July 3 2023 - St. Thomas, apostle - Following Christ

Poor Saint Thomas the Apostle!  Whenever his name is heard, one tends to think of a skeptic, a doubter.  We even call people “doubting Thomas’s”.  But, there is much more to consider about this apostle than his one moment of doubt, just as there is much more to know about Peter than his denial of the Lord.  

Before his moment of doubt, when the Lord received news of the death of Lazarus, he exhorted his apostles to follow him to Bethany, which would bring them dangerously close to Jerusalem.  On that occasion Thomas said to his fellow disciples: “Let us also go, that we may die with him.”

Thomas’ readiness to follow the Lord anywhere, even unto death, shows us what mature Christian discipleship looks like. Christians are to follow Jesus wherever he goes—we are to unite our destiny with his, no matter the consequences. And even if those consequences are dire, to be united with Christ brings life, as we heard St. Paul write to the Romans in the Second Reading yesterday, “ If, then, we have died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him.” Death with Him is better than life without Him. 

After seeing and touching the resurrected Jesus and acclaiming “My Lord and My God” there are no further scriptural accounts of St. Thomas. However, stories from the 3rd and 4th centuries tell of Thomas’ apostolic and missionary activity in modern day Iran, Iraq, and Afghanistan and labors in India where he was martyred.

The story goes that a pagan indian king, upon meeting the apostle, immediately put great trust in him and hired him as a royal architect.  Because of this, St. Thomas is the patron saint of architects. The king put at Thomas’ disposal the great wealth of his treasury for planning and building the new royal palace.  But Thomas donated the entire sum to the poor, telling the King, that this way he builds a greater palace in heaven.  The king would have put Thomas to death for this, but the king received a heavenly apparition, the king’s dead brother appeared and testified to the reality and glory of the heavenly palace.  

Thomas was martyred, however, when he converted the king’s many wives to Christ and persuaded them to remain abstinent because Christian marriage is between one man and one woman.  

The Apostle Thomas rightly and boldly passed on Christ’s teaching concerning the moral conduct of his followers even though it would bring about the king’s wrath.  Thomas the apostle shows us the courage to which Catholics are called.  The courage and willingness to follow Jesus anywhere: In front of kings and judges and presidents, the boldness to speak the truth of Christ no matter the consequence. 

Keeping our eyes fixed on Jesus, like Thomas closely peering at the wounds of Jesus, helps us to withstand caving to the growing trends of secularism and immorality in our society. Like Him may we faithfully proclaim Christ as Lord and God to all nations, for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

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For the Church during this time of Eucharistic Revival: for more fervent belief in the Lord’s Real Presence in the Eucharist, and that the Eucharist may help us die to sin and live more fully for God. 

As the United States celebrates our civil independence this week: we pray that our nation may be united by God’s Spirit, guarded from terror, observant of God’s Holy Laws, and vigilant against threats to our freedom, peace, and well-being. May the Wisdom of God guide our government leaders and legislators, families, businesses, civil institutions, and all of our domestic affairs.

That during this month of July dedicated to the Most Precious Blood of Jesus: we may grow in gratitude for the gift of our salvation and more zealous for souls. 

For all of the sick and afflicted, and for our deceased family members, friends and fellow parishioners, for our deceased servicemen and women, for all the poor souls in purgatory and for…

O God, our refuge and our strength, hear the prayers of your Church, for you yourself are the source of all devotion, and grant, we pray, that what we ask in faith we may truly obtain. Through Christ our Lord.

34th Week in OT 2018 - Monday - Follow him wherever he may go

During the final days of the liturgical year, our readings are taken from the Book of Revelation, which is surely the strangest and hardest to interpret of all the books of the Bible.  Its style is neither the simple, sober eyewitness descriptions of Jesus’ miracles and accounts of his teaching, like the story of the Widow in the Gospel this morning, nor the straightforward principles and advice we find in the Epistles.

Rather, Revelation is a highly poetical, even mystical book filled with strange and symbolic numbers and characters.  The word Revelation literally means, unveiling, and in this final book of the Bible, heaven is unveiled.

In the reading today we get a glimpse at this group of 144,000, with the name of the Lamb and His Father on their foreheads, and they are singing.  They are the ones “who follow the Lamb wherever he goes.” They are saints! Their very souls have been marked by their willingness in life to become completely obedient to the will of God.

What does this mystical vision have to do with the poor widow in the Gospel and the end of the liturgical year?  I think, that as the Church year comes to a close, we are given these two readings to remind us to have simple faith.

Who are the ones in heaven who surround the lamb?  Simply the ones that “follow Him wherever he goes”.  Why does Jesus extol the virtue of the widow?  Because she simply gives God everything.  Her whole livelihood was given over to God. 

Why is this simple message such a hard teaching? Likely because of the size of our egos and our attachment to sin. So often we fail to follow the Lamb as we should because our idea of how our life should go differs from God’s idea. We fail to follow the Lamb in times of temptation because we have not severed our attachments to sin, and conditioned our wills to turn away from sin completely.

But the 144,000 remind us that when we give everything, like the widow, and follow the Lord everywhere in his way of complete charity and generosity toward God’s will, and then you will come to that place in heaven where the new song is sung with joy.

Our modern minds say it can’t be that easy?  Give the Lord everything?  Obey the Church and all Her teachings?  Turn away from all sin? Allow the virtue of charity to direct every action, every decision, every attitude? Our hearts know it to be true:  be "pure and follow the Lamb wherever He goes.” for his glory and the salvation of souls.

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For Pope Francis, Bishop Perez, and all ordained ministers, that their ministry may be effective in leading the Church in Christian faith, hope, and charity.

That world leaders may look upon the Son of God, believe in him, and seek the peace and justice that only he can bring.

That our young people may take seriously the missionary call of Christ, that they will turn away from the evils of our culture to spread the good news of Christ’s eternal kingdom.

For all whose lives are marked by suffering, may they come to know the healing and peace of Christ.

For the deceased members of our families, friends, and parish, and all the poor souls in purgatory, for deceased clergy and religious, and for those who have fought and died for our freedom.

O God, you know that our life in this present age is subject to suffering and need, hear the prayers of those who cry to you and receive the prayers of those who believe in you. Through Christ our Lord.