Poor

3rd Sunday of Advent

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Originally delivered on December 15, 1991

Readings: Zephaniah 3:14-18; Philippians 4:4-7; Luke 3:10-18

Fr. Healy begins this homily reflecting on Pope John XXIII. We are reminded that God is always with us, despite our Advent prayers and celebrations for Jesus to come to again with all His power and glory.  We are challenged to ask ourselves what keeps us from feeling God among us.  We are therefore invited again to be intimate with God by being in relationship with our sisters and brothers.

 

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30th Sunday in Ordinary Time

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Readings: Jeremiah 31:7-9; Hebrews 5:1-6; Mark 10:46-52 

Originally delivered on October 27, 1991

In the first reading, we hear an expression of hope among the Jews for the coming of the Messiah.  In the gospel, we heat that the Messiah has come in Jesus. Through Him, we are asked to renounce money, comfort, possessions, things, power, prestige, place, etc. We are called to give up security, give to the poor, and follow Jesus.  We should long to be a servant and friend to the poor and marginalized. Indeed, we must see and act as every other person is our sister or brother. Do we really want to see as Jesus sees?

 

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Christ the King

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Originally delivered on November 22, 1987

Readings: Ezekial 34:11-12, 15-17; Corinthians 15:20-26, 28; Matthew 25: 31-46

In today’s Gospel, Fr. Healy says that Jesus tells us the bottom line.  That is, we will be judged by how we treated the “least” among us. Do we put things before the needs of our sisters and brothers?  Indeed, we are called to do more for the marginalized, poor, and ostracized. We are all supposed to stand as equals in front of our God.

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3rd Sunday of Advent

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Originally delivered on December 13, 1992

Readings: Isaiah 2:1-5; Romans 13:11-14; Matthew 24:37-44

In this week’s homily, Fr. Healy argues that Bible is a revolutionary message on behalf of the poor. In the first ready, Isaiah is picturing the glory of our Lord.  We are asked to consider the plight of the poor, such as a Somali woman, hearing those words. Would we feel abandoned or swindled by our sisters and brothers? Perhaps for this reason it was dangerous to have slaves or the poor learn to read for fear of them reading the Bible.  It is meant to be an energizer to the the poor and oppressed to stand up to claim their rightful place as God’s children. Indeed, this could be an historic moment for each of us, to decide to give the message to the poor and then to work to make that message come true for our marginalized sisters and brothers.

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25th Sunday in Ordinary Time

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Originally delivered on September 20, 1992

Readings: Amos 8:4-7; Paul to Timothy 2:1-8; Luke 16: 1-13 or 16:10-13

In today’s homily, we hear about the danger of money and worldly possessions.  In the second reading, we hear that we should pray for those with power and authority over others, so that all may live in tranquility and dignity.  Delivered in the midst of the 1992 US election, Fr. Healy preaches that the call of the prophets and Jesus, in today’s readings, is to ensure that all people be included in the wealth and riches of the earth.  Our challenge is to make this mean something in practical terms for our own lives, as children of the Light.  Fr. Healy talks passionately about the need for caring for our brothers and sisters in Haiti. We are asked to review what we do everyday, within our parish, community, country, hemisphere, and world for we are all brothers and sisters.

 

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2nd Sunday of Advent

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Originally delivered on December 4, 1988
Readings: Baruch 5:1-9; Philippians 1:4-6,8-11; Luke 3:1-6

In anticipation of the coming of Jesus, a herald’s voice cries “Make ready the way of the Lord.” While recognizing that we live within an increasingly global village, we must start preparing the way by transforming our own neighborhoods. But we mustn’t stop there.  To “topple the mountains and fill in every valley,” we must look at the economic and political arrangements in our world that keep some poor and others wealthy, even if it makes us uncomfortable.

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