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Bishop's Homily for the Second Sunday of Easter

April 12, 2026

(Shutterstock Gen AI / Shutterstock.com)

Homily of the Most Reverend Larry Silva, Bishop of Honolulu
[St. John the Baptist Church, Kalihi (Confirmation & First Communion), Cathedral Basilica of Our Lady of Peace Community at Kamiano Center (Confirmation & First Communion)]

I believe that one of the greatest threats to our faith is the past tense.

We know that it was 2,000 years ago that Jesus was crucified and rose from the dead, so he definitely was part of past history. But since he rose from the dead, he is present with us here and now, and we must be careful we do not lock him away in the tomb of history.

We should never listen to the Gospel as if it only describes a past event, because it is the living Word of God, and it takes place today.

First, we see the apostles locked up in the upper room in fear for their lives – and for good reason! As the authorities had crucified their Master, they knew they could be next on the hit list. Yet Jesus enters nevertheless. We often are locked up in our sins and hopelessness, and the Lord often breaks in upon us to strengthen us with his presence.

There was another reason the apostles might have been afraid. All except one of them had abandoned him at his greatest hour of need. One had even denied that he knew him – three times! They might have expected to be roundly scolded by Jesus, but what does he say? “Peace be with you!” Then he said it again! This is partly why this Sunday is called Divine Mercy Sunday. Just as Jesus was merciful toward those who had abandoned him, so he does today for us. This great mercy is not something from the past, but something he pours out upon us today.

Then Jesus breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit.” Isn’t that exactly what he is going to do today in the sacrament of Confirmation? This is not just the bishop coming to put a little oil on your heads. It is the risen Jesus present now, and breathing the same Holy Spirit upon you who are to be confirmed, so that you may be holy.

The apostles were astonished to see Jesus physically present before them, because they knew he had died, and whenever that is a past event, it normally stays in the past. But there is Jesus, physically present among them! Today he will be physically present to us as well. In a moment the bread and wine we place upon the altar and bless will become the real presence of Jesus, with us here and now today as truly as he was present to his disciples in the past. Now, we will not see him in the same way we see the others who are here with us. But did not Jesus say, “Blessed are those who have not seen and yet believe!” His presence is no past event, but he is here with us now! And not only is he present to us, but he allows us to take him into ourselves in the most intimate and holy communion we can imagine. You who are to receive your First Communion today will be closer to him that even those apostles in the upper room were. We do not touch his wounds, but rather he touches ours as he enters us with his merciful love to heal us today.

In the past, Jesus said to his disciples, “As the Father has sent me, so I send you.” And he says the same to us today. We are given the gift of the Holy Spirit and are so strengthened by his Real Presence, that like those disciples of the past, whose fear turned into boldness to share the Gospel, so we are sent today to take the gift of the Lord’s merciful love to all we meet today.

Yes, Jesus lived, taught, healed, was crucified and rose from the dead in the past, but he is still very much with us here and now. Just as he emboldened the fearful apostles to go out, fearless even of death, so he sends us out today to bring the good news of his peace to our hearts, our homes, and to all the world.