Homilies about family

A Priest's Story: How God Loved Me as a Sinner and a Loser

Father David

The homily, delivered by a new parochial vicar, Father David, focuses on God's immense patience and unconditional love for sinners, drawing parallels with the Gospel parable of the weeds and the wheat. Father David shares a deeply personal testimony of his youth, marked by a struggle for acceptance, alcoholism, promiscuity, and resentment towards his parents, culminating in a suicidal crisis. He recounts how a simple question from a friend on a pilgrimage, "Don't you know there is a God who loves you as you are?", transformed his life, leading him to believe in God's mercy and eventually to the priesthood.

50 Años de Sacerdocio: Las Redes que Sostienen la Fe y la Lucha por Cuba

P. José Conrado Rodríguez Alegre

This homily, delivered by Father José Conrado Rodríguez Alegre on his 50th priestly anniversary, reflects on the 'nets' of support in his life: family, Christian community, seminary, and friends, culminating in God as the ultimate protective net. He shares personal anecdotes about his experiences with the Cuban exile community and his own exile, emphasizing the need for unity, forgiveness, and speaking truth for the liberation of Cuba, drawing parallels to the story of 'Muñeco,' a boy he ministered to who found redemption.

Đức Maria: Người Môn Đệ Đầu Tiên và Hoàn Hảo Nhất (Đức Ông Phạm Mạnh Cương)

Đức Ông Phạm Mạnh Cương

This homily, delivered as part of a conference on Mary, emphasizes Mary as the first and most perfect disciple, highlighting her unwavering faith, contemplative spirit, and missionary zeal. The speaker uses personal anecdotes about his family's journey as refugees and his own vocational discernment to illustrate themes of trusting God's plan amidst adversity and the importance of compassionate presence in ministry. He urges listeners to emulate Mary's 'yes' to God, her ability to see others' needs, and her steadfastness in suffering, rather than focusing on external religious practices.

The Wheat, The Weeds, and the Vigilant Parent: God's Patience and Our Role in Raising Children

Père Gilbert

The homily emphasizes God's patience and mercy, using the parable of the wheat and weeds to illustrate how God allows good and evil to grow together, giving everyone a chance to convert. It challenges Christians to be good 'trees' that provide shade (guidance and counsel) to others, especially children, rather than being passive or allowing 'weeds' (negative influences) to take over their lives and communities. The priest shares a personal anecdote about parents needing to be vigilant with their children to prevent them from falling into bad company or dangerous situations.

A Priest's Stroke, a Lifelong Dream, and the Mission to Care for the Abandoned Elderly

Father Dason

The homily is a deeply personal account of the priest's lifelong dream to build a home for the homeless, which evolved into a mission to prepare elderly souls for their last hour, especially those abandoned by family. He shares how a personal stroke opened his eyes to the true suffering of the elderly and the importance of reconciliation with parents, urging the congregation to support this mission through prayer, care for their own parents, and financial contributions.

El Amor es Eterno: Esperanza y Reencuentro en el Duelo

The homily, delivered at a funeral Mass for María Corina, emphasizes that while death brings pain, it is not the end. Drawing on scripture, the priest assures the family that God makes all things new, and that through Christ, they will be reunited with their loved one in eternal life. He encourages them to embrace their grief, find strength in faith and family, and allow the experience of suffering to deepen their love and humanity.

How Difficult Times Can Lead to Good: Lessons from Joseph, Helen Keller, and a Priest's Family

Father Bill Kenny

The homily focuses on the belief that "all things work for good for those who love God," drawing from Romans 8:28. The priest illustrates this through the stories of Joseph in the Old Testament, Helen Keller, and personal anecdotes about his uncle and family's move to Las Vegas, emphasizing how difficult situations can ultimately lead to positive outcomes and spiritual growth.

The Hidden Treasure: Valuing God's Kingdom and the Wisdom of Our Elders

Father Luis

The homily emphasizes the value of the Kingdom of God, comparing it to a hidden treasure or a precious pearl for which one should be willing to sacrifice everything. It also highlights the importance of valuing the wisdom of elders and grandparents, drawing a parallel to King Solomon's request for wisdom and the contemporary neglect of the elderly. The priest shares a personal anecdote about returning to the US to spend time with his aging parents, underscoring the irreplaceable value of family and relationships over material possessions.

The Wheat, The Weeds, and God's Patience with Migrant Families

The homily uses the parable of the wheat and weeds to discuss God's patience and our call to be patient with others, especially in the context of immigration and family separations. It emphasizes that final judgment belongs to God and highlights the Holy Spirit's intercession for those suffering, urging the faithful to stand with the vulnerable and trust in God's ultimate justice.

Why God Lets 'Weeds' Grow: The Path to Patience and Love

Father Mark

The homily uses the parable of the weeds among the wheat to illustrate God's immense patience and mercy, contrasting it with human impatience. The priest shares personal anecdotes about his German Catholic father's strictness and his own struggles with patience, emphasizing that God teaches us patience and tolerance through difficult people and situations in our lives, which he calls "saint makers." He concludes by encouraging listeners to offer their daily struggles with impatience as a form of suffering to grow in love and humility.

¿Qué Semilla Fue Plantada en Ti? Sanando las Heridas del Pasado

The homily uses the parable of the wheat and weeds to discuss how negative experiences and 'bad seeds' planted in us, especially in childhood, can prevent us from bearing good fruit. The priest shares personal anecdotes about his grandfather's farming and his current work with women suffering from anxiety and depression due to paternal abandonment, emphasizing the importance of identifying and uprooting these 'weeds' to allow God's kingdom of peace and harmony to flourish within us.

Lucy's 'Five More Minutes': A Life Lived in Love and Gratitude

This homily, delivered as a eulogy, celebrates the life of Lucy Labonite Gaida Maram, a Filipino immigrant who embodied kindness, generosity, and deep family love. It highlights her unique personality, her 'Filipino time' approach to life, and her selfless devotion to her family both in America and the Philippines, emphasizing how she savored every moment and lived a life that was a 'sermon' of selfless love.

Finding Hope in Loss: Maria del Refugio Padilla's Legacy of Faith and Love

This homily, delivered at a funeral mass, emphasizes that despite the pain of death, believers find hope and consolation in Jesus' resurrection. The priest highlights that God is not distant from human suffering, but experienced it through Christ, and that living a life united with God gives meaning to suffering and ensures resurrection. The homily also includes heartfelt eulogies from the deceased's grandson and daughter, who share personal anecdotes and reflect on her deep faith, love for family, and gratitude, portraying her life as a testament to sowing good seeds and reaping a rich harvest of love and unity.

The Seeds Within: Why We Struggle to Choose Good

Father Michael Gthini

The homily emphasizes God's mercy and leniency, drawing on the parable of the wheat and weeds. It challenges listeners to recognize the 'good seed' and 'bad seed' within themselves, urging them to cultivate good potentials and be witnesses of the Gospel through their actions, rather than succumbing to evil inclinations or judging others. The priest uses a vivid story about a couple's confessions to illustrate how hidden sins and judgments can surface when faced with perceived death, highlighting the internal struggle between good and evil.

22 Years a Priest: How to Stay Rooted in God Through Life's Storms

The homily, delivered on the priest's 22nd priestly anniversary, reflects on the challenges of life and vocation, drawing parallels between his personal struggles with his father's disapproval of his priesthood and the Gospel's message of persecution. He emphasizes the importance of being rooted in God, like a tree, to withstand life's storms and transform trials into testimonies and messes into messages, ultimately encouraging perseverance and hope.

God's Patient Love: Lessons from Wheat, Weeds, and My Father's Conversion

Father Ben

The homily emphasizes God's immense patience, drawing on the parable of the wheat and weeds. The priest shares a personal story of his father's slow but beautiful conversion to Catholicism, illustrating how grace works gently over time. He encourages listeners to extend this same patience to themselves and others, trusting in the Holy Spirit's intercession and God's ultimate plan for harvest.

How a Rebellious Teen Learned to Trust His Parents (and God)

The homily emphasizes the importance of listening to and trusting our parents and God, drawing parallels between a compass guiding a boat home and God's guidance in life. The priest shares a personal story about his rebellious youth and learning to obey his father and a fisherman named Aussie, ultimately realizing the wisdom and love behind their guidance. He concludes by highlighting that parents, like God, are there to teach us how to love and lead us to our true home in heaven.

The Church's Stance on Domestic Violence: No One is Expected to Stay in an Abusive Marriage

Father Chuck Dam

The homily, delivered by Father Chuck Dam, focuses on the pervasive issue of domestic violence, emphasizing that it is a learned behavior and not justified under any circumstances. He highlights the various forms of abuse (physical, verbal, emotional, financial, sexual) and addresses common reasons why victims stay in abusive relationships, including financial dependence, embarrassment, fear, and a misguided sense of religious obligation. Father Dam stresses the Church's stance that no one is expected to remain in an abusive marriage and calls for the parish to become a safe haven for victims.

Why God Never Gives Up on Your Loved Ones (Even When They Leave the Church)

Father Chian Bo

The homily addresses the anxiety many Christians feel when loved ones leave the Church, drawing on the parable of the sower. It emphasizes that God's word, embodied in Christ, is an active, imperishable seed planted in baptism that never gives up on us, even in 'bad soil.' The priest encourages patient, hopeful prayer, like St. Monica's, trusting in Christ's persistent pursuit of souls.

La Mejor Herencia: Transmitiendo la Fe a Nuestras Familias

Padre Lisandro Barba

The homily emphasizes gratitude for the gift of faith passed down through generations, particularly highlighting the role of grandparents like Saints Anne and Joachim. The priest shares a personal story about his grandmother's prayers influencing his vocation and challenges the faithful to reflect on what spiritual legacy they are leaving for their children and grandchildren, urging them to prioritize faith over material inheritance.