Homilies about church

Is Salvation Only Through Christ? A Priest Challenges Modern Beliefs

Father Chris

The homily emphasizes that salvation is found only through Jesus Christ and his Church, challenging the modern belief that all good people go to heaven. The priest critiques a bishop's statement about finding divine presence in a mosque, arguing that it undermines the unique truth of the Triune God and the urgency of evangelization. He stresses the need for Catholics to actively seek conversion for others out of love, not fear, and to prioritize salvation above all worldly concerns.

Why Confirmation Isn't a Graduation from Church (and What It Is)

Father Michael Nixon

Father Michael Nixon reflects on the Holy Spirit's role in empowering Catholics for mission, drawing from his experiences at youth conferences. He challenges the common misconception of Confirmation as a 'graduation' from church, emphasizing that it's an anointing for a unique, unrepeatable mission to become saints, not to live a life of comfort. The homily encourages listeners to embrace discomfort, overcome the scandals within the Church, and actively participate in Christ's mission through the power of the Holy Spirit.

The Titanic, Weeds, and Why We Still Need the Church

The homily uses the historical context of the Harland and Wolf shipyard in Belfast and the building of the Titanic, amidst sectarian tensions, to illustrate Jesus' parables about the Kingdom of Heaven. It emphasizes that the Church is a mixed body of 'wheat and weeds,' both internally and externally, and highlights the Church's transformative impact on culture and society, cautioning against modern arrogance that believes humanity no longer needs God or His Church.

Build Your Faith on Rock, Not Sand: Why Your Foundation in Christ Matters

The homily emphasizes the importance of building one's faith on Christ as a solid foundation, drawing parallels to a house built on rock versus sand. It challenges listeners to examine their personal faith, asserting that it should not depend on external factors like priests or music directors, but solely on Jesus Christ. The priest also references a previous Corpus Christi homily about the real presence of Jesus in the Eucharist, noting that those who truly believe in it do not leave the Church despite external frustrations.

The Church: A Hospital for Sinners, Not a Museum for Saints

The homily reflects on the parable of the wheat and the weeds, emphasizing God's patience and justice in allowing good and bad to coexist in the world and the Church. It highlights that the Church is a hospital for sinners, not just a museum for saints, and encourages individuals to uproot their own 'weeds' to positively impact the world.

Why God Allows Weeds Among the Wheat: Lessons from Church Scandals

The homily addresses the presence of 'weeds' (sinners and evil) within the 'wheat' (the Church and the world), drawing on the Gospel parable. The priest discusses the Church's response to the priest scandal, emphasizing the importance of boundaries and safe environment protocols. He also touches on the excommunication of the SSPX, highlighting the need for obedience to Church authority and the medicinal nature of excommunication for healing and returning to balance.

Why Doing God's Will is Essential for Salvation

The homily emphasizes that salvation is not achieved by simply being a 'good person' or professing faith, but by actively doing the will of God, as taught by Jesus and the Church. It stresses the importance of listening to God's word and the Church's teachings as the foundation for eternal life, comparing it to building one's house on rock.

St. Elias: A Prophet's Zeal and the Enduring Love of God

Father Paul

This homily celebrates the feast of St. Elias, emphasizing his relevance today through typology and zealous love for God. The speaker draws parallels between Elijah's miracles and prophecies in the Old Testament and Jesus' actions and identity in the New Testament, highlighting how ancient scripture foretells Christ. It also uses the parish's history to illustrate the importance of zealous faith in overcoming challenges and ensuring the community's continued growth and vibrancy.

Wheat and Weeds: Understanding Excommunication and the Call to Church Unity

The homily addresses the recent excommunication of six bishops from the Society of St. Pius X, using the Gospel parable of the wheat and weeds to explain the Church's stance on unity and mercy. The priest emphasizes that excommunication is a medicinal penalty aimed at encouraging repentance and return to full communion, and calls for prayer for unity within the Church and for those who have left the faith.

Why Christians Will Always Face Persecution (Even From Within the Church)

The homily discusses the inevitability of persecution for Christians, both from outside and within the Church, drawing on the day's Gospel reading. The priest uses historical examples like Martin Luther and King Henry VIII, as well as the recent SSPX excommunications, to illustrate internal church conflicts and the importance of remaining steadfast in faith with Christ as one's solid rock.

Why We Don't Need to Rebuild the Temple: Jesus is the Living Temple

The homily discusses the historical destruction of the Jewish temple and clarifies the Christian understanding that Jesus himself is the new temple. It emphasizes that the Church, the body of Christ, and individual believers are now the living temple, urging care for one's body as a sacred dwelling of God's Spirit, rather than focusing on rebuilding a physical structure.

The Imperfect Kingdom: What Jesus' Parables Tell Us About God's Reign

Father Jerry

The homily explores the nature of the Kingdom of God through three parables from Matthew's Gospel: the weeds among the wheat, the mustard seed, and the yeast. The priest uses personal anecdotes from his farming background and childhood to illustrate that the Kingdom is not always perfect, glorious, or immediately perceptible, but rather demands patience and can be found in the ordinary and imperfect aspects of life and the Church.

Building Your Faith on Rock: More Than Just Saying 'Lord, Lord'

Father Joseph Peacock

The homily connects the Gospel reading about building a house on rock to the physical foundation of St. Benedict Church and, more importantly, to the spiritual foundation of the parishioners' faith. It emphasizes that merely saying 'Lord, Lord' or participating in sacraments is insufficient; true faith requires acting on God's word and allowing one's heart to be changed, building a lasting spiritual foundation.

Why God Allows Evil: Understanding the Parable of the Weeds and Wheat

The homily addresses the mystery of God's ways, particularly why evil and suffering are permitted in the world and within the Church. Drawing on the parable of the weeds among the wheat, the priest emphasizes that humans cannot fully comprehend God's divine plan and must rely on faith, even when faced with difficult questions like the existence of sinful leaders or personal tragedies.

Why God's Kingdom Grows Like a Weed: A Homily on Patience and Trust

Father Ryan Burju

The homily uses the Gospel parables of the mustard seed, the field, and the leaven to encourage patience and trust in God's work within the Church. Drawing a parallel between Jesus's observant nature and his own mother's ability to find awe in small things, the priest emphasizes that the Kingdom of God grows in unexpected ways, even through what might seem like weeds or small shrubs, and that it is not our place to judge others within the faith.

Why God Lets Weeds Grow with Wheat: Patience, Sinners, and the Church

The homily addresses the question of why God allows bad people to succeed alongside good people, drawing on the Gospel parable of the wheat and the weeds. It emphasizes God's patience and mercy, giving sinners time and opportunity for conversion. The homily also reminds us that the Church on Earth is a communion of sinners on a journey to become saints, not a perfect assembly, and calls for patience and service to the Church.

The 1926 Eucharistic Congress: A Turning Point for American Catholics

The homily celebrates the Feast of the Birth of St. John the Baptist, but primarily focuses on the 100th anniversary of the 1926 International Eucharistic Congress in Mundelein, Illinois. The priest highlights its significance for the American Catholic Church, which was then a minority immigrant church, and connects it to the eventual beatification of Fulton Sheen, emphasizing the Eucharistic focus and the call for Catholics to be 'living monstrances' in the world.

God's Patience and the Mixed Field of the Church

Father Augustine Mateo

The homily reflects on the parable of the wheat and the weeds, emphasizing God's patience and leniency, and the Church's nature as a mixed field of both saints and sinners. It encourages believers not to be distracted by evil but to recognize the presence of grace and strive to be part of God's final harvest, making conscious choices to live as people of God.

Why We Can't 'Fix' Everything in the Church Right Now

Monsignor East

The homily, delivered by Monsignor East due to Father Grandon's delayed flight, focuses on the parable of the wheat and the weeds. It emphasizes the importance of patience and tolerance within the Church, suggesting that attempting to 'fix' everything immediately can be detrimental, much like uprooting wheat with weeds. The core message is that the Church is a 'large tent' accommodating diverse views, and unity is found in communion, especially through the Eucharist.

The Church: God's Kingdom on Earth (and Why It Matters to You)

The homily connects Jesus' parables about the Kingdom of Heaven to the nature of the Church, emphasizing that the Church is the Kingdom Jesus came to establish. It uses the parables of the weeds, mustard seed, and leaven to illustrate how the Church, though starting small and existing amidst challenges, is meant to be alive, grow, and transform the world. The core message is that understanding Jesus as King helps us understand our role as citizens of the Church, which is God's active kingdom on earth.