Homilies about free will

Why God Allows Suffering: Justice, Mercy, and the Parable of the Weeds

The homily explores the themes of divine justice and mercy, particularly in the face of human suffering. It uses the parables of the weeds and the wheat, and the mustard seed, to explain why God allows good and evil to coexist, emphasizing God's patience and desire for repentance. The speaker encourages offering up suffering for others and trusting in God's ultimate plan and justice.

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

The homily explores the parable of the weeds and wheat, explaining that evil exists due to concupiscence and free will, not God's direct creation. It emphasizes that God, being love, cannot do evil, and that while evil may appear good initially, it ultimately leads to harm. The core message is that God converts all suffering and evil into good for those who believe, and we are called to choose love over evil.

¿Por qué Dios permite el sufrimiento? La parábola de la cizaña

The homily addresses the age-old question of why evil exists, explaining it as a consequence of the free will of angels and humans, not God's fault. It then explores why God permits evil, stating that it allows humans to exercise free will and provides opportunities for spiritual growth, transforming suffering into good through virtues like patience, love, and forgiveness. The priest emphasizes that suffering can be a path to sanctification and salvation, urging listeners to accept both healing and crosses as part of God's good plan.

Why God Lets Evil Exist: Understanding Free Will and Divine Love

Father Jim Beavenon

The homily addresses the common question of why God allows evil to exist, using the parable of the weeds and the wheat. It emphasizes God's boundless love and patience, explaining that God grants free will and desires repentance, not forced obedience. The priest clarifies that hell is a self-chosen separation from God's presence, not a punishment God actively sends people to.

How Are You 'Spending' God's Grace?

Father Gregory

The homily uses the parable of the sower to illustrate how individuals respond to God's grace. The priest emphasizes that God gives everyone sufficient grace, and it is up to each person to make good use of it, comparing it to having a sum of money with free will to spend it wisely or on 'junks.' He urges listeners to be gracious, kind, and compassionate, as these actions cost nothing and are how one 'spends' God's grace well.

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

The homily addresses the perennial question of why evil exists if God is good and all-powerful, using the parable of the wheat and weeds. The priest explains that God created only good, and evil is a privation of goodness resulting from the misuse of free will by both angels and humans. He emphasizes God's patience and mercy, allowing good and evil to coexist to avoid uprooting the good, and offering time for repentance.

What Solomon, Paul, and Jesus Teach Us About God's Kingdom

Father Wallace

The homily reflects on Solomon's request for wisdom, St. Paul's teaching on predestination and free will, and Jesus' parables of the hidden treasure and the pearl of great price. It emphasizes that the Kingdom of God is a hidden mystery that requires us to give everything and shed our sins to attain eternal glory, which God desires for all.

Does God Really Make All Things Work for Good?

The homily explores St. Paul's teaching that "all things work for good for those who love God," emphasizing that this doesn't mean all things are good, but that God can bring good out of any bad situation. It also touches on the complex theological concepts of foreknowledge and predestination, clarifying that God predestines no one to hell and that human free will plays a crucial role in accepting or rejecting grace.

Understanding Predestination: God's Love, Our Choice, and the Kingdom's True Value

The homily explores the concept of predestination, clarifying that God does not destine anyone to hell but desires all to be saved through their free choice to love and obey Him. It connects this to Solomon's request for wisdom and Jesus' parables of the hidden treasure and pearl of great price, emphasizing the supreme value of God's kingdom and the need for total investment and daily self-denial to attain it, while also reminding listeners of the coming judgment.

God's Patience: Why He Waits for Our Conversion

The homily contrasts human impatience with God's divine patience, particularly in allowing 'weeds' (sinners) to grow alongside the 'wheat' (righteous) until harvest. It emphasizes that God respects free will and patiently waits for conversion, using examples from scripture and the lives of saints to illustrate how God's power is revealed through his clemency and lenience, not coercion.

The One Seed of Truth: Cultivating Your Heart for God's Harvest

Father Shuquin

The homily emphasizes that Jesus came to plant one singular seed of truth, the Gospel, in our hearts, not a variety of truths or revolutionary changes. It uses the parable of the sower to highlight our free will in accepting or rejecting this divine seed, urging listeners to cultivate their hearts to grow holiness rather than allowing the 'thorns of life' to choke it out.

Why God Allows Good and Evil to Coexist

Father Rob

The homily explores the parable of the wheat and the weeds, addressing the age-old question of why a good God allows good and evil to coexist. It emphasizes that God grants free will for authentic love, which means people make choices for good or evil. The homily concludes by reminding the faithful that while judgment will come, it is not for us to judge others, but to live our lives in a way that reflects Christ, understanding that our actions and choices matter.

Saying 'Yes' to God's Call: Lessons from Isaiah and Mary

The homily connects Isaiah's cleansing and Mary's Immaculate Conception to the universal call to vocation, emphasizing that while God prepares us, we must still use our free will to say "Here I am, send me." It also highlights the Mass as a participation in heavenly worship and encourages acknowledging Christ in daily life despite potential opposition.

Why God Allows Good and Evil to Coexist: The Parable of the Weeds

Father Joseph

The homily reflects on the parables of the weed, mustard seed, and yeast, emphasizing God's patience and tolerance in allowing good and evil to coexist. It highlights that while evil exists, humans are created in God's image with the freedom to choose good, and that the Holy Spirit and sacraments provide the grace to overcome weaknesses and strive for a rich harvest in life. The priest stresses the importance of patience with oneself and others, and the courage to make efforts towards good despite past failures.

Pulling the Weeds from Our Hearts: God's Patience and Our Spiritual Gardening

The homily reflects on the parable of the weeds and wheat, emphasizing God's patience and mercy in allowing time for repentance and conversion. It encourages self-reflection and 'spiritual gardening' to identify and remove personal 'weeds' (sinful habits or excessive attachments) with the help of the Holy Spirit, rather than focusing on the evil in the world.

Beyond 'Maintenance Mode': Cultivating Your Soul and Sharing Your God Story

The homily challenges the notion of predestination, emphasizing free will and our responsibility to respond to God's offer of salvation. It uses the parable of the sower to illustrate how people's openness to God's word varies, comparing souls to gardens that require active cultivation to thrive. The speaker urges Catholics to move beyond 'maintenance mode' in their faith and actively evangelize by sharing their personal 'God story' with love and conviction.

Why God Allows Suffering: The Parable of Wheat and Weeds

Padre Isaac Menedes

The homily explores the problem of evil and suffering in the world, using the parable of the wheat and weeds to explain why God allows both to coexist. It suggests that hardships can serve a purpose, making us more compassionate and loving, much like a father tenderizing meat. The homily also touches on the Serenity Prayer and the role of the Holy Spirit in inspiring us to seek truth, beauty, and goodness, particularly in the context of the Pentecost Festa queens who represent purity and innocence.

Are We Predestined? Understanding God's Plan and Our Free Will

The homily explores the Catholic understanding of predestination, contrasting it with Calvinist double predestination. It emphasizes that God wills all to be saved and created us for divine life, but our free will allows us to act contrary to our nature, leading to sin and separation from God. The priest uses the analogy of a Nissan GTR trying to be a submarine to illustrate how acting against our intended purpose leads to destruction, urging listeners to cooperate with God's grace and seek wisdom to achieve their ultimate end.

Why God Doesn't Remove Evil: The Parable of the Weeds and Wheat

The homily reflects on the parable of the weeds and the wheat, emphasizing God's mercy and the gift of free will. It challenges the notion that science can provide all answers, asserting that faith is necessary for understanding God, who is beyond scientific proof. The priest encourages believers to embrace the joy of salvation and love, rather than fear, even amidst life's difficulties and evil.

Why a Good God Allows Evil: The Parable of the Weeds and Wheat

Father Anthony Gerber

The homily addresses the ancient questions of the origin of evil and why a good God permits it, drawing on the Gospel parable of the weeds and wheat. It explains that evil comes from the enemy (the devil) who chose against God, and that God allows free will, even the choice to turn away. The homily uses the analogy of a sunflower journeying towards the sun to illustrate our spiritual growth towards heaven, emphasizing that the Christian faith as a whole provides the answer to the mystery of evil, culminating in fixing our eyes on Jesus, the conqueror of evil, and striving for a personal friendship with Him for our ultimate homecoming.