Homilies about healing

How Brain Cancer Led Me to the Priesthood

Father Dan Kushner

Father Dan shares his personal vocation story, which began with a childhood brain cancer diagnosis and subsequent treatment. He connects this profound suffering to the Gospel's parable of the pearl of great price, emphasizing that this experience revealed God's unconditional love and the limitless potential available through Christ, leading him to fully commit his life to God.

God's Forgiveness: A Lesson from the Brooklyn Bridge

Bishop Qualin

This homily connects God's forgiveness, as described in Psalm 51, to a recent news event where a police officer saved a woman contemplating suicide on the Brooklyn Bridge. The homilist emphasizes that God's forgiveness is not about condemnation but about building us up, and that accepting help is a courageous act of strength, mirroring the police officer's message to the woman.

From Addiction to Freedom: The Power of God's Healing Grace

Tadeusz Dzieszko

The homily reflects on the parable of the wheat and weeds, emphasizing that evil (weeds) often grows alongside good (wheat) in our lives. The priest shares the powerful testimony of Wiesław Indraszek, a former drug addict who found healing and conversion in Medjugorje, and also mentions St. Camillus, who similarly turned his life around to serve the sick. The core message is that God offers a chance for change and healing from addictions and moral failings until the very end of life, and that prayer, sacraments, and community are vital in this ongoing spiritual battle.

¿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.

Healing the Weeds of Trauma: A Homily on Forgiveness and Transformation

The homily uses the Gospel parable of the wheat and weeds to discuss the pervasive nature of suffering and trauma, particularly from sexual abuse within the Church. It emphasizes that while God plants good seeds, human actions, including judgment and doubt, feed the 'weeds' of suffering. The homily calls for a transformation of behavior, not just confession, to nourish the good seeds and help others heal.

A Sister's Story: How a Ugandan Hospital Saved My Brother and Needs Your Help

Father Jim

This homily, delivered by Sister Justin, is a mission appeal for St. Joseph Chito Hospital in Uganda. She shares a deeply personal story of her younger brother's critical illness and miraculous recovery at Chito Hospital, highlighting the compassionate and professional care they received. She then appeals for donations to fund an ICU unit at the hospital, emphasizing how it would save lives and bring hope to critically ill patients and their families, connecting it to the Gospel's message of the mustard seed.

Father Rick Fchett: How One Priest's Faith Transformed Haiti

This homily uses the parable of the sower to highlight different responses to God's word, then transitions into a powerful video about Father Rick Fchett's St. Luke Foundation in Haiti. The video showcases how Father Rick and his team have transformed lives by identifying needs and building a comprehensive network of hospitals, schools, and vocational training, demonstrating the profound fruitfulness of living out the Gospel.

How Our Broken Hearts Become Fertile Ground for God's Grace

Father Steven Lionus

The homily uses the parable of the sower to illustrate that God's word is sown abundantly, and its fruitfulness depends on the openness of our hearts, which are often broken by life's challenges. The priest emphasizes that our brokenness, whether from grief, bullying, or marital differences, can become fertile ground for God's grace to grow and lead to acts of kindness, forgiveness, and justice for others.

Is Your Addiction a 'Thwarted Good Desire'? A Counselor's Story

The homily uses the parable of the weeds and the wheat to discuss how our 'sins, faults, and failings' might actually be 'thwarted parts of fundamentally good desires.' The priest shares a personal story about an addict named Peter whose heroin addiction stemmed from a deep desire for connection and belonging, which he found by reconnecting with his birth mother. The homily encourages listeners to discern the good desires underlying their unhealthy behaviors, aiming to redirect them towards God.

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.

From Genocide to Forgiveness: A Rwandan Priest's Story of Healing and Hope

Father Jean Vier Naduazu

This homily, delivered by a visiting priest from Rwanda, focuses on the enduring wounds of the 1994 genocide and the Church's mission of reconciliation, forgiveness, and healing. He shares his personal vocation story, inspired by the need to contribute to healing his wounded country, and appeals for support for educational, livelihood, and health projects, emphasizing the need for prayers and spiritual support.

The Church's Stance on Domestic Violence: You Don't Have to Stay

Fr. Chuck Dom

This homily, delivered by a guest priest, focuses on the pervasive issue of domestic violence, highlighting its various forms (physical, verbal, emotional, financial, sexual) and challenging common misconceptions about why victims stay. The priest emphasizes the Catholic Church's clear stance that no one is expected to remain in an abusive marriage, urging the community to become a safe haven for victims and to actively work against this learned behavior.

The Weeds Among Us: Bill W. and the Power of God's Grace

The homily uses the parable of the wheat and weeds to discuss how appearances can be deceiving, especially when it comes to judging others. It highlights the story of Bill W., co-founder of Alcoholics Anonymous, as an example of someone initially seen as 'worthless' due to addiction, but who, through divine intervention and community, became a 'healer' for thousands. The core message emphasizes that with God's help, no one is truly helpless or hopeless, and we should refrain from quick judgments.

God Doesn't Care Who You Think You Should Be: He Loves You As You Are

The homily emphasizes that God loves us as we are, not as we think we should be, and that our brokenness allows more of God's treasure (the Holy Spirit) to fill us. Drawing on the apostles' experience of forgiveness despite their betrayal, it encourages those feeling broken or fearful to find courage in God's transformative love, which makes us entirely new.

Healing Ukraine: Forgiveness, Love, and Prayer in Times of War

The homily reflects on the Gospel reading of Jesus healing the paralytic, emphasizing that Christ first forgives sins before healing the body, highlighting the spiritual healing as primary. It connects this to the current war in Ukraine, urging prayers for healing, forgiveness, and for those who persecute, stressing the importance of using one's spiritual gifts for good and showing brotherly love.

¿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.

Using Your Power for Healing and Justice

The homily challenges listeners to use their power and authority for healing and the common good, rather than perpetuating injustice. Drawing on the readings from Micah and Matthew, it emphasizes that God watches how we treat the poor and marginalized, urging active opposition to systemic injustice and silence.

From Wild Soldier to Saint: The Story of St. Camillus de Lellis

This homily focuses on the life of St. Camillus de Lellis, highlighting his transformation from a wild soldier and gambler to a dedicated priest and founder of an order devoted to caring for the sick and dying. It emphasizes his journey of conversion and commitment to serving those in need, particularly in hospitals.

Don't Forget the 'Little Sins' in Your Heart

The homily encourages introspection, urging listeners to recognize their own 'wickedness' and need for God's healing, rather than solely focusing on the evil of others. It emphasizes that God cares about 'little matters' as much as big ones, and offers hope that even a smoldering faith can be rekindled by the Holy Spirit.

Do Science and Medicine Make Miracles and Prayer Obsolete?

Father Dave

This homily explores the intersection of faith and science, specifically addressing whether modern medicine and scientific advancements render prayer and miracles obsolete. The priest argues that Catholics embrace both medicine and prayer, seeing God's healing power at work through natural processes and direct miraculous intervention. He emphasizes that true healing encompasses not just the body, but also the soul, mind, and relationships, ultimately preparing us for eternal life.