Homilies about struggle

The Call to Be Missionaries of Joy: Learning from St. James' Journey with Christ

This homily, delivered during a 'Missionaries of Joy' commissioning Mass, reflects on the 200th anniversary of the Archdiocese of St. Louis and the call to evangelization. It uses the Gospel account of James and John's mother seeking positions of power to illustrate that Jesus' kingdom is one of service and self-sacrifice, not political ambition. The speaker emphasizes that missionaries of joy are called to bring healing, reveal God's glory, and be present in others' struggles, just as Peter, James, and John witnessed Jesus' healing, transfiguration, and Gethsemane agony.