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7th Sunday of Ordinary Time
Originally delivered on February 18, 1990
Readings: Leviticus 19:1-2, 17-18; Corinthians 3:16-23; Matthew 5:38-48
In the Sermon on the Mount, we are told that we must love our enemies and pray for our persecutors because we are to love just as our Heavenly Father loves us. Although we may not be able to match God’s love in the same measure, we are nonetheless called to love in the same manner as Him. This week in 1990, when the homily was originally delivered, marked the release of a prophet in our time, Nelson Mandela, from prison after 27 years. His love and lack of animosity are a modern day reflection of the love that Jesus manifests for us and in today’s Gospel calls us to imitate.
5th Sunday of Ordinary Time
Originally delivered on February 7, 1993
Readings: Isaiah 58:7-10 (73A); 1 Corinthians 2:1-5; Matthew 5:13-16
In today’s Gospel, Jesus is challenging each of us to determine what our gifts and talents are, but more importantly, how we are using those gifts. If we are the salt of the earth, then how is the special salt in each of us, the light of Jesus, meant to flavor the greater community? From Isaiah, we hear that we must “share our bread with the hungry, shelter the oppressed and the homeless; clothe the naked when you see them, and do not turn your back on your own.” That is, we are called by Jesus, to let our light shine, but for the poor, the oppressed, and the hungry. We might ask ourselves, in light of this day’s readings, how we are recognizing and changing the continual oppression of women, African-Americans, and gays and lesbians. Jesus is calling each of us to let our unique light shine for our sisters and brothers.
5th Sunday of Ordinary Time
Originally delivered on February 8, 1987
Readings: Isaiah 58:7-10 (73A); 1 Corinthians 2:1-5; Matthew 5:13-16
In this week’s homily, Fr. Healy reflects on his experiences as a missionary in Tanzania. He hopes for a day when every person would feel and believe that would believe that they “are the light of the world” and “the salt of the earth.” He invites us to think about to whom Jesus spoke those words. Just as He did then, He is indeed speaking to us, as the ordinary people. This means that we who have heard these words are meant to be a difference to a suffering world. We are reminded of the responsibilities of being called and the examples that we’ve seen in our parish and community of taking action.
2nd Sunday of Ordinary Time
Originally delivered on January 17, 1993
Readings: Isaiah 49:3, 5-6; 1 Corinthians 1:1-3; John 1:29-34
We are a frail people, and yet, we are asked to walk in the likes of John the Baptist and the other prophets, and be a light to all. We are reminded that there are prophets in our time as we celebrate the life of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Despite all of our faults, just as the prophets before us, we can speak the truth of Jesus. Each of us must take action, in whatever we can, and not leave it up to others to change the order of things that keep many of sisters and brothers suffering. God has placed the incomprehensible burden of freedom in our hands. To embrace Jesus means that each of us must embrace everyone as a child of God.
1st Sunday of Advent
Originally delivered on November 29, 1992
Readings: Isaiah 2:1-5; Romans 13:11-14; Matthew 24:37-44
In the week’s Gospel, Fr. Healy urges us to see the message that we are challenged, as God’s people, to get a “mountain view”. That is, to see things as God does. On this first Sunday of Advent, we are asked to look at ourselves, our lives, and this world from a whole new perspective. With Jesus as our anchor, we can, in fact, get a new perspective and to find the courage to hope and to change things. We only have a finite amount of time in our lives to make these changes. We don’t know what the hereafter might be so we must seize the opportunity now to see the world as God sees the world. It may cost us something, but it’s what God’s calling for us to do, and what Jesus is calling us to do through this day’s readings. We are called to consecrate the earth, share with others, and loving each others as brothers and sisters. That’s the view from the mountain that we are challenged to see, accept, and act upon.
28th Sunday in Ordinary Time
Originally delivered on October 12, 1986
Readings: Kings 5:14-17; Paul to Timothy 2:8-13; Luke 17:11-19
There is no doubt about it — God can cure all human suffering, but His use of power is limited to opportunities to encourage our faith. The Scripture tells us that for the foreigners, God was willing to heal them, in order to help us to increase our faith and believe more in the Lord. We are called to grow in faith each day. We are reminded that in 1986, the similarities between lepresy and AIDS were so evident. Then, and now, we are called to be loving to all people just as Jesus loved the ten lepers in today’s Gospel. Our God is not merciful, but rather God is Mercy. In His image, we are called to bring love and compassion to all those suffering with human afflictions.
24th Sunday in Ordinary Time
Today we hear the homily on the Prodigal Son. In the first reading, we hear of a vindictive God, ready to send fire down to the sinners. But in the Gospel, we hear from Jesus that God is indeed love and mercy. How many times must we hear this parable to let it sink in? How differently might we see ourselves if we trusted Jesus? If we were set free of our self-doubt and fear, how different we would be to our brothers and sisters. Delivered on the eve of the 1992 election, Fr. Healy speaks of the importance of the parable for that time where some were raised up by putting others down. In light of this parable in the Gospel of Jesus Christ, how do we rationalize our actions that hurt others?
Weekly Homilies 