HOMILY GIVEN AT ST. JOSEPH HOME, LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY, 8-25-2025
We give thanks to God always for all of you, remembering you in our prayers, unceasingly calling to mind your work of faith and labor of love.
I Thessalonians 1:1-5
Thessalonica was a crossroads between the east and the west, making it crucial in making Christianity into a world religion. Trade flowed into it from the east and the west. As important as it was to Paul to preach the gospel there, in hopes that Christianity would spread in both directions making it a world religion, he only preached in their synagogue three Sabbaths which means his stay there could not have been more than three weeks in length.
Even though his time there was short, he had enjoyed tremendous success. In fact, he was so successful that the local religious leaders were so enraged and stirred up so much trouble for Paul that he had to be smuggled out, in peril of his life, escaping finally to Athens.
Paul was so curious about whether Christianity had taken root in Thessalonica that he sent Timothy there to collect information. Timothy reported that the affection for Paul was still as strong as ever and they were standing fast in their Christian faith. The reading today tells us just how much he loved them and how grateful he was to that little community for their appreciation of his ministry there and for their solid faith.
All this, gives me an opportunity to say a few things to this community about your appreciation of my ministry here and my appreciation of your solid faith and labor of love for each other.
Just last week, I got a note from Father Julius of St. Meinrad. In it, he told me that he met Sister Therese on retreat there. He told me that she told him that you “loved when I come to do ministry” here. It has had a profound effect on me, knowing that you appreciate my coming here.
In the spirit of St. Paul’s love for the new Christian community of Thessalonica, let me express my appreciation to the Little Sisters serving here and around the world and express a few sentiments to the residents who live here and in other Homes around the globe.
Sisters! I have been trying to help out here for the last several years with Masses on Mondays, Special Occasions and Confessions. I have watched you, listened to you and been inspired by you! I know that the youngest among you have been required to step up more and more to help do what more of you used to do years ago as the community ages. I realize that none of you ever “retire,” but do your best to help out until it’s time for you to go to your reward in heaven. I know, from personal experience, that some of you have come from places like Hong Kong, Kenya and the Philippines or have served the elderly in other places around the world. I salute you! I admire you! I am happy to serve you!
Residents! Being almost 82 myself, I am beginning to appreciate some of the things you have to go through in giving up your independence, moving into an institution and accepting health crises as they come along, even as you appreciate the help these places supply in your time of need. I salute you too! I admire you too! I am happy to serve you too!
Let me end this homily by repeating the words of today’s first reading.
We give thanks to God always for all of you, remembering you in our prayers, unceasingly calling to mind your work of faith and labor of love.
I Thessalonians 1:1-5
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