HOMILY THURSDAY of the EASTER OCTAVE The Universal Restoration (Acts 3:11-26; Ps 8; Lk 24:35-48) ************************************************* On this fourth day of the Octave of Easter, the readings continue to merge together Pentecost and Easter – the giving of the Spirit and its aftermath, and the resurrection of Jesus and the aftermath of that momentous event. […]
Category: Homilies
Easter-St Peter-Faith-Healing-Eucharist
HOMILY WEDNESDAY OF EASTER OCTAVE Faith, Hope and Healing (Acts 3:1-10; Ps 105; Lk 24: 13 -35) ************************************** “In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, stand up and walk!” Those dramatic words, spoken by St. Peter shortly after Pentecost, along with today’s gospel, assure us that faith in the name of Jesus brings about […]
Easter Octave-Faith-Love-Grieving
HOMILY TUESDAY OF THE EASTER OCTAVE Living Pentecost and Easter Faith (Acts 2:36-41; Ps 32; Jn 20:11-18) *********************************************** A motivational speaker, eager to share the message he brought with his audience, began his talk with the question, “Where to begin? Where to begin?” A participant suggested loudly from the back of the room, “Begin as […]
Easter Octave-Faith-Reconciliation-Acceptance
MONDAY EASTER OCTAVE Faith, Reconciliation and Acceptance (Acts 2:14-33; Ps 16; Mt 28:8-15) ************************************ When it comes to the readings, Easter Monday is an interesting mix of Pentecost and Easter – of the effects of the Holy Spirit, and the resurrection of Jesus from the dead. Perhaps that is the influence of St. John, whose […]
Easter Sunday-Resurrection-Forgiveness-Healing
HOMILY EASTER SUNDAY – C Experience Easter through Forgiveness and Healing (Acts 10:34, 36-43; Col 3:1-4; Jn 20:1-18) ********************************************** Four dominant symbols draw our attention over the Easter season: The Cross, the Empty Tomb, the Garden and the Upper Room. These symbols are metaphors that help us experience the new life of Easter through forgiveness […]
Easter-Resurrection-André Bessette
EASTER VIGIL – YEAR C Easter is Not a Spectator Sport (Romans 6:3-11; Psalm 118; Luke 24:1-12) ******************************************* Truly, tonight we have feasted on God’s Holy Word. Each year during the Easter vigil we are invited to listen attentively to the same seven readings from the Old Testament. These readings never change, nor does the […]
Good Friday-the Cross-New Life
GOOD FRIDAY HOMILY Choose Jesus’ New Way of Life (Isaiah 52:13-53:12; Ps 31; Heb 4:14-16; 5:7-9; Jn 18:1-19:42) ********************************************************** In the movie The Passion of Christ, Jesus, beaten, bloodied and half dead, meets his mother and tells her simply, “Behold, I am making all things new.” This is the shocking reality of faith – it […]
Holy Thursday-Priesthood-Eucharist-Service
HOLY THURSDAY HOMILY Freedom to Serve (Ex 12:1-8, 11-14; 1 Cor 11:23-26; Jn 13:1-15) ******************************************* This celebration tonight begins the three great liturgical days of the year – what we call the Easter Triduum. This feast tonight, Holy Thursday, and indeed every Eucharist, has one message – love one another as Jesus has loved us. […]
Holy Week-Redemptive suffering and brokenness
HOMILY TUESDAY of HOLY WEEK Redemptive Suffering and Brokenness (Is 49:1-6; Ps 71; Jn 13:21-33. 36-38) ****************************************** As a young seminarian, my spiritual director was Fr. Adam Exner, who eventually became an archbishop. After hearing my story (the first one to ever do so), Exner observed that I needed to work on my relationship with […]
Palm Sunday C-Compassion-Forgiveness
HOMILY PALM SUNDAY YEAR C Palm Sunday – Feast of Compassion and Forgiveness (Isaiah 50:4-7; Psalm 22; Phil 2:6-11; Lk 22:14-23:56) ************************************************** Did you notice the transition in the passion story today – from Jesus the Celebrity, to Jesus the Crucified? Palm Sunday is an invitation to see the Cross as a blessing, as a […]
