Homilies about service

Wax On, Wax Off: How to Cultivate Your Heart and Community for Lasting Charity

Father Nick

The homily uses the parable of the sower and the Karate Kid's 'wax on, wax off' training to illustrate that true charity and spiritual growth require deep, often unseen, preparatory work rather than quick fixes. It emphasizes that the parish's 'Good Samaritan Weekend' is about cultivating the 'soil' of the community through relational charity, addressing food insecurity and caregiving, to bear lasting fruit.

How Kindness and Service Bring People Back to Christ

Deacon Dave

The homily emphasizes that true evangelization happens through acts of kindness and service, not just words. Drawing from a parish mission trip, the speaker shares stories of how practical help and a generous spirit led people to open up to faith and even return to church, highlighting that our actions are a powerful witness to Christ's love.

A Missionary's Story: Attacked by Robbers, Sustained by Faith

Father Steven Shaiu

Father Steven Shaiu, a Vincentian missionary from India serving in East Africa, shares his experiences of hardship and faith, including being attacked by robbers multiple times. He connects the Gospel's parable of the sower to the mission of allowing God's word to take root in our hearts and then extending that mission through evangelization and compassionate service to the poor and abandoned. He appeals for prayers, financial support for their missionary work, and sponsorship for seminarians.

My Unexpected Journey to Becoming a Deacon: Finding God's Call in a Lost Hat

Deacon Les Nory

The homily, delivered by a deacon, explores the nature of the diaconate vocation, drawing parallels to the Gospel's parables of the hidden treasure and the pearl of great price. The deacon shares his personal, circuitous journey to the diaconate, emphasizing that the call can be sudden or a result of a long search. He highlights the deacon's role as a servant in the world, ministering to various needs and witnessing God's grace in people's lives, and encourages men and their wives to discern this vocation.

God's Power in Cracked Pottery: The Unremarkable Path of Christian Service

The homily reflects on the Feast of St. James the Greater, emphasizing that true Christian leadership is not about power or authority, but sacrificial service. Drawing from the readings, the priest highlights that the Church's enduring existence is due to God's power working through 'cracked, fragile pottery'—unremarkable individuals—rather than human strength or ambition. He encourages believers to embrace their role as humble vessels through whom God's glory is manifested.

The Joy of Selfless Service: Lessons from St. James and Jesus

The homily emphasizes Jesus' teaching on selfless service, contrasting it with worldly desires for power and status. It highlights that true joy and a meaningful life come from serving others, drawing a connection to the Feast of Saint James, the patron of pilgrims, and the idea of life as a pilgrimage of service.

St. James the Greater: A Life of Faith, Commitment, and Service to Christ

The homily celebrates the Feast of St. James the Greater, highlighting his close relationship with Jesus, his unwavering faith, and his commitment to spreading the Gospel to the ends of the earth. It connects the Gospel reading about James and John's mother asking for positions of honor to the idea of desiring closeness to Jesus, and emphasizes Jesus' teaching that true greatness lies in service, exemplified by James's life and martyrdom.

The True Meaning of Greatness: Serving Others in the Footsteps of St. James

Padre Santiago López Vázquez

The homily reflects on the Feast of St. James the Apostle, emphasizing the Church's apostolic and hierarchical nature and the importance of obedience to its leaders. It contrasts worldly greatness with Christian service, highlighting Jesus' teaching on humility. The homily also connects St. James' martyrdom to the Cristero martyrs in Mexico, encouraging modern-day faithfulness amidst different forms of 'martyrdom' in daily life.

Misericordia Quiero, No Sacrificios: La Prioridad de la Compasión

The homily emphasizes that God desires mercy, not sacrifice, urging believers to cultivate compassionate hearts and see Christ in every person. It challenges the rigid interpretation of the Sabbath, asserting that human dignity and the act of doing good should always take precedence, even on sacred days.

Fr. Noble Dominic: What Does it Mean to Drink Jesus' Cup?

Fr. Noble Dominic MSFS

The homily focuses on the Feast Day of St. James the Greater, using his life as an example of devotion. It then delves into Jesus' question to James and John, "Can you drink the cup that I am going to drink?" The priest clarifies that this cup signifies sacrifice and doing the will of the Father, not earthly success or self-aggrandizement, emphasizing that true greatness comes from humble service to others.

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.

St. James and the True Meaning of Greatness in God's Kingdom

This homily on the Feast of St. James the Apostle emphasizes that true greatness in God's kingdom is measured by sacrificial love and service to others, not by worldly power or position. Drawing from the Gospel reading where James and John's mother seeks high places for her sons, the homily highlights Jesus' correction that the greatest among them shall be a servant, mirroring Christ's own humble service and James's martyrdom.

The Way of St. James: Carrying the Gospel in Earthen Vessels

The homily reflects on the Feast of St. James, drawing parallels between his martyrdom and the Christian calling to carry the 'treasure of the Gospel' in 'earthen vessels.' It emphasizes that true greatness in the kingdom of God comes from serving others, just as Jesus came not to be served but to serve and give his life as a ransom.

Finding Jesus in the Mundane: The Call to Serve Like St. James

The homily reflects on the feast of St. James, one of Jesus' inner circle, and questions what truly shaped his understanding of Christ. It emphasizes that while extraordinary events like the raising of Jairus's daughter and the Transfiguration were significant, the core message lies in Jesus's teaching of humble service, not seeking power or worldly greatness. The priest encourages listeners to find Jesus not in the flashy, but in the simple, ordinary, day-to-day acts of service.

Seeking God's Wisdom: The Path to True Greatness and Service

Father God

The homily emphasizes seeking God's wisdom and will above personal gain, drawing parallels between King Solomon's request for an understanding heart and Jesus's humility. It challenges listeners to use their gifts and talents for the service of God and neighbor, transforming negative traits into virtues like love, forgiveness, and care, thereby conforming to the image of Christ.

St. James and the Call to Serve: How Mary Completes the Gospel

The homily celebrates St. James as a hero of faith, highlighting his missionary journey to Spain and his martyrdom. It emphasizes that the Blessed Virgin Mary completes the Gospel by showing us how Jesus' life is to be brought to life in each of us, taking the form of service, just as Jesus came not to be served but to serve.

The Call to Serve: Lessons from St. James the Apostle

The homily for the Feast of St. James the Apostle emphasizes that despite suffering and temptation, God's power transforms us. It highlights Jesus' teaching on service and humility, contrasting worldly ambition with the call to be servants, just as Christ came not to be served but to serve and give his life.

Embracing the Cross: The Call to Serve and Triumph

The homily emphasizes that the cross is central to Jesus's mission and, therefore, must be central to the lives of his followers. Drawing on the Gospel of Matthew and St. Teresa of Avila, the priest encourages listeners to embrace suffering and serve others, finding strength in the cross to overcome fear and selfishness.

The Chalice of Sacrifice: What St. James Teaches Us About True Greatness

This homily reflects on the Feast of St. James, emphasizing that true greatness in Christ's kingdom is found not in status or privilege, but in self-giving sacrifice and service. It challenges the worldly view of success, highlighting that suffering, when united with Christ's, becomes a path to holiness and resurrection, rather than a sign of abandonment or failure.

Are You Proclaiming Christ in Your Life? A Reflection on St. James

The homily reflects on the humility of Christ and the call for believers to serve rather than be served, drawing parallels to St. James the Apostle's passion and his conversion of his accuser. It challenges the congregation to actively proclaim Christ through their actions and words, especially within their families, rather than remaining silent.