Homilies about doubt

The Power of Daily Faithfulness: Belonging to God One Day at a Time

The homily emphasizes the importance of faithfulness in the face of adversity, drawing a parallel between the challenges faced by the apostles and modern-day struggles. It highlights that strength comes not from personal heroism but from God's Spirit, encouraging daily commitment to Christ even amidst doubt and spiritual dryness, much like an old woman's simple prayer for daily belonging to God.

You Are God's Pearl of Great Price: A Homily on Predestination and God's Unending Love

Father Thomas Petri

This homily challenges the Protestant notion of 'double predestination' often reflected in country music's themes of rejection and despair, contrasting it with the Catholic understanding of God's universal salvific will. The priest emphasizes that God desires everyone's salvation and continuously offers grace, portraying humanity as the 'pearl of great price' for which God sacrifices everything, rather than us being the merchants seeking God.

¿Por Qué Seguimos Mendigando Amor Cuando Dios Ya Nos Ha Puesto Un Lugar En Su Mesa?

Padre Juan Diego

The homily explores the nature of God's heart, emphasizing that despite human infidelity and disappointment, God's love remains constant and unwavering. It challenges the belief that God abandons us due to our sins and urges listeners not to confuse human failures with God's faithfulness, encouraging them to seek fulfillment in God alone rather than in human approval.

The Reality of Evil: A Soldier's Story from Iraq

The homily reflects on the parable of the wheat and the weeds, emphasizing the reality of evil as an active, personal force in the world, not just abstract misfortune. The priest shares a personal story from his time in Iraq to illustrate how confronting evil directly can challenge one's understanding of God's goodness, and stresses that God's perfection is a perfect harvest, not a perfect field, allowing good and evil to grow together until the final judgment.

Why Your 'Sins' Might Actually Be Prayers

Father Kramer

Father Kramer challenges common misconceptions about taking the Lord's name in vain, explaining that often what people confess as sin is actually an instinctual prayer in moments of intense emotion. He connects this to the parable of the wheat and the weeds, arguing that people tend to see themselves as 'weeds' due to low self-worth, a trick of the evil spirit, rather than recognizing their inherent dignity as beloved children of God.

Why Faith Requires Patience and Perseverance

Father O'Neal

The homily begins with a relatable anecdote about the frustrations of modern technology and the time it takes for things to work, drawing a parallel to the time, patience, and perseverance required for faith to grow. The priest emphasizes that God, like the sower in the parable, casts his word broadly, but it is up to us to cultivate fertile ground in our hearts and persevere through discouragement, much like a farmer tending a field or keeping an oil lamp lit.

¿Por Qué Dios Permite el Mal? La Parábola del Trigo y la Cizaña

Padre Ari

The homily addresses the common question of why God allows evil and suffering, especially for good people, while the wicked seem to prosper. Drawing on the readings, the priest emphasizes God's infinite power tempered with mercy and patience, using the example of St. Augustine and St. Monica. He also highlights the importance of focusing on personal spiritual growth and internal struggles between good and evil, rather than judging others, as only God is worthy to judge.

Do Angels and Devils Really Exist? A Priest Explores God's Singular Nature

The homily challenges conventional understandings of God, angels, and devils, emphasizing the singular nature of God as the sole creator and source of justice. The priest suggests that many concepts of evil and other deities are human personifications, drawing on St. Thomas Aquinas's philosophical argument for pure spirits as a logical step in the universe's gradation of reality, while still asserting that only one God exists.

Why Your Weaknesses Can Be a Path to God's Mercy

The homily begins by focusing on the opening prayer's emphasis on hope, faith, and charity, particularly the importance of hope in times of despair and isolation. The priest shares a personal anecdote about his brother's struggle with faith due to a lack of community. He then delves into the Gospel parable of the weeds and the wheat, interpreting it as a reflection of our internal struggles and weaknesses, which should be exposed to God's mercy rather than eradicated, comparing them to shadows that reveal the direction of light.

Finding God's Whisper in Life's Storms: Lessons from Peter and Elijah

Steven

The homily reflects on the Gospel reading of Jesus walking on water, emphasizing the symbolic meaning of the boat as the Church enduring storms and Peter's faltering faith when distracted by worldly worries. It draws a parallel to the story of Elijah finding God not in powerful phenomena but in a soft whisper, urging listeners to maintain focus on Christ amidst life's difficulties and listen for God's quiet presence.

Why the Church Has Weeds: Trusting Jesus' Words on the Kingdom and Judgment

Michael

The homily reflects on the parables of the Kingdom of Heaven, particularly the wheat and weeds, mustard seed, and yeast. The priest shares his personal struggle with sin and disappointment within the Church, emphasizing that the Church, while the seed of the Kingdom, also contains 'weeds' (sinners). He stresses the importance of persevering in faith despite scandal and acknowledging the reality of final judgment, which he believes is often skipped due to discomfort.

Why You Shouldn't Feel Guilty When Your Children Leave the Church

Father Michael Flynn

Father Michael Flynn explains the parable of the sower, emphasizing that while we are called to plant the seed of God's word, the harvest is ultimately up to God. He encourages parents not to feel guilty about their children leaving the church, drawing a parallel to Jesus' own disciples who faltered, and highlights God's unwavering forgiveness and readiness to welcome everyone back.

Why Direct Encounter is Essential for Knowing God and Others

Father John Paul Ericson

The homily reflects on the parable of the sower, acknowledging the modern disconnect from agricultural life and using it as a metaphor for our increasingly mediated interactions with others. The priest argues that true knowledge of people, and ultimately God, requires direct, embodied encounter rather than relying on digital narratives. He concludes by stating that suffering can be a profound means of encountering God's presence.

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.

La Fe como Relación: Cómo Dios Responde a Nuestras Dudas y Dificultades

The homily emphasizes that faith is not just believing, but a personal relationship with God, much like a human relationship. It explores how this relationship is tested during difficulties and doubts, and reminds us that God always responds, even if not in the ways we expect, always for our benefit. The priest encourages perseverance in faith, even when it's hard, recognizing that God's grace is essential.

Building Your Life on Christ: Lessons from Peter Walking on Water

The homily emphasizes building one's life on the foundation of Jesus Christ, comparing good deeds to gold and self-centeredness to straw that burns away. It also reflects on Peter walking on water, highlighting that focusing on difficulties leads to doubt and fear, while keeping one's gaze on Christ brings peace and strength, and encourages simple, heartfelt prayer for help in times of trouble.

Why We Can't Fix All the World's Problems (and Why That's Okay)

The homily reflects on the parable of the wheat and weeds, applying it to the Church, the United States, and individual hearts. It emphasizes that good and evil coexist in all these aspects, and that while we are called to confront injustice, we cannot perfectly fix all problems. Ultimately, the victory belongs to God, and we should trust in His plan rather than trying to solve everything ourselves.

Are You Good Soil? The Word of God and Its Fruit

Father Reggie

The homily emphasizes that the Word of God, like rain and snow, must always yield fruit, regardless of the challenges or distractions. Drawing from the parable of the sower, the priest explains that while some may be distracted by worldly concerns or suffering, the Word will still find good soil in others and produce abundant harvest. He challenges the congregation to be the 'good soil' that allows God's word to flourish in their lives.

Why God is Patient with Sinners: Understanding the Parable of the Weeds and Wheat

The homily reflects on the parable of the weeds and the wheat, emphasizing God's mercy and patience with sinners. It encourages direct, personal prayer to Jesus to understand His will and the difficulties in life, suggesting that answers will come in moments of silence and unexpected clarity.

Finding and Keeping Your Faith: Lessons from Mother Teresa

The homily explores two ways people find faith, comparing it to finding a hidden treasure or actively searching for a pearl of great price. Drawing on the life of Mother Teresa, the priest emphasizes that regardless of how faith is found, it requires continuous effort and work to maintain, even for saints who experience doubt.