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3rd Sunday of Advent

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Originally delivered on December 13, 1992

Readings: Isaiah 2:1-5; Romans 13:11-14; Matthew 24:37-44

In this week’s homily, Fr. Healy argues that the Bible is a revolutionary message on behalf of the poor. In the first ready, Isaiah is picturing the glory of our Lord.  We are asked to consider the plight of the poor, such as a Somali woman, hearing those words. Would we feel abandoned or swindled by our sisters and brothers? Perhaps for this reason it was dangerous to have slaves or the poor learn to read for fear of them reading the Bible.  It is meant to be an energizer to the the poor and oppressed to stand up to claim their rightful place as God’s children. Indeed, this could be an historic moment for each of us, to decide to give the message to the poor and then to work to make that message come true for our marginalized sisters and brothers.

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21st Sunday in Ordinary Time

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21st Sunday in Ordinary Time

Readings: Isaiah 66: 18-21; Hebrews 12: 5-7, 11-13; Luke 13: 22-30

Originally delivered on August 27, 1989

Fr. Healy begins his homily with a funny story about the Holy Ghost Fathers. He reminds us that in today’s gospel, we are called to see everyone as part of the family of God.  This is the vision of Jesus.  Everyone is in, especially those that perhaps we would want to count out. Fr. Healy then brings the message to the current time by discussing the issues and laws that seem to count some people out.  As followers of Jesus, therefore, we must stand up against those things that hurt our brothers and sisters.

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20th Sunday in Ordinary Time

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Readings: Jeremiah 38:4-6, 8-10; Hebrews 12:1-4; Luke 12:49-53 

Originally delivered on August 16, 1992

In this week’s gospel, we hear the anger of God who proclaims, “I have come to light a fire on the earth.”  What have we done with God’s marvelous plan?  We are invited to reflect on the fact that Jesus’s crucifixion was legal.  Fr. Healy reflects on the writings of James Baldwin and the work of Mickey Leland.  He goes on to further share a poignant story of his experience in Africa leading a seminary and invites us to reflect on our likely sin of silence in the face of injustice in order to preserve ourselves and our own interests.  

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19th Sunday in Ordinary Time

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Readings: Wisdom 18:6-9; Hebrews 11:1-2, 8-19; Luke 12:32-48

Originally delivered on August 13, 1989

In today’s homily, we hear about the family story of Abraham and Sarah and their son, Isaac. Through this story, we learn more about faith and are challenged to be like Abraham in listening to God, going to a place we don’t know, but are called to by God.  Then, in the gospel, we are told to let go, stop being so materialistic, and worried only about material things.  That is, we are to trust in God. We must ask ourselves if we truly trust in Jesus’s promise? Are we children of Abraham and Sarah in our actions? Finally, the gospel reminds us that “when much has been given a man, much will be required. More will be asked of a man to whom more has been entrusted.”

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Epiphany

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Originally delivered on January 5, 1992

Readings: Isaiah 60:1-6; Ephesians 3:2-3, 5-6; Matthew 2:1-12

In today’s Gospel we hear of the three foreigners coming to welcome the baby Jesus.  We too are called to welcome the foreigners, refugees, or aliens in our lives.  We also hear of Herod’s attempt to thwart God’s plan.  May we each hear this week’s Gospel and look at how we, like Herod, might be acting to thwart God’s plan here on earth. We are challenged, as Christians, to welcome all as our sisters and brothers by raising our voices in protest when some are excluded. 

 

 

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4th Sunday of Advent

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Originally delivered on December 18, 1988

Readings: Micah 5:1-4; Hebrews 10:5-10; Luke 1:39-45

Elizabeth greets Mary as “the mother of my Lord.”  This Gospel reminds us that perhaps few of us are prophetic, like John the Baptist in last week’s reading, but many more are like Elizabeth. By accepting ourselves, as God has created us, we have the opportunity to bring God’s Grace to the world.  Through the simplicity of our roles and actions, we can make a difference in the world. By choosing life rather than death, light rather than darkness, and by caring for others rather than being judgmental, God’s presence is felt by others through us.

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2nd Sunday of Advent

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Originally delivered on December 4, 1988
Readings: Baruch 5:1-9; Philippians 1:4-6,8-11; Luke 3:1-6

In anticipation of the coming of Jesus, a herald’s voice cries “Make ready the way of the Lord.” While recognizing that we live within an increasingly global village, we must start preparing the way by transforming our own neighborhoods. But we mustn’t stop there.  To “topple the mountains and fill in every valley,” we must look at the economic and political arrangements in our world that keep some poor and others wealthy, even if it makes us uncomfortable.

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1st Sunday of Advent

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Originally delivered on November 27, 1988

Readings: Jeremiah 33:14-16; Thessalonians 3:12-4:2; Luke 21:25-28,34-36

Advent is a time of waiting for the birth of Jesus. What we do while waiting is worth examining. Do we seize the opportunity to improve our current condition and the quality of tomorrow? If we don’t take action to make tomorrow better, how will we ever explain this to ourselves and to God?

Read the Transcript

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2nd Sunday of Ordinary Time

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Originally delivered on January 14, 1990 

Readings: Isaiah 49:3, 5-6; 1 Corinthians 1:1-3; John 1:29-34

We are a frail people.  And yet, despite our failings and weaknesses, when we embrace Jesus, we also embrace the truth that He sums up:  All people are precious in the eyes of God.  The dignity of every human being are worthy of our greatest efforts of advocacy, even if we fail and far short.  We must get back to it and be the giant for others because we have been consecrated in Christ Jesus.  We are called to be a holy people.

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Epiphany of the Lord

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Originally delivered on January 3, 1993

Readings: Isaiah 60:1-6; Ephesians 3:2-3, 5-6; Matthew 2:1-12

Fr. Healy reminds us that Epiphany caps the Christmas season.  We are called to be the Good News to others.  While we may look to the stars, we must be the light of Christ to our sisters and brothers in the here and now.

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