HOMILY EASTER WEEK 02 03 Living Jesus’ New Way of Life (Acts 5:17-26; Ps 34; John 3:16-21) **************************************** “Go, stand in the temple and tell the people the whole message about this life.” That command from an angel of the Lord to the imprisoned apostles, and the gospel today, invite us to revolutionize the world […]

HOMILY EASTER SEASON WEEK 02 02 Resurrection, Pentecost and Community Memorial: St Marie of the Incarnation (Acts 4:32-27; Ps 93; Jn 3:7-15) ************************************ When Richard Rohr became involved in the Charismatic Renewal in the early sixties he did so in a big way – founding the New Jerusalem Community. Looking back now, he admits there […]

HOMILY EASTER SEASON – WEEK 02 01 Living Our Baptismal Call in the Face of Opposition and Unbelief Memorial of St. Catherine of Sienna (Acts 4:23-31; Ps 2; Jn 3:1-8) ********************************************************** “No one can enter the kingdom of God without being born of water and Spirit.” These words of Jesus to Nicodemus, the secret, fearful […]

HOMILY EASTER (DIVINE MERCY) SUNDAY 02 C Experiencing Divine Mercy (Acts 5:12-16; Psalm 118; Rev 1:9-13, 17-19; John 20:19-31) *************************************************** “It was evening on the day Jesus rose from the dead, the first day of the week.” That sentence is often repeated by the gospel writers, almost like a mantra, driving home the point that […]

HOMILY OCTAVE of EASTER – SATURDAY The Good News of Easter (Acts 4:13-21; Ps 118; Mk 16:9-15) ********************************************* As we approach the end of the Octave of Easter and all its solemnities, the readings today provide an encapsulating chronology for us to ponder. In the Gospel, Mary Magdalene becomes the first witness to the resurrection […]

HOMILY EASTER OCTAVE – THURSDAY The Divine Dance (Acts 4:1-12; Ps 118; Jn 21:1-14) ************************************************ In many ways, Franciscan priest, spiritual writer and speaker, Richard Rohr, has been prophetic for years. He always has been on the cusp of where the Church was going – starting with the charismatic renewal in the 60’s; the great […]

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. […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]