A lamp is placed on a lampstand to bring the light: the light of Christ, the light of truth and love. That’s Saint Thomas Aquinas. He was born in Italy, living between Italy and France in the 13th century, and was one of the most brilliant people who ever lived, yet holy and humble in his search for TRUTH.
Humble! As a young Dominican Friar he was sent to the University of Paris. His teachers at first called him a dumb ox because he humbly listened and didn’t seem to talk much, but when he did start to talk they realized they were hugely mistaken! His Theology is a magnificent search for God.
He searched for truth. One of the greatest teachers the world has known: we need his spirit of seeking for truth now. Christians need to be aware that today dominant philosophies even deny that truth exists!
Everything is “relative”. You create your “truth”, I have my “truth”, they’ll say! Saint John Paul II and Benedict XVI have been so clear in showing how destructive this way of thinking can be. If there is no truth we have nothing to stand on. On the political sphere, there’s no common ground! On the internet and throughout the media, there is so much manipulation. What can you trust?
Aquinas knew that Christ is Our Light of Truth. We do have a sure foundation for truth and for knowing what is right and what is wrong – Saint Thomas set himself to try to understand and express truth in as much as possible for the human intellect. He offers a great method. He proposes a thesis and then he looks at it from all sides, consulting other thinkers, trying to disprove the thesis and then he finally comes to a conclusion, saying why that is so, taking the time to think things through.
Our world today needs to know that GOD EXISTS and so TRUTH EXISTS! CHRIST IS THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD.
Through faith in Jesus, we know that God wants to make Himself known. We can approach TRUTH using our God given intelligence, conscience and reason. We can investigate and think things through, discussing and even arguing BUT ALWAYS WITH HONESTY, HUMILITY, LOVE for ONE ANOTHER AND MUTUAL RESPECT. THAT’S HOW HUMANITY CAN ADVANCE.
Parents, please teach your children!
Saint Thomas Aquinas, pray for us.
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Father Jim's inspirational homily was recorded live this morning during Mass at the Father Peyton Center. Please view the video on our Facebook page. (You don't need a Facebook account to view.)
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