Homily for the 23rd Sunday in Ordinary Time "A" - Fr. Edward Namiotka

 

Thy Will Be Done

Dear Parishioners,

If we pray regularly, we probably recite the words thy will be done quite a few times daily. It is one of the central petitions of the Our Father.

Do you ever stop to think about this prayer-petition? Do we really think that God’s will is not going to be accomplished in the end? I don’t think so. After all, God is, well, God. At God’s command absolutely anything can be achieved before we could even grasp what was happening. 

Do we think that God Almighty actually needs us, needs me, so that He could be more all-powerful, more all-knowing, more all-loving, more all-just, more all-whatever? On the contrary, God would be quite self-sufficient without any of us. God created ex nihilo—out of nothing. There was a time when nothing else but God existed. So, obviously, God could get along quite well without us.

The fact of the matter is that God created out of love. He brought into existence that which previously did not exist—the entire universe, our world and us. His greatest achievement was the creation of the human person, made in His image and likeness.  We were given intelligence and free-will like God. Amazingly, God chose to become one of us as evidenced by the Incarnation of Jesus.

So, when we pray that God’s will be done, we must realize with ultimate humility that in the end we are not in charge. God will always be in charge. Always. His Will is going to be done with or without us. And we, as humans, must conform to His Will, not the other way around. God is creator and we are creatures. Period. End of story.

What is so mind-boggling is that God has invited each of us into a personal relationship with Himself. We can either accept the invitation or reject it. We can believe or not. We can cooperate with His plan or foolishly think that we can do whatever we want without consequences. The choice will always be ours because God willed it so.

With this in mind, my personal prayer consists of a variation of this petition. When I come before the Lord Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament I simply pray: I want what You want. I sit and give my time over to the Lord. I submit my will to His. I realize my place before Almighty God.

Perhaps each of us could ask ourselves a few questions to evaluate where we are before God: Does God really have control of me and my life? Do I love Him with all my heart, mind, soul and strength? Do I desire to do His Will? Do I foolishly think that I am in charge?

In the 1960’s Paul Anka wrote the lyrics to a song popularized by Frank Sinatra, Elvis Presley and various others entitled My Way. I beg to differ with them with a rebuttal composition of my own: 

The Final Exam

“And now the end is near,

And so I face the final curtain”—

But after all life’s tests I’ve had,

Of little or nothing I’m certain!

Yet still, dear Lord, I ask your help

To guide me day to day—

And may the priv'lege be always mine

To say I did it Your Way.

© 1981 Edward F. Namiotka 

Fr. Ed Namiotka

Pastor

Forgiveness

Dear Parishioners,

Throughout my life, there have been a number of inspirational examples of forgiveness that stand out for me. 

Undoubtedly the first example is Jesus’ words from the cross:  “Father, forgive them, they know not what they do.”  (Luke 23:34) 

Next, was the example that Pope St. John Paul II showed when he visited his attempted assassin, Mehmet Ali Ağca, and forgave him. 

Third, was the occasion of meeting the mother of a Polish priest, Blessed Fr. Jerzy Popiełuszko.  He was brutally murdered by three members of the Polish secret police for his activities with the Polish Solidarity movement. When asked about forgiving her son’s murderers she said the following in my presence:  “How could I not forgive when Jesus forgave the thief on the cross?”

Finally, there is the example of Vicki Schieber, the mother of Shannon Schieber who was who was brutally raped and murdered in 1998 while she was a student at the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia. Mrs. Schieber visited Sacred Heart High School in Vineland while I was principal there.  Rather than demand the death penalty for the person who raped and killed her daughter, Mrs. Schieber (and her husband) said there was no way they could demand the taking of another life. “The death penalty wasn’t going to honor Shannon’s life and it wasn’t going to bring her back . . . I thought about everything we ever taught Shannon to believe—to turn the other cheek, to show compassion and to be forgiving,” Mrs. Schieber said. “If you have a set of principles and then don’t live by them when you are tested, were they ever your principles to begin with?”

Christianity is about love, forgiveness and mercy—not hatred and anger. Whenever people foster attacks and retaliation—an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth mentality—no genuine, lasting good will usually come from the situation. Forgiveness, on the other hand, shows love accompanied by the supernatural gift of God’s grace.

I again reflect on the words of my patron saint, St. Maximilian Kolbe: “Only love is creative.”

When we or those we love are hurt, it may seem difficult or impossible to forgive. It is at times like these that we must pray for the grace of God knowing that all things are possible for God—and for us—when aided by His supernatural grace.

Fr. Ed Namiotka

Pastor

Fr. Jerzy Popiełuszko

Political Correctness vs. Moral Correctness

Dear Parishioners,

Unfortunately, we live, at times, in a politically correct world. The legacy news media and advertising often drive it. We have become so cautious not to offend anyone. We do not want to be cancelled. As a result, we may wind up compromising what we truly believe in the name of tolerance. There have been rumblings among the populus, however, and ever-more people are becoming fed-up with what is going on.

What if the early Christians acted in the same manner? Would they have been so cautious not to proclaim Jesus is Lord in the face of torture and death? I think about how the early Apostles were willing to die rather than compromise their beliefs. How easy it would have been to acknowledge that Caesar was divine (as was demanded at the time) and go on living. Couldn’t Jesus just be acknowledged as one god among many other gods? After all, the Greeks and Romans were polytheistic cultures and would more than likely tolerate one more god. It would be the politically correct thing to do at that time. Instead, the early Christians bravely faced torture and death in their unwavering proclamation that Jesus is the Risen Son of God. For them, there was no other option.

Today, we may not say certain things are objectively wrong for fear of offending someone: 

• Abortion is not killing an innocent human being—dare I say murder?—but a woman’s choice.
• Marriage (the permanent, exclusive, open-to children union between a man and a woman) is redefined not according to timeless, divine principles but as we enlightened humans currently see fit.
• We don’t call co-habitation fornication, but a trial marriage.
• Euthanasia (killing the elderly) is mercy-killing.
• Adulterers are swingers.
• The difference between partial-birth abortion and infanticide is negligible.
• Homosexual acts fall into the category of an alternate lifestyle.
• Artificial contraception is never wrong or sinful in many people’s mind.
• There is no longer a proper understanding that we have a moral obligation to God to attend Mass weekly.   

Wrong becomes right. Right is no longer right. The world is horribly confused. And this confusion does have serious, eternal consequences.

God in timeless wisdom and with apparently incredible patience looks at us and, I suspect, desires that we would listen and obey. There is a law written in your hearts. I sent you the prophets. I even gave you my only Son as my definitive Word. You have centuries of saints and martyrs witnessing to the truth by their lives. My gift of the Holy Spirit continues to guide the Church. Please listen. Don’t delay.

I trust that God is all-merciful. There is frequently an emphasis on His mercy. I also believe that God is all-just. God’s justice is tempered by His mercy. (See James 2: 12-13) Mercy is offered to us so that we admit our sinfulness, desire to change our erring ways and completely conform our lives to the teachings of Christ. Mercy is not like a get out of jail free card. We can’t just continue with our sinful ways assuming God to be some pushover—some lenient parent—who will continually let us do whatever we want without consequences. We are all going to Heaven despite what we do here on earth. Not really. Why would Jesus have suffered and died in such a horrible manner if we all just go to Heaven no matter what we think, say or do? No, if we refuse mercy, if we refuse to listen, if we fail to change, then God remains all-just. We will get what we actually deserve. And it wasn’t because God did not try to get through to us time and time again.

If political correctness blurs our moral correctness then I would suggest that we make the necessary adjustments to our thinking and acting. We need to realize that the truth—the objective moral teachings given by Jesus Christ and faithfully proclaimed by His Church—are the means given us for our eternal salvation.

 And eternal does mean forever.

Fr. Ed Namiotka

Pastor

Homily for the 22nd Sunday in Ordinary Time - Fr. Edward Namiotka

 

Homily for the 21st Sunday in Ordinary Time "A" - Fr. Edward Namiotka

 

Reflecting on the Cross

Dear Parishioners,

You will find that I refer to the cross of Jesus quite frequently when I preach. Maybe I have been profoundly influenced by St. Paul: I preach Christ Jesus and Him crucified. (See 1 Cor. 2:2 and 1 Cor. 1:23) 

Typically, I will point to the image of the crucified Jesus. While some churches have an image of the resurrected Jesus in the sanctuary, as did one of my former parishes, I really must confess that I am not quite there yet in my own spiritual life. I relate better to the crucified Jesus who truly knew suffering and experienced death. Intellectually, I know that JESUS IS RISEN, and I certainly preach Him as risen from the dead. However, whether it be in my personal chapel in the rectory, or in the church itself, I look to the crucified Jesus—to the crucifix—more often than not.

Each day I see suffering in the world. When I turn on the evening news, read the newspaper or find an article on the internet, so many of the stories involve tragedy: a plane going down, a hurricane, a wild fire, a flood, war, violence, murder, etc. I see people suffering and dying. I visit the hospital and I find someone extremely sick with family members surrounding him or her in tears. I visit the homebound. I celebrate a funeral Mass. Get the picture?

Jesus knew suffering. Meditating on the sorrowful mysteries of the Holy Rosary, making the Stations of the Cross, reading an account of Jesus’ passion in the Sacred Scriptures, looking at a crucifix, all tell me that Christ can relate to the pain and suffering of humanity.

I ponder the image of the Risen Christ and truly hope to be there someday. I also realize that resurrection and eternal life are still somewhere—with God’s grace and through His forgiveness, mercy and love—in the future for me.

However, I continue look at the crucifix. Maybe I do not receive immediate answers to all my prayers.  Maybe I still have questions and doubts. But what I see is a God who loved me enough to suffer and to die for me. I see Jesus who willingly accepted suffering and experienced it to the depth of his being. I see a humble, vulnerable God who took upon Himself all of our sins—my sins. I see Jesus who died for me, for all of us.

At this point in time, you can see where I am in my personal spiritual life. I see myself at the foot of the cross. I hope someday for resurrection and eternal life. But I am, unfortunately, just not there yet.

. . . Whoever wishes to come after me must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me. For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. (Mt. 16: 24-25) 

Fr. Ed Namiotka

Pastor   

Why Catholics Continue to Have Hope

Dear Parishioners,

As a Catholic priest I am charged with preaching the Gospel—the Good News.  I can certainly point out all of the things that are confusing or even scandalous in the Catholic Church. However, there are important reasons why true Catholics do not give up hope despite the many obstacles we face. We do not flee when the wolf attacks the sheep. We do not deny Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior. We remain faithful even if everyone calls us ridiculous, stupid, or out of touch. Remember in the Beatitudes we are told that we are actually blessed when we are unjustly persecuted.

Blessed are you when they insult you and persecute you and utter every kind of evil against you [falsely] because of me. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward will be great in heaven. Thus they persecuted the prophets who were before you.  (Mt. 5: 11-12)

Opposition and persecution have been present from the beginning of the Church and continue to this day.

Let me reflect with you on some of my reasons for ongoing hope within the Catholic Church:

• Jesus is victorious over sin and death.  Jesus’ suffering and death on the cross, rather than being a defeat, was a victory.  Jesus rose from the dead. Death has no more power over Him. His Resurrection gives every Christian the hope of eternal life. While we have not yet seen the culmination of all God’s plans, we know Who has already won the victory. Christus Vincit!
• Jesus promised to remain with His Church.  “And behold, I am with you always, until the end of the age.”  (Mt. 28:20)  First, Jesus remains with us in the Holy Eucharist.  We believe in His Real Presence on our altars and in our tabernacles. We also have the Sacred Scriptures to guide and inspire us. Through the ministerial priesthood Christ still acts in each sacrament. Christ remains with His Church whenever we gather in His name, but most especially at the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. 
• Jesus told us that evil will not prevail.  “And so I say to you, you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church, and the gates of the netherworld shall not prevail against it.” (Mt. 16:18)  Through the centuries, there have been bitter battles for the soul of the Church. We have seen many martyrs.  We have had bad popes, bishops, priests, etc. Attempts have been made to destroy the Church from within and from without.  Despite all such attempts, the Church remains.  And it will remain.
• Our Lady continues to intercede for us, her children.  Devotion to Our Blessed Mother is a sine qua non for any believing Catholic.  I have been especially devoted to the apparitions of Fatima (Portugal) and to the other approved apparitions like Lourdes (France), Guadalupe (Mexico), etc.  According to the seer Sr. Lucia, the message given at Fatima from Our Lady was ”In the end my Immaculate Heart will triumph.” When we pray the Hail Mary, we ask for Our Lady’s intercession now and at the hour of our death. She was given to us at the foot of the cross to be our spiritual mother. She continues to intercede for her children and to care about their eternal salvation as any good mother would.

I continue to have hope. What is going on in the Church and the world still concerns me tremendously.  Yet, we need to remain faithful to the Lord as He is always faithful to us.  

If you have any doubts, look at the crucifix. 

Fr. Ed Namiotka

Pastor

     

Homily for the 20th Sunday in Ordinary Time "A" - Fr. Edward Namiotka

 

The Pastoral (Parish) Council

Dear Parishioners,

When we examine what canon (church) law requires of every parish, we see that a finance council is mandated.  Canon 537 states: In each parish there is to be a finance council which is governed, in addition to universal law, by norms issued by the diocesan bishop and in which the Christian faithful, selected according to these same norms, are to assist the pastor in the administration of the goods of the parish . . . .   This council is established and active here at St. Thomas the Apostle Parish and meets regularly attempting to keep our parish operating in a fiscally responsible manner.

Canon law also states the following (Canon 536):  1. If the diocesan bishop judges it opportune after he has heard the presbyteral council, a pastoral council is to be established in each parish, over which the pastor presides and in which the Christian faithful, together with those who share in pastoral care by virtue of their office in the parish, assist in fostering pastoral activity. 2. A pastoral council possesses a consultative vote only and is governed by the norms established by the diocesan bishop.

Regarding this pastoral council, I wish to re-establish it anew in the fall. I am looking for a select group of people (9 to 12 are recommended) to help advise me with various matters concerning the future of the parish.

According to our diocesan guidelines:  Parish Pastoral Councils provide a way for pastors to consult their people. The Parish Pastoral Council is: "to examine and consider all that relates to pastoral work and to offer practical conclusions on these matters, so that the life and activity of the People of God may be brought into greater conformity with the Gospel." In this description, we find three tasks assigned to the pastoral council: to examine, to consider, and to recommend.

• To examine:  The object of the Parish Pastoral Council's examination, "pastoral work," is left sufficiently un-specified in order to include all that concerns the pastor and his staff in serving the parish. The council identifies issues and studies them either at the request of the pastor or on its own initiative.
• To consider:  The Parish Pastoral Council prayerfully ponders the data it has collected from its examination by trying to discern in what direction God is inviting the parish to go, what is behind the data.
• To recommend:  After the Parish Pastoral Council has examined and considered any pastoral work, it makes a recommendation to the pastor and his staff on what should be done for this parish at this time in its history.

I am looking for dedicated, prayerful people willing to help me. If you are interested or you wish to recommend someone for this task, please let me know in writing or by e-mail by September 30, 2026. (My parish email is Fr.Namiotka@stabrig.org) 

After prayerful consideration, the council will be re-established anew to assist me with the future vision and direction of St. Thomas the Apostle Parish. For those who want more information, the diocesan Parish Pastoral Councils Guidelines in English and Spanish can be found on the diocesan website. 

Please give my request some prayerful deliberation. More information will follow in the months ahead.

Fr. Ed Namiotka

Pastor