Homilies about obedience

Responding to Christ's Call: Becoming Fishers of Men

The homily reflects on the calling of the first disciples, emphasizing that God always takes the initiative in salvation, entering ordinary lives to transform them. It highlights the concept of synergy between divine grace and human freedom, urging believers to respond freely to Christ's call and become fishers of men, drawing others from sin and death into the life of the kingdom.

Why You Can't Serve Both God and the World

Father Ray

The homily draws a parallel between the ancient Israelites' temptation to worship both Yahweh and pagan gods, and modern Catholics' tendency to follow both Jesus and worldly philosophies. It emphasizes that true obedience to Jesus must be total and unqualified, an 'either/or' choice rather than 'both/and,' if one desires a high place in the kingdom of heaven.

Why Belief in Jesus Requires Obedience

The homily begins with a humorous anecdote about a misdirected email to illustrate the serious consequences of misunderstanding. The priest then connects this to the Gospel reading, emphasizing that belief in Jesus is not merely intellectual assent but requires active obedience to God's will. He stresses that our choices in this life determine our eternal destiny, with God desiring salvation for all, but hell remaining a possibility for those who choose disobedience.

Remembering God's Promises in the Eucharist: A Priest's Story of Obedience

The homily emphasizes remembering God's promises and actions, particularly through the Eucharist. The priest shares a personal experience of struggling with a reassignment and finding peace by recalling his vow of obedience and God's promise to provide. He connects this to the readings, urging the faithful to remember God's past interventions and to understand the Eucharist not just as a memory, but as a real participation in Christ's sacrifice, allowing us to ascend with Him.

St. Joseph: The Man Who Taught Jesus How to Obey God

This homily reflects on St. Joseph's role in teaching Jesus the commandments and how to worship God, highlighting Joseph's unique position as a foster father to the Son of God. It emphasizes that Joseph, by fulfilling this responsibility, deserves the title of 'greatest in the kingdom of heaven' and serves as an example for us to obey God's commandments and follow Christ.

Jesus Didn't Abolish the Law, He Fulfilled It

Father Daniel

The homily focuses on Jesus' teaching in the Sermon on the Mount, emphasizing that he did not come to abolish the law and the prophets but to fulfill them. The priest explains that Jesus is establishing a 'new Israel' and calling his disciples to live out the commandments, particularly the greatest commandment of love, which serves as the definitive interpretation of the law and prophets.

Are You Straddling the Fence? A Call to Decisive Faith

This homily challenges listeners to examine their faith for any 'straddling the fence' between God and false idols like materialism, comfort, indifference, and fear. Drawing on the dramatic confrontation between Elijah and the prophets of Baal, it emphasizes the call to decisive, wholehearted discipleship and living God's law with love from the heart, not just external observance.

Don't Let Your Light Go Out: Keeping God First in Your Life

The homily emphasizes that true faith is not just about following rules, but about loving and obeying God with a sincere heart. Using the story of a lighthouse keeper who neglected his primary duty, the homily warns against allowing other priorities to overshadow God's place in our lives, urging us to keep the flame of faith burning by living out His commandments.

Beyond Rules: How Jesus Fulfills the Law with Love

The homily emphasizes that Jesus came not to abolish the law, but to fulfill it by restoring its heart. It challenges listeners to move beyond mere outward observance and fear-based obedience, instead allowing Christ to purify their desires and convert their hearts through love, seeking true holiness rather than just spiritual minimums.

Why Christians Must Be Different: The Evangelical Counsels as Paths to Freedom

The homily emphasizes that the Christian life should be distinctive, like salt, and informed by the evangelical counsels of poverty, chastity, and obedience. These counsels, though seemingly counter-cultural, are presented not as restrictions but as paths to freedom and a recognition that our lives are God's project, not our own.

Why God Answers Some Prayers and Not Others: The Secret of a Surrendered Heart

The homily emphasizes that true faith is not about performing elaborate rituals or using many words in prayer, but about having a heart completely surrendered to God. Drawing from the story of Elijah and the prophets of Baal, the priest explains that God answers prayers when one's life and actions align with their faith, reflecting a deep, obedient relationship with Him.

Father John Paul: Fulfilling the Law - Beyond Just Hearing Scripture

Father John Paul

The homily focuses on Jesus' teaching that he came not to abolish the law but to fulfill it, emphasizing the permanence and authority of scripture. It challenges listeners to truly listen to the scriptures and embrace their deeper meaning through Christ, living with integrity and cultivating a righteousness that reflects God's kingdom.

Are You Straddling the Fence? Choosing God Wholeheartedly

The homily emphasizes the importance of wholehearted obedience to God's law, contrasting it with the temptation to 'straddle the fence' between faith and worldly conveniences. Drawing from the story of Elijah and the prophets of Baal, the priest challenges listeners to identify and abandon 'false gods' in their lives, whether they be money, status, or even the desire for family peace, in favor of complete trust in God.

Why God's Commandments Aren't About Limiting Your Fun

The homily emphasizes that humans dislike being told what to do and prefer control, but often fail when relying solely on themselves. Drawing from the readings, it highlights that God's commandments are not arbitrary restrictions but a guide to living a full human life, revealing God's love and leading to true fulfillment.

How Jesus Fulfilled the Law of Love

The homily reflects on Jesus' teaching that he came not to abolish the law, but to fulfill it, emphasizing that this law is the law of love. The priest explains that Jesus fulfilled this law through his obedience to God the Father and by laying down his life for his friends, inviting the faithful to do the same by loving God and one another sincerely.

Is Your Obedience to God Born of Fear or Love?

The homily emphasizes that Jesus came not to abolish the law, but to fulfill it by revealing its deepest meaning: reverence for God and respect for human life and dignity. It challenges listeners to examine whether their obedience to God's laws stems from fear or from a loving relationship with God, encouraging a sincere desire to love God and neighbor.

Fulfilling the Law: Why the Spirit Matters More Than Rituals

The homily connects the Old Testament story of Elijah challenging the prophets of Baal with Jesus' teaching in the Gospel of Matthew. It emphasizes that Jesus came to fulfill the law, not abolish it, and that true fulfillment requires the spirit behind the rituals, not just the rituals themselves. The priest highlights the importance of listening and embodying the spirit of the law.

Understanding the Mystery of the Trinity: God's Love and Our Obedience

The homily explores the mystery of the Holy Trinity, emphasizing that while we cannot fully comprehend God with our human minds, we can understand His nature through scripture. It highlights God's attributes as merciful, gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in love and fidelity, and encourages believers to share in this love by obeying God's will, even when it's difficult.

Spiritual Discernment: Are You Seeking God or a Spiritual High?

The homily emphasizes the importance of spiritual discernment, contrasting the showmanship and demonic channeling of the prophets of Baal with Elijah's simple, faith-filled obedience to the true God. It warns against seeking spiritual highs or mystical experiences without genuine obedience to God's commandments, urging listeners to offer their entire fragmented lives as a whole burnt offering to God.

Why We Can't Pick and Choose God's Laws

The homily emphasizes that God's law, as presented in the Old Testament and fulfilled by Jesus, is not optional and cannot be selectively followed. It highlights the importance of adhering to all of God's teachings, including caring for the disadvantaged and evangelizing, rather than picking and choosing which aspects of faith to practice.