Poor
30th Sunday in Ordinary Time
Originally delivered on October 30, 1989
Readings: Sirach 35:12-14, 16-18; Paul to Timothy 4:6-8, 16-18; and Luke 18:9-14
Fr. Healy begins this homily by discussing the death of his beloved sister, Sally. Through the experience of Sally’s death, the Healy family gatthered to share favorite family stories, including who among the many Healy children, was the favorite. In today’s gospel we are reminded that the least among us are loved most by God. Furthermore, Fr. Healy reminds us that we are to be the one that shows the marginalized that God loves them. We must be God’s presence in this world to our brothers and sisters. Indeed, God demands this of us in our acts and deeds and we must lay aside our comparisons with others.
4th Sunday of Lent
Originally delivered on March 25, 1990
Readings: Samuel 16:1, 6-7, 19-13; Ephesians 5:8-14; John 9:1-41
If only we could see as Jesus sees. In today’s Gospel, Jesus heals the blind man due to his faith. Though he used the example of physical healing, in this reading, we are shown that Jesus has already given us the gift of vision to see the world as God sees. In our own time, we have prophets, such as Archbishop Oscar Romero, who have had the vision, in the depths of their beings, to experience the plight of the poor.
4th Sunday of Ordinary Time
Originally delivered on January 31, 1993
Readings: Zephaniah 2:3; 3:12-13; 1 Corinthians 1:26-31; Matthew 5:1-12a
In this homily, we remember the passing of Justice Thurgood Marshall. The first African-American member of the Supreme Court, he challenged the status quo and represented the poor and marginalized. Perhaps he was considered a thorn in the side of the establishment, just as Jesus must have been considered by His contemporaries. In this week’s Gospel, we hear Jesus from the mountain, just as Moses gave the ten commandments from the mount, giving us the Beatitudes which were so very different in nature than the straightforward ten commandments. But who are the poor in Spirit? Poverty in Spirit surely means genuine dependence on and trust in the Lord. But being poor in Spirit also may mean those with material wealth who stand with the poor, the disadvantaged, and the marginalized. In doing so, we will be rich in God’s love.
5th Sunday of Lent
5th Sunday of Lent
Originally delivered on April 1, 1990
Readings: Ezekial 37: 12-14; Romans 8:8-11; John 11:1-45
In today’s readings, we are reminded that God can restore life. We are reminded that through Jesus, there are no human experiences from which God can’t restore us. He reflects on the life of Sr. Thea Bowman whose example shows us how to answer the call for new life. Furthermore, Fr. Healy reflects on the events in Sri Lanka and South Africa. He urges us to risk our own lives so that life may be more full, more real for our sisters and brothers in our communities and around the world. But first, we must believe.
