loneliness, that through the mystery of the Nativity of Christ, they may find relief in both mind and body. 

For all who have died, and for all the poor souls in purgatory, and for X. for whom this Mass is offered.

Incline your merciful ear to our prayers, we ask, O Lord, and listen in kindness to the supplications of those who call on you. Through Christ our Lord

December 29 2020 - St. Thomas Becket - 850th Anniversary of Martyrdom

 From his youth, Thomas Becket was a good friend of King Henry II, and it was the King who nominated Thomas as archbishop of Canterbury.  But when the King began to overstep his authority and infringe upon the Church, Thomas opposed the king. Like Herod, in yesterday’s Gospel for the Holy Innocents, the king was filled with fury, and shouted “who will rid me of this turbulent priest?”  Four of his knights took these words literally, and killed the archbishop in his own cathedral.  

Today is the 850th anniversary of the martyrdom of St. Thomas Becket. I was surprised to see in my news feed this morning, President Trump issued a proclamation today in honor of today’s saint, and offered some pretty poignant words. ““Thomas Becket’s death serves as a powerful and timeless reminder to every American that our freedom from religious persecution is not a mere luxury or accident of history, but rather an essential element of our liberty. It is our priceless treasure and inheritance. And it was bought with the blood of martyrs.”

Freedom is not a mere luxury or accident of history. I couldn’t have said it better myself. And I think the president touches upon the connection with this martyr’s death and Christmas.

For our salvation, our reconciliation with God, doesn’t just happen. It’s not an accident. Salvation comes through a savior, born into history, who makes choices and decisions, and suffers. In a sense, Thomas Becket and the Martyrs are living out the spirit of Christmas in their martyrdom. 

Sacrificed everything, opposing the wolves which seek to invade the fold of our shepherd. The Spirit of Christmas, lived authentically, leads us to witness to the one born on Christmas. It pits us against the spirit of the world, the spirit of darkness, which seeks to overcome the light of Christ. 

Thomas Becket, when those four knights with swords drawn approached him in his Cathedral said, “I am ready to die for God.  I am ready to die for the defense of justice. I am ready to die for the freedom of the Church. Would only that my lifeblood might purchase Her peace and freedom”.

Again, to quote our president, “A society without religion cannot prosper. A nation without faith cannot endure — because justice, goodness, and peace cannot prevail without the grace of God”

May we like St. Thomas Becket allow the grace of God, the grace of Christmas, to transform and animate our lives, for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

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We bring forth now our prayers of petitions.

That the joyful celebration of our Savior’s birth bring renewed conviction for Christ’s truth to the Pope, all bishops, clergy, and lay faithful.

That our President and all leaders of nations may protect and promote religious liberty for all. 

For Christians who are persecuted throughout the world, especially those who face martyrdom, that they may have a faith that is constant and pure.

For those oppressed by hunger, sickness or loneliness, that through the mystery of the Nativity of Christ, they may find relief in both mind and body. 

For all who have died, and for all the poor souls in purgatory, and for X. for whom this Mass is offered.

Incline your merciful ear to our prayers, we ask, O Lord, and listen in kindness to the supplications of those who call on you. Through Christ our Lord

December 29 2017 - St. Thomas Becket - The Price of Peace

On the second day of Christmas we heard of the suffering of St. Stephen, stoned to death for his witness to Christ. On the third day of Christmas we heard of the suffering of the Apostle St. John, who suffered arrest, torture, and exile for Christ. Yesterday, we heard of the suffering of the Holy Innocents, slaughtered by the King in his attempt to rid the world of Christ. On this fifth day of Christ, the Church honors the Archbishop Thomas Becket, murdered on the steps of his Cathedral for opposing the king’s plans to infringe upon the freedom of the Church.

We also heard the story of the presentation of Jesus in the Jerusalem Temple. The identity of the Christ Child continued to be revealed to the Holy Family through the prophecy of Simeon. His future will involve upheaval, pain and suffering.

For someone who was prophesied as the Prince of Peace, the liberator of captives, proclaimer of good news to the poor, he certainly seems to be surrounded by tremendous suffering and upheaval! Simeon told the Lord, His Master, that he was ready to die now that he had seen Jesus alive. Jesus’ Mother Mary was even going to have to suffer: swords of sorrow would pierce her heart.

If he is to bring peace, good news, reconciliation, and eternal life, it all certainly seems to come at price. And I think that’s right. It does.  His kingdom of peace in our souls is born when we die to sin, and that is not a popular message. It’s a message that the saints have embraced and the world has resisted for two thousand years.

St. Stephen, killed for preaching Christ. St. John, arrested, tortured, and exiled for preaching Christ. St. Thomas Becket, killed for preaching that the powers of the world must submit to the rule of Christ.

In the Incarnation, Jesus became like us that we might become like Him. But that transformation comes at price. We must submit, we must die and let him live in us. This truth is what allowed Paul to joyfully proclaim: “it is not I who lives, but Christ who lives in me.” The cross is the price for peace.

If it was true for Jesus, and if it was true for Mary, we can be sure it’s true for us as well. And the sooner we do, the sooner we trust God, and embrace the cross of obedience, faith, and self-sacrifice, the sooner we will know his peace, and peace, the life, the light the world cannot give, for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

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That the witness of the Church may help all nations come to believe in the Lordship of Jesus, and that our Bishops and Priests might have the courage to proclaim the truth amidst the errors of the world.

That those in civic authority may submit their minds and hearts to the rule of Christ, the Prince of Peace and Hope of the nations.

For the healing of families divided by sin and selfishness, for a strengthening of all marriages, that young people may be formed to have deep and authentic faith.

For those oppressed by hunger, sickness, addiction, or loneliness, that through the mystery of the Nativity of Christ, they may find relief in both mind and body.

For all who have died, and for all the poor souls in purgatory, and for X. for whom this Mass is offered.

Incline your merciful ear to our prayers, we ask, O Lord, and listen in kindness to the supplications of those who call on you. Through Christ our Lord

Homily: Dec 29 2016 - St. Thomas Becket - Christmas Courage

In the Incarnation, Jesus became like us that we might become like Him.

Today the Church commemorates St. Thomas Becket. A man, who like Christ, died for the Church.  In 1162 he was chosen as bishop of Canterbury.  He was assassinated on December 29, 1170. So evident was this martyred bishop’s holiness that he was canonized just three years after his death by Pope Alexander III. 

What happened? How is a bishop assassinated in his own cathedral?

Thomas was a good friend of the king of England, King Henry II, and it was the King who nominated Thomas as archbishop of Canterbury.  But archbishop Thomas was a man of integrity and he served God first—this did not please the King. The king wanted a pawn, not a faithful bishop.  In a fit of rage over Bishop Thomas’ opposition to the kings plans to infringe upon the freedom of the Church, the King ordered his assassination.

For the freedom of Mother Church to teach the truth, Becket sacrificed everything.

He said to the hired killers: “I am ready to die for God.  I am ready to die for the defense of justice. I am ready to die for the freedom of the Church. Would only that my lifeblood might purchase Her peace and freedom”.

Like so many of the saints, like Christ himself, St. Thomas Becket was “a sign of contradiction” For though he teaches the world what is most important in life: truth, goodness, and beauty, the world hates him for it.

As we have been reading in the first letter of St. John, though we seek to shine with the light of Christ, the world prefers darkness, but that does not excuse us from our vocation.

To celebrate a saint like Thomas Becket during Christmas time reminds us that Christ was born for us, even though he would suffer, his love being so great; and being born to eternal life in him, we must love Him enough to suffer for Him and goodness’ sake.

So we pray fervently today that like St. Thomas Becket the grace to be true lovers of Christ true lovers of Mother Church and to defend Her as much as we have the strength.  We pray especially for bishops and priests to be champions of Mother Church and her rights at any cost.  And that when we are called to choose between faith or the world, we may choose rightly, for the glory of God and salvation of souls.