Healy Family Story
Epiphany
Originally delivered on January 6, 1991
Readings: Isaiah 60: 1-6; Ephesians 3:2-3, 5-6; Matthew 2:1-12
Today we are invited to reflect on how Mary felt about the shepherds and magi visiting just after giving birth to Jesus. And yet, we are reminded that though we may be strangers with some, we are all family which requires us to examine our definition or understanding of family. Perhaps it wasn’t easy for Mary to welcome the strangers, she set an example and welcomed them. We are called, as members of the great family of God, to share the good news that God is Love and Mercy and we are all God’s children.
Holy Family
Originally delivered on December 29, 1990
Readings: Sirach 3:2-6, 12-14; Colossians 3:12-21; Luke 2:22-40 or 2:22, 39-40
Through old family stories, we are invited to see justice and family in a new light. Who do we consider family? Do we extend the same actions to others that we would for our “family” members? Aren’t we aren’t all sisters and brothers as children of the same God? We are reminded of the powerful words of Paul from the second reading today: “Because you are God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, clothe yourselves with heartfelt mercy, with kindness, humility, meekness, and patience. Bear with one another; forgive whatever grievances you have against one another. Forgive as the Lord has forgiven you. Over all these virtues put on love, which binds the rest together and makes them perfect. Christ’s peace must reign in your hearts, since as members of the one body you have been called to that peace.”
4th Sunday of Advent
Originally delivered on December 23, 1990
Readings: Samuel 7:1-5, 8-11, 16; Romans 16: 25-27; Luke 1:26-38
On this fourth Sunday of Advent, Fr. Healy starts by reminiscing about his own mother as well as Mary the Mother of God. Indeed, we are reminded how courageous and powerful Mary really is in God’s plan, despite how we have fashioned her as a calm, quiet woman. We are challenged to allow Mary to be the one to challenge us to really invite Jesus into our lives.
3rd Sunday of Advent
Originally delivered on December 16, 1990
Readings: Isaiah 61:1-2, 10-12; Thessalonians 5:16-24; John 1:6-8, 19-28
Today we are challenged with the question: “Who are you?” We are called today to answer, like John, by saying “I am nobody; just a Christian trying to prepare the way for the Lord.” Indeed, Isaiah, John the Baptist, and Paul all paid the greatest price for their beliefs. The Church asks us to rejoice, even in the midst of injustices, because of the kind of God we have. In Jesus, God is forever calling us to let go of our fear and selfishness and to embrace our sisters and brothers in all their pain and sorrow. We are anointed to give our whole being to the poor and oppressed.
24th Sunday in Ordinary Time
Originally delivered on September 12, 1993
Readings: Sirach 27: 30-28:7; Romans 14: 7-9; Matthew 18: 21-35
In this week’s homily, we hear of the atrocity of a supporter of Haitian President Aristide being dragged out of a Mass being said by Fr. Antoine Adrien and murdered. We are also reminded of the history taking place in Yugoslavia. Despite these global injustices, and even with our personal pains and grievances, we are, as Christians, called to forgive, just as God forgives us. Indeed, the message is clear: God is forgiveness. What about you?
19th Sunday in Ordinary Time
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.”
18th Sunday in Ordinary Time
Originally delivered on August 2, 1992
Readings: Eccl 1:2; 2:21-23; Col 3:1-5, 9-11; Luke 12:13-21
In today’s liturgy, we’re given a standard from Jesus by which to live. While it’s easy to focus on sexual sins, Fr. Healy reminds us that greed, at the expense of our brothers and sisters, is perhaps overlooked as part the standard by which we should live. In the gospel itself, Jesus refuses to get involved as arbiter of a man’s dilemma. Rather, he puts it back on us to figure out when he says, “Avoid greed in all its forms. A man may be wealthy, but his possessions do not guarantee him life.” In other words, be dead to things and alive to God, passionate for His people without distinction among our brothers and sisters. We are called to include everyone in the family of God. Indeed, we must struggle within ourselves to determine if we are sharing our riches among our brothers and sisters.
12th Sunday in Ordinary Time
Originally delivered on June 25, 1989
Readings: Zechariah 12:10-11, Paul to the Galatians 3: 26-29; Luke 9: 18-24
Through a marvelous Healy family story we are reminded to recommit ourselves to Christ through service to our community. Indeed, we are reminded in this Sunday’s Gospel that we must take up the cross every day. This means denying ourselves, if necessary, in service to God’s people in need as one family. (Note: Unfortunately this homily was cut off so this is only the first part of it.)
11th Sunday of Ordinary Time
Originally delivered on June 17, 1989
Readings: Sm 12:7-10, 13, Gal 2:16, 19-21, Lk 7:36—8:3
We are sinners, but God is love. His love is the air we breathe. His forgiveness is the atmosphere in which we exist. That is what we learn from today’s scriptures. In the first reading, David, the king, is a sinner for having stolen another man’s wife. Additionally, he sent the woman’s husband, Uriah, off to battle so that the husband would be sure to be killed. And yet, we hear that the Lord forgave David after he admits his sin. From the Gospel, we hear that God forgives regardless of the greatness of the sin itself. It is through our very weakness that God’s mercy becomes even more obvious. Our task is, as sinners, is to welcome others with forgiveness and then to be agents of compassion and forgiveness of others, rather than their judges. As Paul reminds us, Jesus shows us that our faith in the power of His forgiveness will save us.
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