Note: I gave two homilies today. They feature much of the same material, but were given at two different Masses and thus I addressed two different age groups. Both are linked to below.
(Listen to this homily given at our school Mass here).
(Listen to this homily given at our parish celebration Mass here).
As I will be speaking in more depth about St. Thomas Aquinas
later this evening, I would like to offer a few simple points about our patron
here at Mass.
The
author of the letter to the Hebrews offers the following quotation: “I
will put my laws in their hearts, and I will write them upon their
minds.” St. Thomas exemplifies this promise of God in a powerful
way.
First—“I
will write [my laws] upon their minds.” What Albert Einstein was to physics, science and
mathematics, Thomas was to theology, philosophy and faith. He was one of the most brilliant men
that walked on our planet! He is
one of thirty-five doctors of the Church.
Imagine how many Catholics have lived in our near 2000 year
existence. Now consider how many
canonized saints there are. St.
Thomas was one of thirty-five given the title doctor. Thomas got God’s law.
Yet
as a professor at seminary frequently said, St. Thomas was not a brain on a
stick. Listen again to the first
half of God’s promise from Hebrews: “I will put my laws in their hearts…” Thomas’ faith was extraordinary. Late in life, St. Thomas had two
mystical experiences. One featured
a deep experience of God Himself.
After this private revelation, Thomas said that all his work was straw
(compared to God Himself), and quit writing.
In another, Jesus came to
Thomas and said he had written well of Jesus and asked what his reward would
be. Thomas basically got a blank
check from God! What would you
have asked for? An athletic
scholarship? Money? New car? Thomas answered, “Only you Lord.”
We have an amazing patron,
who is also the patron saint of Catholic schools, all schools, students,
teachers and universities.
St. Thomas Aquinas, pray for
us!
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