Social Justice

4th Sunday of Lent

Posted on Updated on

Originally delivered on March 21, 1993

Readings: Samuel 16:1, 6-7, 19-13; Ephesians 5:8-14; John 9:1-41

In this day’s Gospel, we hear that Jesus singles out a blind man to be the most favored by God’s love and power.  Indeed, Jesus wants us to have a new vision and to see things very differently.  We are called to see that we are part of a large family of God. Fr. Healy challenges us to re-examine the US role in central America and the role men in keeping women marginalized.

This entry was posted in Cycle A and tagged , , , , .

2nd Sunday of Lent

Posted on Updated on

Originally delivered on March 7, 1993

Readings: Genesis 12:1-4; Timothy 1:8-10; Matthew 17:1-9

In today’s Gospel, we, like the apostles, get a glimpse of the glory of God.  We hear today that our God will bring us from our deepest depths to our highest heights.  Perhaps, during this season of Lent, we need to encouragement to keep going by hearing and seeing the glory of God.  It’s a respite that reignites our passion to work for God’s vision here on earth by reaching out and loving our sisters and brothers, without exception.

This entry was posted in Cycle A and tagged , .

2nd Sunday of Advent

Posted on Updated on

Originally delivered on December 6, 1992

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

In today’s homily, we are invited to take a mountain view.  We are challenged to go from the comfortable to someplace new from which to gain a new perspective. We hear in the the first reading of Isaiah’s vision of what might be although it seems as if his vision can never happen.  We are reminded that this vision can only be possible after we hear, respond, and commit ourselves to justice among our sisters and brothers. Are we waiting for God or others to do justice before we commit and act for justice?  What if people, because of us, stop dreaming?  Today, we’re invited to go to the mountaintop, get a new perspective, and then bring about a little less injustice in our world through our actions.

This entry was posted in Cycle A and tagged , , .

25th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Posted on

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.

 

This entry was posted in Cycle C and tagged , , , .

22nd Sunday in Ordinary Time

Posted on Updated on

Originally delivered on August 30,1992

Readings: Sir 3:17-18, 20, 28-29; Heb 12:18-19, 22-24a; Luke 14:1, 7-14

We are reminded that if we want to be great, we should celebrate with and praise the least attended to among us.  If we want to strive for humility, then we should celebrate the reflection of God within ourselves and our sisters and brothers, despite our unworthiness.  It is the mystery of God’s love that makes each of us special and unique.  The challenge for each of us is to give thanks to God for our gifts  By giving constant thanks to God, we achieve humility. But we cannot stop there.  We must also reach out to all of God’s people and use the gifts given to us by God to enrich their lives.  In turn, our own lives will be enlightened by the beauty of Jesus in the face of those “outsiders” that we embrace. 

This entry was posted in Cycle C and tagged , , , , .

Corpus Christi

Posted on Updated on

Originally delivered on June 20, 1992

Readings: Genesis 14:18-20; Paul to the Corinthians 11:23-26; Luke 9:11-17

In this Corpus Christi Sunday, we hear of the feeding of five thousand with a few fish and some loaves of bread, but we are reminded that while the disciples told Jesus to send the people away because the food wasn’t in sufficient quantity. However, it was Jesus who believed and shared what they had.  Through God, faith, and vision, Jesus feeds everyone.  In our world, when do we hear or think that there’s not enough if we share?  Do we have the faith and courage to reorder our priorities? We must, in fact, be willing to be the Body of Christ, to be the Eucharist.  That is, we must be willing to be broken to be a Christlike people.

This entry was posted in Cycle C and tagged .

Trinity

Posted on Updated on

Originally delivered on June 13, 1992

Readings: Proverbs 8:22-31; Paul to the Romans 5:1-5; John 16:12-15

Fr. Healy begins this Trinity homily reminiscing about what it means to be as a family and as a faith community. We are reminded that on this day of the need to pause and to reflect on God.  God’s life, though incomprehensible, gives us motive and strength to carry on.  Indeed, He will be with us always. The challenge, then, is to test everything in our lives against the pattern of our God.  The same challenge exists for us, as a whole human family, in our laws and policies so that they are in harmony with God’s plan for the us and the world.

This entry was posted in Cycle C and tagged , .

Christ the King

Posted on

Originally delivered on November 21, 1993

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

In this week’s Gospel, we hear the challenge to all people, but especially Christians, that we are called to care for our sisters and brothers. We are reminded that there is but one law — to love.  To love with all that we have without exception.  Although it’s simply stated, it’s very difficult for us to live, but that is both our calling and our challenge.  But Fr. Healy goes on to encourage us to look deeper into why some of our sisters and brothers are hungry, hurting, or marginalized.

This entry was posted in Cycle A and tagged , , , .

29th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Posted on

Originally delivered on October, 18. 1987

Readings: Isaiah 45:1, 4-6; Thessalonians 1:1-5; Matthew 22:15-21

In this week’s Gospel, we hear Jesus’ instructions to “give to Caesar what is Caesar’s, but give to God what is God’s.” We are reminded that our government is a gift from our God to construct an order of things to more effectively achieve our ultimate goal of establishing the Kingdom of Heaven here on earth.  That means that we must care and love for one another. Government is a means, therefore, to that end, but the governors sometimes believe that it was God’s gift to them individually, rather than God’s gift to all His people. We are reminded that we have a responsibility to God to be responsible citizens and participate in the political system in order to care for our brothers and sisters in the spirit laid out in the Gospel.

This entry was posted in Cycle A and tagged .

27th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Posted on

Originally delivered on October 7, 1990

Readings: Isaiah 5:1-7; Philippians 4:6-9; Matthew 21:33-43

In this week’s Gospel, we hear another parable about a vineyard.  Today we hear about tenant farmers who brought forth beautiful grapes, but they thought it was their own doing and forgot about their responsibility to the vineyard owner.  We are challenged to think of how we act toward others and if we see God, as the vineyard owner, as the reason for our abundant harvest.

This entry was posted in Cycle A and tagged .