Homilies

Alleluya! Christ lives! We are in the Easter Season, beginning the second week, more precisely on Divine Mercy Sunday. This week we have witnessed the death of our beloved Pope Francis, the Vicar of Christ on earth. Our deep sadness is being consoled by our faith and hope in the resurrection. And we follow with our prayers the conclave that will soon begin for the election of the new pontiff, so that the Holy Spirit may enlighten the cardinals of the Church in such a noble task, and that the Mother of God and of the Church may accompany them with Her intercession. Today the evangelist John tells us about the first appearances of the resurrected Jesus to the disciples and the sending of the Holy Spirit. The appearances took place on the first day of the week, that is, Sunday. The disciples were afraid of the Jews. Despite the closed doors, the resurrected Jesus appeared among them, with the greeting of peace. The disciples rejoiced. Jesus sent them and breathed on them so that they woul...

Alleluia! Christ is risen! The tomb is empty! Hope has been fulfilled! Life has conquered death! Evil has been defeated! Today we begin the Easter Season. We will spend seven weeks experiencing the joy of meeting the risen Christ, until the solemnity of Pentecost, the coming of the Holy Spirit. The flowers, the Hymn of Praise and the Alleluia are back, as expressions of joy and celebration. Today the evangelist John tells us about the discovery of the empty tomb by Mary Magdalene, the beloved disciple and Simon Peter. Early on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene went to the tomb and saw that the stone had been removed. She ran and told Simon Peter and the beloved disciple what she had seen. They also ran and went to the tomb. The beloved disciple arrived first, but waited for Simon Peter to enter. When he saw the tomb empty, the beloved disciple believed. The evangelist concluded by saying that they had not yet understood the Scripture, according to which Jesus had to rise from t...

Today we conclude our triduum with the Easter Vigil, on this Holy Saturday, with the blessing of the new fire, the Paschal Candle and water, for the renewal of baptismal promises. It was a silent Saturday of sadness, due to the events of the Passion, but also of expectation, in the hope of the resurrection. We remember Jesus who descended into hell to free from the power of Satan the deceased ancestors who trusted in God's salvation. By meditating on the Scriptures and singing the psalms, our hearts gradually understand the nature of God as the Lord of Life who moves in love and justice. In the first reading, the author of Genesis tells us about creation. The universe, the elements of nature and plant and animal life exist by the power and love of God. And the human being is the image and likeness of the divine Creator, the caretaker of creation. In the second reading, the author of Genesis tells us about the unfinished sacrifice of Isaac by his father Abraham. The Lord of Life, re...

In this Easter Triduum, we arrive at Good Friday, a penitential day of fasting and abstinence. It is the only day of the year when there is no Mass, but only the adoration of the Holy Cross. The Mass that began on Holy Thursday continues until the Easter Vigil on Holy Saturday. It is now three in the afternoon, the hour when the crucified Jesus gave up His Spirit. Today the evangelist John tells us about the passion, death and burial of Jesus. Betrayed by Judas Iscariot with a kiss, after the Last Supper, Jesus was arrested and handed over to the Jewish and Roman authorities, was denied by Simon Peter, was exchanged for Barabbas by the crowd, was unjustly condemned to death by Pontius Pilate, was scourged and nailed to the cross by the soldiers, where He died. For John, who is identified as the beloved disciple in this Gospel, Jesus was aware of everything and had total control of the situation. No one took Jesus' life; it was He who freely gave it up for the salvation of the world...

In this Holy Week, today we arrive at the Easter Triduum, with Holy Thursday, celebrating the Institution of the Eucharist, at the Last Supper, and remembering the Washing of the Feet, love made humble service. A short while ago, the Institution of the Ministerial Priesthood was celebrated, with Priest's Day, and the consecration of the Holy Oils for the anointing of catechumens, for the anointing of those being confirmed and ordained ministers (deacons, priests and bishops), and for the anointing of the sick. Today the Evangelist John speaks to us about the Washing of the Feet during the Supper. Jesus - the Lord and Master - washed the feet of His disciples, giving them the example so that they would do the same thing that He did. The evangelist emphasizes that Jesus was demonstrating all His love for His people in the world. Simon Peter did not want Jesus to wash his feet, but he allowed it when Jesus told him that he would have no part with Jesus if he did not allow it.  In that...

Today is Palm Sunday. We begin Holy Week with Mother Church, following the passion, death and resurrection of Jesus, the result of which was our salvation. Today the evangelist Luke tells us, on the one hand, of Jesus' humble entry into Jerusalem, riding on a donkey, acclaimed by the crowd of disciples who, filled with joy, praised God and; on the other hand, of the condemnation, scourging, crucifixion, death and burial of Jesus authorized by the religious and political leaders of Jerusalem. There are two passages in the gospel because, at the beginning of Christianity, there were two distinct celebrations on Palm Sunday: a more festive one, at dawn, and a more funereal one, at dusk. Over time, the two celebrations were united, becoming as we know them today. By humbly entering Jerusalem, Jesus was fulfilling the prophecy of Zechariah (9:9) that the just king would come riding a donkey to save his people, unlike the oppressors who rode strong horses. We are also disciples of Jesus....

With Mother Church, we begin the fifth week of Lent. It is the final stretch of this liturgical season of penance and conversion, in view of the solemnity of Easter, the resurrection of Jesus. Next Sunday we will begin Holy Week! Today the evangelist John tells us about Jesus' forgiveness of the woman caught in the act of adultery. The teachers of the Law and the Pharisees were looking for a reason to accuse Jesus. Knowing that Moses in the Law ordered adulterous women to be stoned, they brought a woman in this situation to Jesus, persistently questioning Him about His opinion. Jesus' answer was surprising: "Let he who is without sin cast the first stone." Everyone left, and Jesus was left alone with the woman, in the midst of the people. And He told her that He did not condemn her, and that she could go without sinning again. The Wisdom of Jesus came from above, from the Holy Spirit. Without nullifying the Law of Moses - without generating unnecessary controversy wit...