FEATURED HOMILIES
SOURCE: Fr. Kevin’s Homilies
Each person is unique and should embrace their individuality, despite societal pressures to conform.
SOURCE: Archdiocese of Brisbane
Change is necessary for growth and improvement, and although it can be disruptive and scary, we are called to have faith and not be afraid, as the Lord can change us into the people He desires us to be.
SOURCE: Fr. Peter Hahn Archive of Homilies
Despite our struggles and weaknesses, God’s power is made perfect, and we must turn back to Him individually and as a nation to find the answers to our crises.
SOURCE: Word on Fire
Suffering and weakness can lead to a deeper spiritual connection with God and prevent pride.
SOURCE: Fr. Jude Thaddeus Langeh Basenbang
In our world today many people call themselves prophets. Though they lack the proper spiritual preparation for such a daunting ministry, they prowl around deceiving God’s people.
SOURCE: Ascension Presents
The point of life is not to be fully restored or healed, but to give off the light of Jesus and glorify God, even in weakness.
Homiletic Pastoral Review
Homiletic Pastoral
Review
Hearing God’s Voice in All Things
In the homily, Deacon Greydanus discusses atheism, the pursuit of truth, and the rejection of prophets. Key points include:
Prayer: Prayer is an encounter with God and oneself. A barrier to true prayer is preferring one’s own ideas about God and themselves over the truth.
Atheism: The Catechism considers atheism a sin against religion, but acknowledges that atheists can still seek what is right with a sincere heart. Saint Edith Stein suggests that seeking truth may lead atheists to God, even if they don’t realize it.
Prophets: People may not immediately recognize true prophets but may come to understand their role over time. Jesus, for example, was seen as too familiar to be special.
Deacon Peter McCulloch
Deacon Peter
McCulloch
When I am Weak, I am Strong
Different Perspectives on Strength: The excerpt contrasts the popular cultural view of strength based on power, money, and influence with St. Paul’s view of strength derived from humility, weakness, and dependence on Jesus.
Eileen O’Connor’s Story: Eileen O’Connor serves as an example of finding strength in weakness; despite her physical limitations and constant pain, she co-founded a congregation of nuns to care for the sick and poor. Both St. Paul and Eileen O’Connor demonstrated that embracing weakness and relying on God’s grace can lead to personal growth and positive impacts on others.
Misconceptions about Self-Reliance: The excerpt argues that feeling strong and self-reliant can limitng life’s experiences as gifts to deepen our relationship with Him.
Word This Week Podcast
“Just as Ezekiel was sent to a rebellious nation, we too are called to bring the message of Christ to those who have turned away from God”
Fr. Don
Fr. Andrew Ricci
Fr. Andrew Ricci
PODCAST: Both Ezekiel and Jesus faced opposition as they carried out their ministry. In light of their challenges we recall the hard work and effort that forged our country as we cherish our faith and freedom, recognizing that there are times when we are required to make sacrifices for our convictions.
Fr. Austin Fleming
Fr. Austin Fleming
Faith in the Modern World: Despite scientific advancements, ancient scriptures still hold relevance in the modern world, as they offer wisdom on how to live a meaningful life.
Compatibility of Faith and Science: Scientific discoveries help us understand the world we live in, while faith, particularly the teachings of Jesus, guide us in navigating that world.
Spiritual Wisdom: The wisdom of Jesus speaks to the human heart’s deepest longings and desires, addressing the spiritual aspects of our lives that science may not be able to explain.
Celebrating Faith and Discovery: The speaker rejoices in both scientific discoveries, which uncover the mysteries of our world, and in faith, which provides spiritual nourishment and transformation.
Archived homily from 2009
Dominican Blackfriars
Dominican Blackfriars
Personal Encounters with Holiness: The speaker shares their personal experiences of encountering individuals with an aura of holiness, such as Pope John Paul II, Mother Teresa, and Brother Roger of Taizé.
Elizabeth’s Recognition of Holiness: In contrast to the people of Nazareth, Elizabeth recognizes the holiness of Mary and the incarnation, as she is humbled by the presence of God and aware of the grace she has received.
Perceiving Grace and Wonder: The homily emphasizes the importance of considering one’s own relationship with God and perceiving the grace and wonder of His presence in our lives.
Reconciling with God and Self: Quoting Pascal, the speaker highlights the Christian religion’s ability to reconcile man with himself by reconciling him with God.
Bishop Robert Barron
Bishop Robert Barron
Human Behavior Toward Truth and Self-Awareness
Rejection of Jesus: The people of Nazareth rejected Jesus due to discomfort with His message and their assumption that they knew everything about Him, leading to the cold-shouldering of Jesus and a missed opportunity for spiritual growth.
Avoidance of Truth: Humans sometimes avoid hearing and accepting the truth, as seen in the people of Nazareth. This avoidance can manifest in various ways, such as questioning the source, changing the subject, or relying solely on empirical knowledge.
Limitations of Factual Knowledge: Factual knowledge, while important, does not encompass the full truth of a person or situation. Understanding the deeper truths in life requires self-reflection and engagement with the world, not just empirical analysis.
Living a Life of Truth: True understanding can only be gained through life experiences and by examining the way we interact with others and with God.
Hurt in Nazareth
Rejection by Loved Ones: The story of Jesus’ rejection in Nazareth illustrates the painful reality that sometimes the people closest to us do not understand or support us. This rejection can deeply affect our self-worth and emotional well-being.
Jesus’ Response to Rejection: Instead of dwelling on the hurt of rejection, Jesus continued to spread his message and love to those who would listen. This example shows us how to handle rejection constructively, by focusing on our calling and purpose rather than letting others dictate our self-worth.
Finding Support Elsewhere: When we face rejection from loved ones, it is essential to seek support and acceptance from others who value our gifts and love. By doing so, we can maintain a positive self-image and continue to share our gifts with the world.
RELATED HOMILIES:
Strength in Weakness (2003)
Negativity and Thankfulness (2009)
About Jesus’ Brothers (2015)
Persistent Hope (2018)
Power Perfected in Weakness (2021)
Fr. Anthony Ekpunobi, C.M.
Fr. Anthony
Ekpunobi, C.M.
Msgr. Joseph Pellegrino
Msgr. Pellegrino
Power Made Perfect in Weakness
St. Paul’s “Thorn in the Flesh”: The Apostle Paul struggled with an undisclosed personal problem, referred to as a “thorn in the flesh.” This issue served as a reminder of his dependence on God’s grace and strength.
Perfection in Weakness: The Lord’s power is made perfect in our weaknesses, as revealed to Paul. This principle highlights that our shortcomings can serve as opportunities for God’s strength to be displayed in our lives.
Humanity of Saints and Spiritual Leaders: Saints and spiritual leaders, like St. Paul and the prophets, faced personal struggles and imperfections. Recognizing their humanity helps us understand that God’s power and truth can work through anyone, regardless of their flaws.
Focusing on God’s Truth: While the messengers of God’s truth may be imperfect, the truth itself remains unchanged. As followers of Christ, we should focus on the message rather than the messenger.
Msgr. Charles Pope
Msgr. Charles Pope
Poor Preaching Isn’t Only Due to the Preacher
The gospel today portrays the Lord Jesus as preacher and prophet, but even the greatest preacher in the world, Jesus, can find His powerful and precious words falling lifeless on the rock-hard surface of many a soul.
I. Real Rejoicing
II. Rude Rejection
III. Ruinous Result
Fr. Michael Chua
Fr. Michael Chua
Failure and Persistence: The story teaches us that failure is a part of life, even for Jesus. What matters most is not giving up, as demonstrated by Jesus continuing His ministry despite initial lack of success in His hometown.
True Measure of Success: Jesus shows us that public approval is not the measure of success, but rather fidelity to God’s will. We should focus on doing what is right even if it means facing opposition or rejection from others.
Knowing Someone’s True Worth: The story warns against dismissing someone’s potential or making quick judgments about their worth. Doing so may lead to overlooking God’s message or purpose through that individual.
Archived homily from 2021
Life Issues
Life Issues
Life
Issues
HOME
Darkness or light. Without the one we do not know the other.
Tom Bartolomeo
Let our daily crosses be our war against the culture of death, Saint John Paul II, fought against — the dark stain on human life — contraception, abortion and abandonment of spouses and children.
Unbelievable!
Proclaim Sermons
Jesus had just finished reading scripture in the synagogue of his hometown Nazareth. It caused a stir. People knew who Jesus was. He was a carpenter who worked with his father Joseph. Now, it seemed, he was putting on airs. The people didn’t like it one bit. And Jesus was amazed at their unbelief.
SOURCE: LifeIssues.net Homily Archive
Gratitute Week 4: Country
Bottom line: We love our country like we love our parents. Not because our nation is perfect but only by love and gratitude will we make her
better.
RELATED HOMILIES:
2018: My Grace is Sufficient
2015: Building on Strength Week 1: Scripture as Word of God
2012: Mary Opens a Window (about “brothers & sisters” of Jesus)
2009: Some Requests
2006: How Jesus Handled a Put Down
2003: Insults and Persecution
2000: Separation of Church & State?
1997: “The Conscience of our State”
Fr. Vincent Hawkswell
Fr. Vincent Hawkswell
Discerning False Teachings: The article emphasizes the importance of being cautious about new spiritual practices and doctrines, ensuring they align with the teachings of the Catholic Church.
Role of the Church in Guiding Believers: The Church, through its priests and bishops, is entrusted with the responsibility of judging the authenticity of various spiritual practices and gifts.
Seeking Truth and Rest in God: The human heart’s desire for fulfillment can only find true rest in God, rather than material goods or false spiritual practices.
Warning Against False Prophets: Jesus forewarned his followers about the presence of false prophets who might perform astonishing acts to deceive even the chosen ones.
Fr. Tommy Lane
Fr. Tommy Lane
Heart Open to Jesus
Openness to Jesus: Closing our hearts to Jesus can lead to missed opportunities for spiritual growth and connection.
Witnessing Faith: Just as the world needed witnesses to Jesus during his time, it still needs people who can share their faith and spread his light today.
Parental Guidance: Parents should remain steadfast in their faith even if their children may wander from it, acting as guiding lights for them.
Fr. John Kavanaugh, S.J.
Fr. John
Kavanaugh, S.J.
Prophetic Living
Rejecting Closeness: We tend to struggle with appreciating the value of familiarity, often disregarding the potential for greatness in those closest to us and even within ourselves.
Embracing Weaknesses: Recognizing our own weaknesses can be a source of strength, as it allows us to rely on God’s grace and become instruments of His will, enabling us to fulfill our prophetic and heroic potential.
Overcoming Self-Doubt: By accepting our weaknesses and trusting in God’s power, we can overcome self-doubt and discover the courage to be prophetic and heroic in our everyday lives.
Fr. Leon Ngandu, SVD
Fr. Leon Ngandu, SVD
What to Do When We Experience Rejection From Our Own People
EXCERPT: Today’s Scripture readings reveal that Jesus, Ezekiel, and Paul faced rejection from their own people. This shared experience is a powerful reminder that we, too, may encounter rejection in our lives. Our Holy Mother Church encourages us to reflect on two key aspects. First, how do we treat our fellow humans (priests, religious brothers and sisters, deacons, and lay ministers) who carry out the mission of Jesus in our midst? Second, how can our attitude and faith be when we experience the same rejection from our own people? It’s important to remember that we are not alone in these experiences.
Bishop Frank Schuster
Bishop Frank Schuster
Death is Not the End
The Declaration of Independence: The famous document highlights the unalienable rights of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness, which are endowed by the Creator.
Hierarchy of Values: Life is placed first as it is the foundation for enjoying liberty and pursuing happiness. Liberty is next because freedom is necessary for the pursuit of happiness.
Importance of Context: Removing the Creator from the Declaration of Independence can lead to a distorted hierarchy of values, where the pursuit of happiness takes precedence over life and liberty.
Ezekiel’s Happiness: Ezekiel’s happiness was defined by doing God’s will, even in difficult circumstances, which allowed him to persevere and find true happiness.
St. Paul’s Thorn in the Flesh: Despite his struggles, St. Paul found happiness in the love of God, transforming weaknesses into strengths through the power of Christ.
Family Dynamics: Egotistic pursuits of happiness can lead to misery within families, emphasizing the need to root happiness in faith and God’s love.
Jesus’ Priorities: Jesus’ focus on doing God’s will and providing salvation to others serves as an example for prioritizing spiritual pursuits over worldly desires.
Impact of Faith: Considering the role of faith in life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness can change how we interact with others and approach societal issues.
