MANSFIELD, Ohio—Bishop Daniel Thomas, the eighth bishop of Toledo, presided over Mass at St. Peter’s Church Thursday morning and encouraged the hundreds of attendees to examine their identity.
“Each one of us on this Lenten day is called by the church to examine our identity,” Thomas said. “And to see if we have the face of Jesus and the eyes of Jesus so that with anyone else who is poor and less fortunate than us, we are able to see Jesus in them and to be those who do not lose their identity to our possessions.”
His homily focused on the parable of the rich man and Lazarus, according to the Gospel of Luke. He noted that this passage of scripture does not include the name of the rich man. All that readers know about him are certain characteristics—that he dressed in purple and fine linen and that he ate spectacular meals every day.
“Our holy father Pope Francis points out that when we do not have the face of Christ, and when our identity—who we are—is not defined by Jesus, then we lose our face, and we lose our identity,” he said.
“What defined [the rich man] was his richness, his wealth, his belongings, and all the material goods he had. But his sin was not because he was rich; his sin was that he didn’t have eyes to see the poor man [Lazarus] right outside his door.”
The parable notes that when the rich man died, he descended into hell; whereas the poor man, Lazarus, ascended into heaven.
“Jesus wants us to have his eyes so that we can see others, those that are poor, with his charity, and so that we will not ever allow things or possessions or material goods to so possess us that we lose the real face and our true name and become controlled by things,” said Thomas.
He referenced Mother Teresa, known by her countless acts of charity, who was once asked why she served those who were near death. “And she said, ‘Because in that poor, crippled person, I see Jesus,’” Thomas said.
Those listening in included students and staff from St. Peter’s School, St. Mary’s School in Mansfield, St. Mary’s School in Shelby, St. Joseph’s School in Crestline and Bethlehem Sacred Heart School in Shelby.
Thomas was formally installed as the eighth bishop of Toledo on Oct. 22, 2014. He replaced Archbishop Leonard Paul Blair, who became the archbishop of Hartford, Connecticut in December 2013.
He concluded his message by stating, “Today, the Lord invites us to see Jesus in those in need and to follow his way so that we might follow Lazarus and not the rich man who had no name.”
