What's on your heart?

How the Eucharist Heals Our Shattered Hearts: A Priest's Personal Story

Father Peter Randolph

The homily emphasizes that Jesus's flesh and blood are true food and drink, not just for physical nourishment but for spiritual, emotional, psychological, and even physical healing and communion. The priest shares a deeply personal story of how the Eucharist sustained him through the grief of a loved one's death, highlighting its power to heal shattered hearts in a broken world.

El Miedo No Es Respeto: Sanando Heridas Familiares en el Día del Padre

Padre Vicente Agila

The homily, delivered on Father's Day, explores the nature of fear, distinguishing between healthy and pathological fear. The priest shares a personal story of childhood trauma and his father's assassination, emphasizing that true faith means trusting in God's love rather than relying on external objects or superstitions. He encourages parishioners, especially spouses and children, to value and appreciate their fathers, recognizing their efforts and healing past wounds through love and understanding, rather than criticism or judgment.

What Remains When Everything Else is Gone: A Priest's Reflection on Suffering and Faith

Fr. Yosvel Rodríguez Ordaz

The homily, delivered on the priest's 7th anniversary of ordination, reflects on the First Reading and the Beatitudes. It emphasizes that periods of 'drought' or difficulty in life are opportunities for God to purify us from false idols and that God always provides the grace needed for any calling, often in unexpected ways. The homily also highlights that true blessedness for disciples comes from maintaining a heavenly perspective amidst earthly suffering, illustrated by two powerful personal anecdotes from the priest's ministry: baptizing a dying infant with the help of an atheist nurse and anointing a dying woman who found solace solely in gazing at the cross.

Deacon Ed Shoner on Mental Illness, Suicide, and God's Unwavering Love

Deacon Ed Shoner

Deacon Ed Shoner shares his personal experience with mental illness and the suicide death of his daughter, Katie, to advocate for Catholic Mental Health Ministry. He emphasizes the Church's evolving understanding of suicide and the importance of compassionate accompaniment for those suffering from mental health challenges, drawing connections to scripture that highlight God's unwavering love and Christ's solidarity with human suffering.

Healing Childhood Trauma: How Fear Shapes Our Adult Relationships

Padre Vicenteila

The homily, delivered on Father's Day, explores the theme of fear and its roots in childhood trauma, particularly regarding parental figures. The priest shares a personal anecdote about his own childhood fear of snakes and subsequent panic attacks, connecting it to the Gospel's message of 'do not be afraid.' He then delves into how unresolved traumas manifest in adult behaviors, such as seeking external validation through material possessions or relationships, and offers advice for couples to heal these wounds by valuing and respecting each other.

From Violence to Faith: How God Healed My Family's Wounds

Padre Michael Nixon

The homily emphasizes God as a loving Father (Abba) and encourages trust in Him, especially in the face of fear. The priest shares a powerful personal story of his family's conversion, marked by violence, addiction, and poverty, highlighting how God intervened to bring forgiveness and faith. He stresses that God is not afraid of our darkness and wants to heal our wounds related to fatherhood, revealing that we are not orphans but cherished children of God.

A Father's Unconditional Love: Living the Eucharist in the World

Raymond

The homily emphasizes that receiving the Eucharist is not merely a private act of thanksgiving, but a call to actively embody Christ's love, justice, and compassion in the world. The priest shares a powerful personal story about his father's unconditional love and acceptance after he came out as gay, illustrating how this love reflects the core identity of Christ and the purpose of the Catholic Christian life.

Raúl Gómez: Mi Transformación de 40 Años de Pecado a la Santidad

Raúl Gómez

The homily emphasizes that all Christians are called to holiness, not just a select few, and that this call is possible through Christ. The speaker shares a powerful personal testimony of how God transformed his life from sin and restored his dignity, illustrating that holiness is attainable even after years of spiritual degradation. He encourages listeners to embrace their unique mission, avoid comparison, and live a life of love and service, trusting in God's unwavering faithfulness.

A Mother's Journey: Finding God's Love and Inclusion for Her Transgender Child

This homily, delivered on the Feast of Corpus Christi, emphasizes radical inclusivity within the Church, drawing from St. Paul's letter to the Corinthians to argue against any form of exclusion. It features a powerful personal testimony from a mother of a transgender child, highlighting the pain of rejection from religious communities and the joy of finding an accepting faith home at All Saints Church.

A Mother's Journey: Finding God's Love and Acceptance for Her Transgender Child

This homily, delivered on the Feast of Corpus Christi and during Pride Week, emphasizes the Eucharist as a symbol of unity and radical inclusivity, drawing parallels to the early Corinthian church's struggles with marginalization. A parishioner then shares her personal journey as the mother of a transgender child, highlighting the pain of rejection from some Catholic communities and the joy and fear associated with her daughter's authentic self-discovery, ultimately finding a welcoming home at All Saints Church.

Medjugorje: How Our Lady Reconciled My Divorced Parents

This homily, delivered on the 45th anniversary of the Medjugorje apparitions, emphasizes the profound fruit of Our Lady's presence as Queen of Peace, highlighting millions of conversions, confessions, and increased love for God. The priest draws parallels between Mary and biblical figures like Elijah and John the Baptist, suggesting she is preparing the world for Christ's second coming. He shares a powerful personal testimony of his parents' reconciliation through Our Lady of Medjugorje, urging listeners to invite her into their families for healing and peace.

The Demonic Deception Behind Compromising God's Law on Marriage

This homily connects the Old Testament story of Elijah battling the prophets of Baal with the Gospel's teaching on fulfilling the law, arguing that demonic deception inspires people and even churches to break God's commandments, especially regarding marriage and sexuality. The priest condemns the display of rainbow flags by churches as blasphemous and a demonic inversion of God's covenant, emphasizing that true freedom lies in following God's law and living a chaste life, even for those struggling with same-sex attraction.

Building Your Spiritual House on Rock: Lessons from the Titanic

Father Enrique Salo

The homily emphasizes that life's storms are inevitable, and our spiritual foundation, built through daily practice of loving God and others, determines how we respond. Using the Titanic disaster as an extended analogy, the priest illustrates how ingrained character and preparation (or lack thereof) manifest in moments of crisis, highlighting both heroic and selfish acts, and the importance of letting the Holy Spirit mold us for these challenging times.

The Widow's Mite: Why Giving Everything Changes Everything

Father Enrique Salvo

The homily reflects on the Gospel of the poor widow's offering, emphasizing that true generosity comes from giving everything, not just surplus. It highlights the common nature of this selfless giving among the humble and connects it to the Church's foundation of charity. The priest shares a personal anecdote about a Nicaraguan woman who exemplified this spirit by using her avocado tree's profits to host a grand celebration for the Blessed Mother, demonstrating that giving back to God is an act of trust and gratitude that opens a fountain of blessings.

Why the Church Will Never Be Defeated: Lessons from a Leper and Napoleon

The homily begins by analyzing the Gospel story of the leper and Jesus, highlighting how both defied Jewish law through their actions: the leper by approaching Jesus, and Jesus by touching him. The priest then uses this as a springboard to discuss the enduring nature of the Church, using the example of Napoleon's failed attempt to destroy it, emphasizing that the Church will always stand firm despite external and internal challenges, sustained by the faith of its members.

الحياة الأبدية تبدأ الآن: كن السامري الصالح في بيتك

ابونا فواز كاكو

The homily emphasizes that eternal life begins now through our relationship with Jesus Christ, not just after death. It challenges listeners to embody the Good Samaritan's mercy, especially towards those closest to them, and to extend love and forgiveness even to enemies, transcending worldly boundaries. The priest stresses that the Church's role is to offer Christ's body and blood and the Word of God for healing, not judgment or human theories.

God is Not Absent in Your Suffering: Rise Up and Lead

The homily emphasizes that despite life's problems and suffering, God is never absent. It calls on the faithful, particularly those who have experienced hardship and marginalization, to recognize their inherent worth and to rise as leaders within their communities, rather than waiting for external solutions. The core message is about resilience, self-reliance, and active participation in building a better, more dignified life, drawing parallels to the lost sheep and the call for local leadership.

Corpus Christi: The Radical Connection Between the Eucharist and Human Sexuality

The homily for Corpus Christi emphasizes the holiness of the body, drawing a profound connection between Jesus' total gift of his body in the Eucharist and the 'language of the body' in human sexuality, as taught by St. John Paul II's Theology of the Body. It argues that both liturgy and sexuality are rooted in the dynamic of total self-gift for another, and that even single persons can offer their desires for union to God in prayer.

Fr. David Bonner's Farewell Homily: Our Journey Home to God

Father David Bonner

The homily reflects on the nature of pilgrimage, using the Camino de Santiago shell as a metaphor for life's journey leading back to God. The priest shares personal anecdotes about his upcoming move and the importance of recognizing each person's unique story and value, emphasizing that while paths diverge, we never walk alone in our Christian journey.

Father's Day Homily: The Unseen Love of Fathers

Padre Nicolau

This homily, delivered on Father's Day, emphasizes the profound and often unacknowledged love of fathers. The priest shares personal anecdotes about his own father's wisdom and sacrifice, urging the congregation to express gratitude and seek forgiveness from their fathers, whether living or deceased. He highlights the unique role of fathers in giving life and providing guidance, contrasting it with the more openly expressed appreciation for mothers.