Easter
Easter
Reading: Matthew 28:1-10
Originally delivered on March 31, 1991 (Scheduled to be posted on April 4, 2021)
As we sing our Easter alleluias, how can we acknowledge the despair that exists by many in our world? Perhaps our alleluia can be strength for those hurting.
2nd Sunday of Easter
Readings: Acts 2:42-47; Peter 1:3-9; John 20:1931
Originally delivered on April 26, 1987
In this week’s Gospel, the Risen Jesus appears to the disciples, but Thomas was not present and only believed when Jesus appeared to Thomas and showed him His wounds. Just like us, Thomas had his doubts. And yet, the words that Thomas proclaimed to Jesus were powerful, “My Lord and my God.” In the first reading from the Acts of the Apostles, we hear that the apostles provided for one another based on their individual needs. Indeed, we must be there for our brothers and sisters. When we search for the Risen Christ, do we find those in need or are we only aligning ourselves the oppressors? We are, in fact, called to be the sign of the Risen Christ in our deeds. Through all of these trials, like Thomas, we will have our doubts, but we must persist because Jesus will be with us.
Easter
Readings: Genesis: 1:1-2.2; Genesis 22:1-18; Matthew 28:1-10
Originally delivered on April 15, 1990
We are joyful today because the Easter people know that God’s strength and triumph is greater than any death. We will experience and taste death in countless ways, but we will persevere because of our God. We are encouraged to see our Easter blessings even in the depths of our despair.
Easter
Originally delivered on April 16, 1995
Readings: Acts 10:34, 37-43; Colossians 3:1-4; Corinthians 5:6-8; John 20:1-9
Fr. Healy begins this last homily at Our Lady Queen of Peace by retelling some favorite funny stories. He reminds us that we cannot let the meanness and sadness of the “bad guys” to overcome us. We must find hope in the Risen Christ. We are not alone in our pain and sorry, but Jesus’s pain on the cross, is so that we can bear our pain. We must not give up. We are called to be the Easter people and sing alleluia for ourselves and for our sisters and brothers. We cannot give in to those that would silence us. We must always stand up for the truth. We are also called to forgive those that have wronged us.
Easter
Originally delivered on April 18, 1992
Readings: Acts 10:34, 37-43; Colossians 3:1-4; Corinthians 5:6-8; John 20:1-9
Fr. Healy recounts a funny story of an Easter Vigil in Newport, RI. He reminds us that we need to enjoy, laugh, hope, and bring joy to the world. Indeed, despite what is happening in our own lives, we are called to bring light the light of Christ to our sisters and brothers. Fr. Healy says hallelujah for three things: apartheid being done in South Africa; women coming into greater equality; and meeting God through human experiences.
7th Sunday of Easter
Readings: Acts: 1:15-17, 20-26; John 4:11-16; John 17:11019
Originally delivered on May 12, 1991
We must be ever ready to discover beauty, truth, and goodness in new ways because God is forever revealing and proclaiming the wonder of God in the universe. We must be open to learning about God’s creation. We are called today to let go of our ways of thinking so that we might be open to seeing and understanding God’s revelations to us. John tells us in the Gospel that God is Love and that if we are loving, then we are of God, despite our sinfulness. Indeed, God is in us and we should exalt, rejoice, and celebrate because we ourselves are a reflection of God.
6th Sunday of Easter
Readings: Acts 10:25-26, 34-35, 44-48, John 4:7-10, John 15:9-17
Originally delivered on May 5, 1991
In the first reading, we hear of Peter’s struggles to understand God’s vision for inclusiveness and welcomes non-Jews into the new Church. Then, in the second reading, we are reminded that we don’t need to earn God’s love. God is love and god already loves us as we are. We are asked to try to love one another as God loves us. In the Gospel, Jesus says, “there is no greater love than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends” and “The command I give you is this: that you love one another.” What might we need to give up in order to more fully embrace God’s calling to love one another as He loves us?
5th Sunday of Easter
Originally delivered on May 1, 1994
Readings: Acts 9:26-31; John 3:18-24; John 15:1-8
Today, we are invited again into a relationship with God.
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.
5th Sunday of Easter
Originally delivered on April 28, 1991
Readings: Acts 9:26-31; John 3:18-24; John 15:1-8
Today we are challenged to get more serious in our following of Jesus. We have to be ready for God to change our circumstances and see the world in a whole new light. Like Paul, we might even switch sides. In the epistle, we are reminded that we are to love one another as Jesus loves. We are called to “love in deed and in truth and not merely talk about it.”
Weekly Homilies 