Homilies

We are on the fourth Sunday of Easter, called Good Shepherd Sunday. Easter is this liturgical season characterized by the joyful encounter with the risen Jesus and the courageous witness of His victory over death. Today the evangelist John tells us the parable in which Jesus is the gate for the sheep, the One who came so that the sheep might have life and have it abundantly. There were many sheep and shepherds in Israel. They took the sheep out of the fold to graze in the grass and drink water, protecting them from wolves, and then brought them back safely to the fold. In the Old Testament, the image of the shepherd and the sheep was already associated with God's care for His people. The Lord was the Shepherd and Israel was His flock. In telling the parable, Jesus said that the sheep did not recognize the voice of strangers and that they fled from them. He said that there were thieves and robbers who had entered the sheepfold—without going through the gate—only to steal, kill, and ...

We begin the third week of Easter Season with Mother Church, recognizing the risen Christ among us and being witnesses of Him in the world. Today the evangelist Luke tells us about the appearance of the risen Christ to the disciples of Emmaus. In short: sad and disappointed because of the tragic crucifixion of Jesus under the orders of the Jewish and Roman authorities, two disciples (one of them named Cleopas) were returning to their hometown, Emmaus, on Easter Sunday. Then the risen Jesus, mistaken for a pilgrim, began to walk with them, explaining to them the Scriptures that spoke about Him, about the Christ, beginning with Moses and going through the Prophets, making their hearts burn within them. Accepting the invitation of those disciples to dinner, Jesus was recognized by them when He took the bread, blessed it, broke it, and distributed it to them (Eucharist). Then the resurrected Christ disappeared, and they returned to Jerusalem, meeting with the other disciples and apostles, ...

Alleluia! Christ is alive! We are in Easter Season, beginning the second week, more precisely on Divine Mercy Sunday. Today the evangelist John tells us about the first appearances of the risen Jesus to the disciples and the sending of the Holy Spirit. The appearances occurred on the first day of the week, that is, on Sunday. The disciples were afraid of the Jews. Despite the closed doors, the risen Jesus appeared among them, with the greeting of peace. The disciples rejoiced. Jesus sent them and breathed on them so that they might receive the Holy Spirit, giving them authority to forgive and retain sins. In the first appearance, the apostle Thomas was not among the disciples. Despite their testimony, he did not believe. In the second appearance, while among the disciples, Thomas saw the resurrected Jesus and touched His glorious Body with the marks of the nails in His hands and the spear in His side, declaring Jesus' lordship and divinity. But the Risen One declared blessed those ...

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...