Homilies about trust

Beyond 'Footprints in the Sand': How to Partner with God and Others

Father Ricky

This homily, delivered on Trinity Sunday and celebrating recent graduates, uses a humorous twist on the 'Footprints in the Sand' poem to illustrate the dynamic nature of the Holy Trinity. It emphasizes that while God always carries us, we are also called to actively work and cooperate with God, and to rely on the support of others, embodying the three persons of the Trinity in our spiritual journey.

Why a Priest Failed the Trinity Class (and What He Learned About God's Love)

Father Geneito

The priest shares his personal struggle with understanding the Holy Trinity, emphasizing that its core mystery is God's unconditional love for us. He argues that recognizing this love transforms prayer from an obligation to a conversation, obedience from a burden to a response of love, and fosters trust in God's plan even amidst suffering. He illustrates this with personal anecdotes and the experience of Vietnamese refugees, highlighting that even in the face of profound suffering, the ultimate truth is that we are loved by the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

How the Holy Spirit Whispers Guidance in Grief

Father Rafa

The homily, delivered by a Deacon, focuses on the mystery of the Holy Trinity, emphasizing the often-overlooked role of the Holy Spirit. Using analogies like fire and personal relationships, the Deacon explains the Trinity and then shares a powerful personal story about how the Holy Spirit guided him to help a grieving father find peace after his son's unexpected death, highlighting the importance of listening to the Holy Spirit's whispers.

Beyond 'I Believe': Are You Willing to Get in God's Wheelbarrow?

The homily focuses on the profound meaning of John 3:16, emphasizing that God's love is perfect and unconditional, unlike human love. It challenges listeners to move beyond mere intellectual acceptance of God's existence to a complete, committed trust, illustrating this with the story of Charles Blondon the tightrope walker and the Greek word 'pistuo' for belief.

The Priest Who Wears His Mother's Wedding Gown: Trusting God's Unseen Plan

Father Francis

The homily begins with a captivating personal story about the priest wearing a vestment made from his mother's wedding gown, highlighting God's providential plan in his vocation. It then transitions to the mystery of the Holy Trinity, emphasizing that some aspects of faith, like the Trinity and a priestly calling, cannot be fully explained but must be lived and trusted through faith. The priest concludes by expressing profound gratitude for his vocation and the community's support, reinforcing the idea that God's plan unfolds in unexpected ways.

Are You Treating God Like a YouTuber? The Trinity and True Relationship

Father Sean Kali

Father Sean Kali reflects on Trinity Sunday, emphasizing that humans are created in the image of God, who is a communion of love. He challenges the modern tendency to live in isolation, contrasting it with Jesus's complete dependence and surrender to the Father. The homily uses the analogy of installing a dishwasher and seeking advice from a spiritual director versus YouTube or AI to illustrate the difference between relational and transactional interactions, urging listeners to cultivate a deeper, dependent relationship with God.

The Holy Trinity: Not a Problem to Solve, But a Relationship to Live

Father Tom Ryan

The homily emphasizes that the Holy Trinity is not a complex theological problem to be solved, but a relationship to be lived. Through a personal story of encountering aggressive dogs while running, the priest illustrates how the Father creates, the Son saves, and the Holy Spirit stays with us, providing peace and strength in moments of fear and uncertainty. The core message is to invite the Holy Spirit into our lives, especially when facing difficulties.

Are You Trusting God, or Your Own 'Small-G Gods'?

The homily emphasizes the importance of absolute faith in God, drawing a parallel with Elijah's challenge to the prophets of Baal. It encourages listeners to examine their own lives for 'small-g gods' they might be prioritizing over the Lord and to seek conversion to place their trust solely in God's love, mercy, and power.

When God Doesn't Answer Your Prayers (And What He Offers Instead)

The homily reflects on the first reading from 1 Kings about Elijah and the prophets of Baal, highlighting the contrast between a God who listens and responds, and false gods who do not. It then connects this to our own prayer lives, suggesting that sometimes we don't speak to God, don't listen to Him, or expect Him to respond in a way that isn't best for us. The core message is that God often answers in silence, offering His very self as the solution to our problems.

How Your Daily Work Connects to the Eucharist and God's Plan

Father Dawn

This homily, part of a "Made for Monday" series, explores the relationship between faith and work, drawing parallels between the Israelites' journey in the desert and our own struggles. It emphasizes that God tests us to build trust and that our work, when viewed as a vocation, is a means by which God prospers us, ultimately preparing us for eternal life through the Eucharist.

Be Salt and Light: Trusting God When Resources Run Dry

Father Duvon

The homily emphasizes that God's grace is most evident when human resources are depleted, using the examples of Elijah and the widow of Zerapath, and Jesus' call to be salt and light. It urges believers to live with a distinct, visible faith, trusting in God's provision and reflecting His light to a world in need, rather than hiding their faith or blending into dullness.

Are You Accidentally Worshipping Idols? A Homily on Trusting God Alone

The homily challenges listeners to examine their lives for 'idols' that subtly replace God, drawing parallels to the story of Elijah and the prophets of Baal. It emphasizes that while we may outwardly claim God, we often place trust in material things, prestige, or human opinions. The priest stresses that God's commandments are not chains but pathways to freedom and salvation, inviting a conscious decision to put God at the center of life.

Salt and Light: How Disciples Season and Preserve the World

This homily explores Jesus' metaphors of salt and light, emphasizing that disciples are called to season life with faithful and joyful living, preserving human community through unity in diversity. It connects this to the story of Elijah and the widow, highlighting how trusting God and honoring His church prevents destitution and fosters care among believers.

You Are the Salt and Light: The Call to Generosity and Trust

The homily emphasizes the Christian's responsibility to be the 'salt of the earth' and 'light of the world,' connecting this to the Beatitudes and the example of the widow from the First Reading. It highlights the importance of trust in God and generosity, drawing parallels to St. Ephraim's dedication and calling all to allow the Spirit to lead them in good deeds.

La Providencia de Dios: Confiar en la Escasez y Ser Sal y Luz

The homily reflects on God's providence, drawing parallels between the widow of Zarephath and a personal anecdote about organizing a youth congress with limited funds. It emphasizes that God provides what is needed, not necessarily in abundance, and that humility and generosity are key to experiencing divine providence, contrasting it with selfishness and pride.

Are You Willing to Receive God's Provision, Even Through a Raven?

Father Ryan

The homily connects the readings about Elijah and the widow to the story of Adam and Eve, emphasizing God's consistent provision for our needs, even when it comes in unexpected or undesirable forms. It challenges listeners to have open eyes and hearts to receive God's provision as He intends, rather than how we might prefer it.

Are You Playing Both Sides? The Danger of a Divided Heart

The homily uses the Old Testament story of Elijah and the prophets of Baal to illustrate the danger of having a divided heart. It challenges listeners to examine where they place their trust, beyond God, in things like financial security, property, or family, and to commit to giving God their whole heart, mind, and strength.

Is Your Heart Divided? Repairing the Altar of Your Soul

The homily challenges listeners to examine where their hearts are divided between God and worldly attachments, drawing parallels to Elijah's confrontation with the prophets of Baal. It emphasizes that God does not abandon a broken altar (our hearts) and invites us to allow Jesus to fulfill what is unfinished in us, leading to freedom and holiness.

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.

How God Uses Your Work and Struggles to Draw You Closer to Him

Father Dawn

The homily, delivered on the Feast of Corpus Christi, connects the Israelites' journey through the desert and God's provision of manna to our modern work lives and the Eucharist. It emphasizes that God tests us to build trust and that our work should be seen as a vocation, leading to praise and worship rather than pride in our own efforts. The Eucharist is presented as Christ's work, which requires our active participation, transforming us to be more like Him.