Challenge
25th Sunday in Ordinary Time
Readings: Wisdom 2:17-20; James 3:16-4:3; Mark 9:30-37
Originally delivered on September 18, 1988
In this week’s Gospel, we hear that to be first we must be last and be servant to all. We hear today of a massacre in Haiti for the priest, Fr. Aristide, confronted those in power over the obvious injustices. When we say that we walk with Jesus, what are we saying and what does that mean that we will do to stand up for our hurting sisters and brothers? We are reminded that even the disciples argued about who was the greatest among them, just like we can get caught up in our own issues of prestige. And yet, we are called today to put that aside and really follow Jesus in being the servant to everyone. If not by us, then by whom? If not now, when?
24th Sunday in Ordinary Time
Readings: Isaiah 50: 4-9; James 2: 14-18; Mark 8:27-35
Originally delivered on September 11, 1988
We are asked if we would have liked to be in Peter’s shoes to be the first person to say to Jesus, “You are the Messiah.” But then a few minutes later when Peter when Peter said what being a Messiah meant, he was called Satan. We must each be ready to answer the question about who we think Jesus is. Perhaps we might rephrase the question to be “Why have we gone to church today?” Is it because of Jesus? For comfort, community, or consolation? What about to be challenged and confronted?
21st Sunday in Ordinary Time
Readings: Joshua 24:1-2, 15-17, 18; Ephesians 5:21-32; John 6:60-69
Originally delivered on August 25, 1991
Fr. Healy starts this homily by explaining how his vocation to the priesthood began. While seduced by the smoke and incense, he explains that God, through Jesus, has seduced him inside so that He permeates Fr. Healy’s every thought and action. We, too, are called to live with Jesus in our hearts each and every day even if it is the way of the cross.
20th Sunday in Ordinary Time
Readings: Proverbs: 9:1-6; Ephesians 5:15-20; John 6:51-58
Originally delivered on August 14, 1994
In this week’s Gospel, Jesus again tells us that He is the Bread of Life. In the first reading, Fr. Healy points out that God is referred to as feminine. Our thinking, therefore, is challenged by Jesus, in both the first and Gospel readings, to let Him be our food and drink so that we might respond in His Spirit to our current realities.
15th Sunday in Ordinary Time
Readings: Amos 7: 12-15; Ephesians 1:3-14; Mark 6:7-13
Originally delivered on July 14, 1991
We are reminded today that it’s easy to miss the full meaning of repentance beyond being sorry. It means expressing one’s sorrow, regret, and shame for having done something wrong, and also turning oneself around. In today’s Gospel, we hear several important considerations from Jesus to his disciples. Those are that He sent them out in pairs, told them to go without many things, and to trust in Him to provide through those they would meet. In the first reading, we also hear about the challenges faced by the prophet Amos. He was an ordinary person, a shepherd, just as we are ordinary people called to a prophetic ministry of challenge and confrontation to those that victimize others. Like Amos and Jesus, as we heard in last week’s reading, as prophets, we will be challenged and rebuked. Nevertheless, we are called to challenge the comfortable notions of those that make the arrangements that leave some of our sisters and brothers marginalized. When confronted and asked who sent us, like Amos, we can be confident that God called us to be prophets.
5th sunday of Easter
Readings: Acts 9:26-31; John 3:18-24; John 15:1-8
Originally delivered on May 1, 1988
In the first reading, we hear about Paul’s conversion. We are invited to examine if we are being too nice, rather than making some uneasy. We have been baptized and anointed in Confirmation, but are we passionate for Jesus? In the Gospel, we hear that if we live as His branch on the His vines, that we will be animated by the Spirit of Jesus and our prayers will be answered.
Passion Sunday
Originally delivered on March 27, 1988
Reading: Mark 11:1-10
In today’s Gospel, we hear that first the crowds welcomed Jesus, throwing palms in front of him, only to later call for His crucifixion. We are challenged to reflect on how we welcome Jesus in our lives. How close do we let our Lord? Do we let our love for and faith in Jesus influence our daily lives? Father Healy reflects on his and the parish’s own decisions regarding the homelessness. We are each invited, even challenged, to explore if we really welcome Jesus in our lives.
- ← Previous
- 1
- 2
- 3
- Next →
