Homily - 5B Easter homily (28 April 2024) The parable of the vine and branches

 

5B EASTER HOMILY, JOHN 15:1-8, APRIL 28, 2024 

1. STORY

John had a lovely garden and every time the parish priest would pass by, he would call out to John, “You have a beautiful garden.  The Lord and you are partners.” “Thank you, Father,” John would respond with a bow.  This went on for many weeks with the priest calling out, “The Lord and you are partners!”  John became annoyed at what the priest meant as a compliment.  One day when the priest said, “The Lord and you are partners,” John replied with “What has God to do with the garden; I do all the work.”  John forgot that God provided the gifts of the earth, the water, the sun, and the seeds.

 

2. GOSPEL, JOHN 15:1-8

A) JESUS IS THE VINE.

Jesus is the source of our strength.  “Whoever remains in me and I in him will bear much fruit, because without me you can do nothing.” 

B. WE ARE THE BRANCHES.

Jesus wishes us to bear fruit.  “By this is my Father glorified, that you bear much fruit and become my disciples.”

 

3. APPLICATION TO LIFE

A. JESUS IS THE SOURCE OF OUR STRENGTH.

Just as the vine provides strength to the branches so, too, does Jesus provide strength to us in the following ways.

i) When we pray, Jesus gives us strength.  No matter how busy you are as you begin your day, ask for help for you and your family.  At the end of the day, thank Jesus for his blessings throughout the day. 

ii) Jesus gives us his strength during the Mass.

We hear the teachings of Jesus and receive the Eucharist, the spiritual food that we need to stay spiritually strong.  Try to come to Mass a little early and try to take away a special thought from the reading and homily.

 

B. WE MUST BEAR FRUIT.

Jesus wants us to bear fruit which is to follow his example.

Here are two suggestions. 

i) Set a good example for others by the way you speak and the way you act towards others.  We know that actions speak louder than words.

ii) Share the good news about Jesus with others.  We can tell them that Jesus has the power to bring us joy, peace, and happiness.  Jesus will help us to live a happier life.

 

4. CONCLUSION

John had a beautiful garden not only through his own efforts but also because of God’s gifts.  Jesus teaches us he is the vine and we are the branches.  We must bear fruit and this is possibly only through his help.  We must stay close to Jesus by our prayers and attending Mass.  We bear fruit by our good example and by sharing the news about Jesus with others.  The Lord and we are partners.

Homily - 4B Easter homily (21 April 2024) Jesus is the good shepherd

 

4B EASTER HOMILY, JOHN 10:11-18, APRIL 21, 2024 

1. STORY

Two shepherds, John and James, were tending their sheep.  John returned with all his sheep while James came back having lost his sheep.  The master asked them why one returned with all his sheep and the other lost his sheep.  James replied that he was playing checkers with a friend and thought the sheep was nearby.  He suddenly looked around and found they were all gone.  The master said John was a good shepherd but James was not.

 

2. GOSPEL, JOHN 10:11-18

A. JESUS IS THE GOOD SHEPHERD.

Jesus is the good shepherd as he knows his sheep and they know him.   He is the good shepherd because he will lay down his life for his sheep. 

B. JESUS LOOKS FOR THOSE WHO DO NOT BELONG TO HIS FOLD. Jesus is also concerned “with other sheep that do not belong to this fold.”  His goal is that there be one flock and one shepherd.

 

3. APPLICATION TO LIFE

A. JESUS CARES FOR US.

Jesus cares for us in many ways. 

i) He provides us with his Church, the family of God, to instruct and guide us especially during Mass;

ii) He provides us with the Eucharist, the spiritual food to keep us spiritually strong;

iii) He provides us with the sacrament of confession to forgive our sins;

iv) He provides us with joy, peace, happiness; and at the end of our journey, he provides us with eternal life. 

B. WE HELP JESUS.

Jesus is concerned with those who do not belong to his flock, and we help Jesus by also being concerned.  We do this 

i) by our example of living a good life;

ii) by telling others about the blessings Jesus can bring to them;

iii) by encouraging those baptized who have left Christ to return to him.

 

4. CONCLUSION

John and James were shepherds.  John was a good shepherd but James was not.  Jesus is the good shepherd who knows his sheep and is willing to die for them.  Jesus cares for us in many ways.  He has established the Church, Mass, the Eucharist, and confession as ways to help us.  We, in turn, help Jesus by contacting and encouraging and

sharing the good news with non-Catholics.  We thank Jesus for his love and care for us as our good shepherd.  We ask Jesus to help us follow his good example by being good shepherds to others.

Homily - 3B Easter homily (14 April 2024) Jesus strengthens our faith

 

3B EASTER HOMILY, LUKE 24:35-48, APRIL 14, 2024 

1. STORY

During World War II, John, a non-believer, was in an Air Force plane with seven others when the plane was shot down in the Pacific Ocean.  All survived the crash and for 21 days they floated in a small rubber raft with no food or water.  Their only source of strength was a daily prayer service.  On the sixth day, a school of fish passed by and two leaped into the raft providing for the first in one week.  The next day they prayed for rain and were deluged by a rain storm.  From then on, John became a believer.  On the 21st day, they reached land and knelt down to give thanks to God.

 

2. GOSPEL, LUKE 24:35-48

A. JESUS APPEARS TO THE DOUBTING DISCIPLES.

Jesus helped the doubting disciples by his actions.

i) He appeared to them.

ii) He spoke to them saying “Peace be with you.”

iii) He showed them his hands and feet.

iv) He ate with them.  Jesus helped strengthen their faith by his actions. 

B. JESUS TEACHES THE DISCIPLES.

Jesus helped the disciples by his words: "Then he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures.”  He told them that “the Christ would suffer and rise from the dead.”  Jesus strengthened their faith by his words.

 

3. APPLICATION TO LIFE

A. WE HELP DOUBTING CATHOLICS BY OUR ACTIONS.

Today there are many Catholics whose faith is very weak.  Their faith may not be strong for several reasons.

i) They may have had very little or no instruction after their baptism.

ii) They may have witnessed the bad example of other Catholics.

iii) They may have many difficulties in their lives.

iv) They think God does not answer their prayers.  However, we can help them

i) by being aware that some are in need of spiritual support,

ii) by being kind to them,

iii) by being willing to listen to them,

iv) and by praying for them. 

B. WE HELP DOUBTING CATHOLICS BY OUR WORDS.  We can help the spiritual weak by:

i) sharing the joy and happiness you receive from believing in Jesus; 

ii) explaining that Jesus is able to give them the light to know what is right and what is wrong;

iii) explaining that Jesus can give them the strength to do what is right; 

iv) explaining that Jesus can give them joy, peace, and happiness here on earth and eternal life in the next world.  We help the spiritually weak by our words.

 

4. CONCLUSION

John, the non-believer, came to believing in God by what he experienced in his hour of need.  While in the ocean clinging to his life, he knew that the food and water he received came from God.  Jesus helped the doubting disciples by his actions and words.  We are able to help the spiritually weak and the doubting disciples by our actions and words.  We thank Jesus for helping us to stay spiritually strong.  We ask Jesus to help us follow his example of strengthening spiritually weak Catholics.

Homily - 2B Easter homily (07 April 2024) Jesus the peacemaker

 

2B EASTER HOMILY, JOHN 20:19-31 APRIL 7, 2024

1. STORY
On April 15, 1912, the passenger ship, Titanic, sank killing over 1,000 passengers.  During the last hour before the ship sank, a priest, Fr. Thomas Byles, gathered a group of over 100 passengers and lead them in prayers and songs to prepare them for their death.  He forgave them their sins.  He told them that Jesus loved them and had prepared a place for them in heaven.  He wanted them to have peace in their hearts.  He followed the example of Jesus who brought peace to the disciples and wants us to have peace in our lives.

2. GOSPEL, JOHN 20:19-31
A. JESUS BRINGS PEACE TO THE DISCIPLES.

The disciples were deeply saddened over the death of Jesus.  They were in great fear of the Jews who might punish them by putting them in prison or even worse.  Jesus went to them and greeted them by saying “Peace be with you.”  The disciples rejoiced when they saw him.

B. JESUS BRINGS PEACE TO THOMAS.

Thomas did not believe the disciples when they said that Jesus was alive.  Christ appeared to him and could have been very angry and harsh with Thomas.  No, Jesus greeted him with “Peace be with you.”  Jesus brought peace to doubting Thomas.

3. APPLICATION TO LIFE
A. JESUS BRINGS US PEACE.

Many are troubled over their problems such as ill health, financial matters, conflicts at home or at work, failures they have encountered, loneliness, or a lack of love.  Jesus brings us peace. 

i) He is with us at all times no matter if we are happy or sad, sick or well, rich or poor. 

ii) He always forgives us our sins and failings no matter how big or small. 

iii) He provides us with spiritual food, the Eucharist, to keep us spiritually strong.

iv) He provides us with guidance through the Church and the bible. 

v) He provides us with his example.  Though he suffered very much during his life on earth, in the end he was victorious; he rose from the dead so will we rise to eternal life. 

B. WE BRING PEACE TO OTHERS.

We ask Jesus to help us become instruments of peace.
i) When we are willing to forgive others or ask for forgiveness, we bring peace to others.
ii) When we are kind to others in word and deed, we bring peace to others. 

iii) When we listen to others who are sad, unhappy or lonely, we bring peace to them. 

iv) When we help those who are poor, hungry, or homeless, we bring peace to them.  When we are peacemakers, Jesus brings us his peace.

4. CONCLUSION

Fr. Thomas Byles brought peace to those who were about to die by praying and singing with them.  Jesus brought peace to the frightened disciples and to the doubting Thomas by greeting them with “Peace be with you.”  We too are instruments of peace by our kindness, forgiveness, listening, and material support.  We thank Jesus for bringing us peace by our kindness, forgiveness, listening, and material support.  We thank Jesus for bringing us his peace.  We ask him to help us to be instruments of peace.  When we bring peace to others, Jesus will bring his peace to us.