Homilies about church

Why Confirmation Isn't a Graduation from Church (and What It Is)

Father Michael Nixon

Father Michael Nixon reflects on the Holy Spirit's role in empowering Catholics for mission, drawing from his experiences at youth conferences. He challenges the common misconception of Confirmation as a 'graduation' from church, emphasizing that it's an anointing for a unique, unrepeatable mission to become saints, not to live a life of comfort. The homily encourages listeners to embrace discomfort, overcome the scandals within the Church, and actively participate in Christ's mission through the power of the Holy Spirit.

The Titanic, Weeds, and Why We Still Need the Church

The homily uses the historical context of the Harland and Wolf shipyard in Belfast and the building of the Titanic, amidst sectarian tensions, to illustrate Jesus' parables about the Kingdom of Heaven. It emphasizes that the Church is a mixed body of 'wheat and weeds,' both internally and externally, and highlights the Church's transformative impact on culture and society, cautioning against modern arrogance that believes humanity no longer needs God or His Church.

Finding God's Wisdom in Suffering: A Cancer Survivor's Story

The homily reflects on the Gospel parable of the net gathering all kinds of fish, equating it to the Catholic Church's universal reach, but also acknowledging the presence of both righteous and wicked within it. The priest emphasizes the need for wisdom to understand God's plan, even in suffering, illustrating this with a personal story about a friend's cancer journey.

The Church: A Hospital for Sinners, Not a Museum for Saints

The homily reflects on the parable of the wheat and the weeds, emphasizing God's patience and justice in allowing good and bad to coexist in the world and the Church. It highlights that the Church is a hospital for sinners, not just a museum for saints, and encourages individuals to uproot their own 'weeds' to positively impact the world.

Why God Allows Weeds Among the Wheat: Lessons from Church Scandals

The homily addresses the presence of 'weeds' (sinners and evil) within the 'wheat' (the Church and the world), drawing on the Gospel parable. The priest discusses the Church's response to the priest scandal, emphasizing the importance of boundaries and safe environment protocols. He also touches on the excommunication of the SSPX, highlighting the need for obedience to Church authority and the medicinal nature of excommunication for healing and returning to balance.

The Treasure of the Kingdom: Why Sunday Mass is More Than an Obligation

This homily emphasizes that the 'treasure' of the Kingdom of Heaven, as described in the parables, is not a private possession but a communal discovery found in the Church. It highlights that Sunday Mass is not merely an obligation but a joyful gathering where Christ forms us into his body, fostering unity and inspiring works of charity throughout the week.

St. Elias: A Prophet's Zeal and the Enduring Love of God

Father Paul

This homily celebrates the feast of St. Elias, emphasizing his relevance today through typology and zealous love for God. The speaker draws parallels between Elijah's miracles and prophecies in the Old Testament and Jesus' actions and identity in the New Testament, highlighting how ancient scripture foretells Christ. It also uses the parish's history to illustrate the importance of zealous faith in overcoming challenges and ensuring the community's continued growth and vibrancy.

Wheat and Weeds: Understanding Excommunication and the Call to Church Unity

The homily addresses the recent excommunication of six bishops from the Society of St. Pius X, using the Gospel parable of the wheat and weeds to explain the Church's stance on unity and mercy. The priest emphasizes that excommunication is a medicinal penalty aimed at encouraging repentance and return to full communion, and calls for prayer for unity within the Church and for those who have left the faith.

Why Christians Will Always Face Persecution (Even From Within the Church)

The homily discusses the inevitability of persecution for Christians, both from outside and within the Church, drawing on the day's Gospel reading. The priest uses historical examples like Martin Luther and King Henry VIII, as well as the recent SSPX excommunications, to illustrate internal church conflicts and the importance of remaining steadfast in faith with Christ as one's solid rock.

The Imperfect Kingdom: What Jesus' Parables Tell Us About God's Reign

Father Jerry

The homily explores the nature of the Kingdom of God through three parables from Matthew's Gospel: the weeds among the wheat, the mustard seed, and the yeast. The priest uses personal anecdotes from his farming background and childhood to illustrate that the Kingdom is not always perfect, glorious, or immediately perceptible, but rather demands patience and can be found in the ordinary and imperfect aspects of life and the Church.

Why God Allows Evil: Understanding the Parable of the Weeds and Wheat

The homily addresses the mystery of God's ways, particularly why evil and suffering are permitted in the world and within the Church. Drawing on the parable of the weeds among the wheat, the priest emphasizes that humans cannot fully comprehend God's divine plan and must rely on faith, even when faced with difficult questions like the existence of sinful leaders or personal tragedies.

Why God's Kingdom Grows Like a Weed: A Homily on Patience and Trust

Father Ryan Burju

The homily uses the Gospel parables of the mustard seed, the field, and the leaven to encourage patience and trust in God's work within the Church. Drawing a parallel between Jesus's observant nature and his own mother's ability to find awe in small things, the priest emphasizes that the Kingdom of God grows in unexpected ways, even through what might seem like weeds or small shrubs, and that it is not our place to judge others within the faith.

Why God Lets Weeds Grow with Wheat: Patience, Sinners, and the Church

The homily addresses the question of why God allows bad people to succeed alongside good people, drawing on the Gospel parable of the wheat and the weeds. It emphasizes God's patience and mercy, giving sinners time and opportunity for conversion. The homily also reminds us that the Church on Earth is a communion of sinners on a journey to become saints, not a perfect assembly, and calls for patience and service to the Church.

God's Patience and the Mixed Field of the Church

Father Augustine Mateo

The homily reflects on the parable of the wheat and the weeds, emphasizing God's patience and leniency, and the Church's nature as a mixed field of both saints and sinners. It encourages believers not to be distracted by evil but to recognize the presence of grace and strive to be part of God's final harvest, making conscious choices to live as people of God.

Father Mike Explains the SSPX Schism and the Call to Unity

Father Mike

The homily begins by discussing the parables of the treasure in the field and the pearl of great price, emphasizing the need to prioritize one's relationship with Jesus as the ultimate 'north star.' It then transitions into a detailed explanation of the Society of St. Pius X (SSPX), its historical context with Pope St. Pius X and Vatican II, and the theological implications of its schismatic actions, particularly regarding episcopal ordinations without papal authority. The priest urges an open heart and invitation for those who have left the Church to return.

The Expansive Kingdom: Why Your Place in the Church Matters

The homily emphasizes that the Church is a universal and expansive entity, not limited to small, comfortable groups. It encourages parishioners to actively participate in spreading the Kingdom of God by loving their neighbors and understanding that their place in the Church is vital for its mission.

Why We Can't 'Fix' Everything in the Church Right Now

Monsignor East

The homily, delivered by Monsignor East due to Father Grandon's delayed flight, focuses on the parable of the wheat and the weeds. It emphasizes the importance of patience and tolerance within the Church, suggesting that attempting to 'fix' everything immediately can be detrimental, much like uprooting wheat with weeds. The core message is that the Church is a 'large tent' accommodating diverse views, and unity is found in communion, especially through the Eucharist.

The Church: God's Kingdom on Earth (and Why It Matters to You)

The homily connects Jesus' parables about the Kingdom of Heaven to the nature of the Church, emphasizing that the Church is the Kingdom Jesus came to establish. It uses the parables of the weeds, mustard seed, and leaven to illustrate how the Church, though starting small and existing amidst challenges, is meant to be alive, grow, and transform the world. The core message is that understanding Jesus as King helps us understand our role as citizens of the Church, which is God's active kingdom on earth.

The Parable of the Sower and the Urgent Need for Priests in Madagascar

Father Eric Sanchez

Father Eric Sanchez delivers a homily that begins by explaining the nature of parables, particularly the Parable of the Sower, and how different 'soils' represent various responses to God's word. He then transitions to a direct appeal for support for a new seminary in Madagascar, highlighting the urgent need for space to form future priests due to the growing church there, connecting it to the historical mission of St. Vincent de Paul.

The Church: Our Shelter and Sustenance in the Kingdom of God

Father Nick Watias

This homily explores the parables of the mustard seed and the leaven, emphasizing that the Church, like these parables, is both a physical and spiritual shelter and sustenance. It highlights the Church's role in meeting both physical needs through corporal works of mercy (like mission trips and feeding the hungry) and spiritual needs through sacraments and spiritual works of mercy (like confession and prayer). The homily concludes by connecting these parables to the Eucharist as the ultimate source of spiritual and physical nourishment.