Homilies about truth

When Political Issues Become Moral: A Priest's Stance on Injustice

Father Edward Smith

The homily challenges the congregation to view current events, particularly the killing of immigrants by ICE and political dishonesty, not merely as political issues but as moral ones. The priest argues that actions like murder and lying have inherent moral implications that transcend political debate, emphasizing personal responsibility and the need for truth and justice in society. He expresses his personal frustration with government actions and his refusal to support them with his tax money, instead preferring to donate to charities.

Why True Wisdom Begins with Trusting God, Not Yourself

The homily emphasizes that true wisdom comes from trusting God, not ourselves, and that faith perfects reason rather than replacing it. Drawing on Solomon's prayer for an understanding heart, the priest argues that submission to the Church's authentic teaching is a surrender of pride, leading to true freedom and flourishing, especially in a world saturated with information but lacking truth.

The One Seed of Truth: Cultivating Your Heart for God's Harvest

Father Shuquin

The homily emphasizes that Jesus came to plant one singular seed of truth, the Gospel, in our hearts, not a variety of truths or revolutionary changes. It uses the parable of the sower to highlight our free will in accepting or rejecting this divine seed, urging listeners to cultivate their hearts to grow holiness rather than allowing the 'thorns of life' to choke it out.

The Untamed Tongue: Why Your Words Matter More Than You Think

The homily focuses on the Eighth Commandment, "You shall not bear false witness," emphasizing the profound power and responsibility of human speech. Drawing heavily from St. James' Epistle, it highlights how speech, though a small part of us, can cause immense good or evil, comparing it to a bit in a horse's mouth, a ship's rudder, or a spark igniting a forest fire. The priest argues that speech is intimately connected to truth and our very humanity, and its misuse through lying or deception is a perversion of its divine purpose.

Stand for Truth: Overcoming Plots and Adversity with God

The homily reflects on the first reading from Micah and the Gospel of Matthew, highlighting the common human tendency to plot against others out of jealousy, envy, or fear. It emphasizes that those who stand for truth, like Jesus, will ultimately prevail, and encourages listeners to be strong and steadfast in doing what is right, trusting in God's support through adversity.

What Would You Ask God For? The Wisdom of Solomon and the Kingdom of Heaven

The homily emphasizes the importance of choosing wisdom and truth, like Solomon, over worldly desires. It uses the parables of the hidden treasure and the pearl of great price to illustrate that the Kingdom of God, or truth, is worth sacrificing everything for. The homilist warns against neglecting this longing for truth, comparing it to being a 'bad fish' thrown into a furnace, leading to misery.

Why Truth Can Be a Stumbling Block on God's Straight Path

The homily emphasizes that the 'straight paths of the Lord' can be a stumbling block for those who reject the truth. It highlights that fundamental truths of the faith, like God being a Father or Jesus being the one Lord, become barriers for those unwilling to accept them, despite the path itself being clear.

Speaking Truth with Charity: Be Shrewd as Serpents, Innocent as Doves

The homily explores Jesus' command to be 'shrewd as serpents and innocent as doves,' emphasizing the importance of speaking truth with charity. The priest uses the analogy of a direct serpent and a gentle dove to illustrate how to deliver difficult truths, like addressing a loved one's health issues, in a way that promotes change rather than causing hurt or enabling harmful behavior. He stresses that while truth can be uncomfortable, it must always be delivered with love, mirroring God's own approach.

Why We're Afraid to Speak the Truth (And How God Helps Us)

The homily reflects on the difficulty of proclaiming the Gospel's truth in a world that prefers darkness, drawing on the priest's personal struggle with cowardice in his preaching. It emphasizes that despite this fear, the Holy Spirit provides the strength needed to be a witness and apostle of the good news.

Why Forming Your Conscience is Essential for a Good Life

The homily emphasizes the importance of forming a well-trained conscience to discern between good and evil, as requested by Solomon in the first reading. It highlights that while we have the capacity to reason and choose, original sin clouds our intellect and weakens our will, making us inclined to evil. The priest warns against the devil's attempts to make us ignore our conscience and stresses our responsibility to actively seek truth through God's word, Church teachings, good examples, and examination of conscience.

Open-Mindedness, Truth, and the Christian Response to 'Weeds' in the World

The homily discusses the concept of 'open-mindedness' in a Christian context, drawing on GK Chesterton's quotes to argue that while listening to others is good, Christians must ultimately anchor their minds in the truth of Christ. It connects this to the Gospel parable of the wheat and weeds, emphasizing that not all opinions lead to God, and that charity is the difficult but essential Christian response when encountering those who hold differing or even harmful views, especially when struggling with forgiveness.

Why God Reveals Everything: Our Duty to Proclaim the Truth Now

The homily emphasizes that everything hidden will be revealed at the final judgment, and God will provide answers for all life's questions, making sense of our suffering. It stresses the Christian obligation to proclaim the full truth of the Catholic Church now, so people are not surprised at the final judgment.

Speaking Truth with Kindness: Shrewd as Serpents, Simple as Doves

The homily emphasizes the importance of combining wisdom and kindness in communication, drawing from Jesus' instruction to be 'shrewd as serpents and simple as doves.' The priest shares personal anecdotes about receiving advice on how to respond thoughtfully, especially when angry, highlighting the need for kindness when speaking the truth in today's world.

Why Discerning Truth is Your Path to Heaven

Father Paul

The homily emphasizes the importance of discerning truth in a world filled with 'hyperbolized' realities, drawing a parallel to the parable of the weeds and the wheat. The priest uses a humorous anecdote about a 'burner gun' commercial using a banana to illustrate how distractions can obscure truth, urging listeners to seek God's truth as the ultimate guide to heaven and to avoid negativity.

Why Denying Objective Truth Destroys Society and Faith

The homily emphasizes the critical importance of objective truth, drawing a parallel between the fertile soil of the Roman Empire for the Gospel and the need for society today to acknowledge objective reality. The priest argues that denying objective truth, particularly regarding natural law (like in contraception and gender identity), leads to societal breakdown and confusion, contrasting it with the foundational role of objective truth in both civilization and Christian faith.

Why the Church Must Speak Hard Truths: Weeds, Wheat, and the Secular World

The homily emphasizes that God's delayed justice is an opportunity for repentance, not an absence of consequences. The priest warns against the secular world filling the void left by the Church's silence on difficult truths, using the example of natural family planning and declining birth rates. He urges Catholics to boldly proclaim the truth, call sin what it is, and live out their faith, even when it's challenging.

Why God's Commandments Are Not Restrictive, But Freeing

The homily emphasizes the importance of wisdom and understanding, which are gifts of the Holy Spirit, to discern absolute truth and distinguish right from wrong. It connects these concepts to the parables of the Kingdom of Heaven, highlighting that God's commandments are not restrictive but freeing, leading to eternal salvation. The homily also warns against the dangers of relativism, which undermines moral foundations and prevents living holy lives.