Homilies about obedience

Father Adam on the Toughest Priestly Promise: Obedience

Father Adam Potter

Father Adam reflects on the difficulty of priestly obedience, particularly in the face of a new assignment, contrasting it with the perceived difficulty of celibacy. He connects his personal struggle to the Gospel's parable of the sower, emphasizing that our hearts must be fertile soil to accept God's will, even when it involves affliction or discomfort. He shares his gratitude for his time at the parish and the lessons learned through trusting God's plan.

Let the Spirit Speak Through You: Finding Grace in Humility and Obedience

Fr. Yosvel Rodriguez Ordaz

The homily emphasizes that our actions and words should be guided by the Holy Spirit, not by our own desires for greatness. It encourages humility, obedience, and silence, drawing inspiration from St. Benedict, and reminds us to stay close to the Lord, especially during struggles, as He will provide the necessary grace and wisdom.

Beyond Honoring Mary: How to Imitate Her Faith and Obedience

This homily, delivered on the Feast of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, emphasizes that Mary's greatness comes not just from bearing Jesus, but from hearing and living God's word. The priest challenges listeners to imitate Mary by actively listening to God's voice amidst the competing voices of self and temptation, and then putting His word into practice through concrete acts of kindness, forgiveness, and service.

The Danger of a Divided Heart: Lessons from Solomon and the Kingdom of Heaven

The homily explores the story of King Solomon, highlighting his request for a 'listening heart' but also his eventual downfall due to a divided heart seeking power and pleasure. The priest connects this to the Gospel parables of the treasure and pearl, emphasizing that true devotion to God requires an undivided heart, fully committed to His will and glory, embracing both the ancient traditions and God's present-day communication.

The Brown Scapular: Not a 'Get Out of Jail Free Card,' But a Path to Holiness

This homily focuses on the Brown Scapular of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, explaining its nature as a sacramental and clarifying its promises. The priest emphasizes that wearing the scapular is not a 'get out of jail free card' but a pledge of maternal assistance from Mary for those who strive to live a virtuous life in imitation of her virtues and in obedience to God's commandments. It serves as a reminder that our bodies and lives belong to God and should bear good fruit.

How to Grow in Understanding: The Gift of an Obedient Heart

Father Michael Panka

The homily explores the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit, focusing specifically on the gift of understanding. It delves into the Hebrew and Greek roots of 'understanding' to show it's about discerning divine truth and seeing the world as God does, with a moral implication for our actions. The priest emphasizes that growing in understanding requires an 'obedient heart' that listens to and aligns with God's will, using Solomon's prayer as a model.

Is Your Heart Good Soil? Cultivating a Life That Bears Fruit for God

The homily challenges listeners to examine their spiritual condition, emphasizing that being a Christian is not just about hearing God's word, but understanding, accepting, and living it. The priest uses the parable of the sower to illustrate that a fruitful heart is cultivated through daily prayer, humility, repentance, and obedience, leading to actions that glorify God and bless others. He shares a personal anecdote about getting lost in Manhattan and finding help through prayer, highlighting how faithfulness attracts divine assistance.

Are You Fertile Soil for God's Word? (Deacon Mike)

Deacon Mike

This homily emphasizes that God's word, embodied in Jesus Christ, is always purposeful and effective, like rain that waters the earth. It challenges parishioners to be fertile soil for God's word, actively cooperating with it through good works and obedience, rather than passively receiving it. The homily uses biblical examples to illustrate how ordinary people can fulfill God's mission and bear fruit in their lives.

Why God's Mercy Demands Our Humility: The Parable of Weeds and Wheat

The homily emphasizes God's immense mercy and leniency, contrasting it with human pride and inability to forgive ourselves. Using the parable of the weeds and wheat, the priest encourages cultivating humility, gratitude, and obedience to allow God to work within us, removing obstacles (weeds) that hinder our spiritual growth and relationship with Christ.

The Brown Scapular: More Than a Lucky Charm

This homily focuses on the significance of the Brown Scapular of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, explaining it as a sacramental that disposes one to grace and a sign of consecration to Mary. The priest clarifies that wearing the scapular is not a magical charm for salvation, but rather a pledge of maternal assistance for those who strive to live a virtuous life in imitation of Mary and obedience to God's will. It serves as a constant reminder that our bodies and lives belong to God and should bear good fruit.

Living a Life of Purity and Purpose: Lessons from Isaiah and St. Benedict

Rev. Gerald De Luney

The homily emphasizes the importance of purity in speech and action, drawing parallels between Isaiah's calling and the Christian's call to follow Christ's example. It highlights St. Benedict as a model of religious perfection through self-conquest, humility, and detachment from the world, encouraging listeners to embrace their inherent value to God and live according to His commands.

Finding God's Voice in a Noisy World: Lessons from St. Benedict

Fr. Yonhatan Londoño Acosta

The homily emphasizes that true strength and wisdom come from God, not from human efforts or worldly desires. It encourages Christians to remain in communion with God, especially during challenging times, and to embody the virtues of humility, obedience, and service, drawing inspiration from St. Benedict.

The Unseen Faith of Mary's Parents: How Joachim and Anne Teach Us to See God

The homily emphasizes the importance of faith and obedience to God's word, drawing lessons from the lives of Saints Joachim and Anne, the parents of Mary. Despite not being mentioned in the Bible, their story from extra-biblical sources highlights their struggle with barrenness and their unwavering faith, which ultimately led to the birth of Mary. The priest connects this to the Gospel reading, urging the faithful to have eyes to see and ears to hear God's word, recognizing Him in the Eucharist and in others, and aligning their lives with His instructions.

Living a Monastic Life in the World: Lessons from St. Benedict

The homily reflects on Peter's question about what the disciples will receive for giving up everything, connecting Jesus' answer to the life of St. Benedict. It highlights St. Benedict's emphasis on humility and obedience, and draws a parallel between the monastic 'ora et labora' (pray and work) and the daily lives of parishioners who balance work with communal prayer at church.

Our Lady of Mount Carmel: Mary's Obedience, the Scapular, and Our Path to Jesus

This homily focuses on the significance of the Blessed Mother Mary, particularly in the context of the Feast of Our Lady of Mount Carmel. It highlights Mary's obedience in contrast to Adam and Eve's disobedience, leading to salvation. The homily also delves into the history and spiritual meaning of the Brown Scapular, encouraging parishioners to seek Mary's intercession and emulate her total surrender and trust in God amidst life's anxieties.

Why We Must Prioritize God's Commandments in a World That Forgets Sin

The homily emphasizes the importance of prioritizing God's commandments and wisdom over worldly desires, drawing parallels between the Israelites' straying and modern society's normalization of sin. It encourages a life of gratitude, obedience, and seeking God's help daily, highlighting that true wealth and reward are found in heaven, not on earth, and that suffering for God is a cause for rejoicing.

Living the Benedictine Vows: Obedience, Stability, and Conversion in Daily Life

The homily focuses on the Benedictine vows of obedience, stability, and conversion, interpreting them for all Christians, not just monks. It emphasizes being faithful to God's will and one's vocation, persevering through difficulties, and continuously striving for spiritual growth and a life of prayer.

Our Lady: Queen of Heavenly Hosts and Terror of Demons

This homily focuses on the significance of 'Our Lady on Saturday' and clarifies the distinction between 'Sabbath' and 'Sabaoth'. It emphasizes Mary's unique relationship to God as the 'Lord of Hosts' and her militant character in spiritual battle, highlighting her humility and obedience as powerful forces against evil.

Más Allá de Oír: Cómo Escuchar y Entender la Palabra de Dios

The homily focuses on the Parable of the Sower, emphasizing the difference between merely hearing God's word and truly listening, understanding, and allowing it to bear fruit. The priest stresses the importance of having a 'good heart' (buen terreno) that is open to God's teachings, rejecting distractions and worldly ambitions. He also highlights the need for obedience and constructive criticism within the Church and families, drawing parallels to the importance of parental guidance.

St. Benedict: Listening with the Heart and the Birth of Western Monasticism

This homily celebrates the feast of St. Benedict, focusing on his call to 'listen with the ear of your heart' and his pivotal role in founding Western monasticism. The priest details Benedict's life, from his rejection of worldly pleasures to the establishment of Monte Cassino and the profound impact of the Benedictine Rule on the Church, including its influence on other religious orders and its contributions to scholarship and art.