Homily (Reflection) for the Memorial
of Saint Thomas Aquinas, P.D., (28th January, 2019) on the Gospel
and the Memorial
(Monday of the Third Week in Ordinary Time
(I))
Heb 9:15.24-28;
Ps 97:1-6. (R. v.1);
Mk 3:22-30.
Tommaso d'Aquino (1225 – 7 March 1274) otherwise known
as Saint Thomas Aquinas was an Italian Dominican friar and a Catholic priest
who was an immensely influential philosopher, theologian and jurist in the
tradition of scholasticism, within which he is also known as the “Doctor Angelicus”
and “Doctor Communis”. Unlike many currents in the Church of the time, Thomas
embraced several ideas put forward by Aristotle—whom he called “the Philosopher”—and
attempted to synthesize Aristotelian philosophy with the principles of Christianity.
Saint Thomas best known works are the Summa Theologica and the Summa contra
Gentiles. His commentaries on
Sacred Scripture and on Aristotle also form an important part of his
body of work. He is also distinguished for his eucharistic hymns, which form
part of the Church's liturgy. Saint Thomas Aquinas is a Doctor of the
Church[1].
Topic: Divisions among God’s children.
The scribes branded Jesus a demoniac in today’s gospel because
He was doing what He was sent to do (the will of the Father), cf. Jn 4:34. 5:30. 6:38. Jesus’ reply to them
in parables reads in part, “How can Satan cast out Satan? If a kingdom is divided
against itself, that kingdom cannot stand. And if a house is divided against
itself, that house will not be able to stand.”
There is serious emphasis on the need for us to be united. Every
Christian is part of one body, the Christ, cf. 1Cor 12:12. 27. Eph 2:19. 5:30. We ought
to be one with God and with our brothers and sisters, cf. 1Cor 6:17; Gal 3:28. Saint
Paul admonishes us, “...if we have been united with him in a death like his, we
shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his” (Rom 6:5). He also appeals to all,
Now I appeal to you, brothers and sisters, by the name of our
Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you be in agreement and that there be no
divisions among you, but that you be united in the same mind and the same
purpose (1Cor 1:10).
Remember, we ought to be one with God and with our brothers
and sister, cf. 1Cor 6:17. Although He
assures us victory (cf. Deut 20:4),
yet we keep weakening ourselves through divisions. As long as we keep fighting
each other, we can never be as effective as we ought in the world. Let us
retrace our steps back to unity with God and with our brothers and sisters.
Bible Reading: 1Cor 1:10-17. 3:1-23.
Thought for today: ...you are still of the flesh... as long as there
is jealousy and quarrelling among you (1Cor
3:3).
Let us pray: Lord, give us your Spirit and a
heart of flesh to be united with you and with our brothers and sisters – Amen.
Saint Thomas Aquinas – Pray for us.
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