Homilies about discernment

How to Move the Unmovable Stones in Your Life (Like St. Benedict)

Fr. Yosvel Rodríguez Ordaz

The homily, delivered on the feast of St. Benedict, emphasizes the importance of discernment, prudence, and prayer in a world that often devours human beings with its distractions and material pursuits. Drawing parallels between St. Benedict's monastic life and contemporary challenges, the priest encourages listeners to make space for silence and encounter with God to discern what is truly good and convenient for their lives. He uses the metaphor of unmovable stones, illustrating that some obstacles can only be overcome through faith and prayer, not human effort.

How God Calls You: A Priest's Story of Discerning His Vocation

Father James Gaisho

The homily, delivered by Father James Gaisho, focuses on discerning God's call in everyday life, drawing parallels to the parables of the mustard seed and yeast. He shares his personal vocation story, highlighting how God's call often comes as a small, persistent tug rather than a dramatic revelation, and how saying 'yes' to God's will leads to profound peace and fulfillment, even when it seems counter-intuitive to worldly success.

The Tragic Story of John Allen Chow and the Prudent Way to Share Your Faith

The homily discusses the difficulty of Christ's teaching about not giving what is holy to dogs or pearls to swine, interpreting it as a call for prudent evangelization. It uses the tragic story of missionary John Allen Chow, who was killed trying to convert a remote tribe, to illustrate the importance of discerning a person's readiness to receive divine truths. The homily emphasizes that profound mysteries require a receptive heart and that evangelization should be done with wisdom and love, gradually revealing truths as people are able to comprehend them.

The Weeds Among Us: Navigating Good and Evil in a Divided World

Father John Morardi

The homily focuses on Jesus's parable of the weeds among the wheat, emphasizing the coexistence of good and evil in the world and within individual hearts. It challenges the modern 'us against them' mentality, advocating for patience, discernment, and trust in God's perfect timing for judgment, rather than human attempts to prematurely separate good from evil.

Finding God in All Things: Lessons from Hezekiah and St. Ignatius

The homily connects the Old Testament story of King Hezekiah's prayer in distress with St. Ignatius of Loyola's teaching to find God in all things. It emphasizes the importance of discernment, integrity, and being good stewards of God's grace, even when facing difficult situations, by centering oneself on the Lord.

Don't Be Nice, Be Kind: Living as Wheat in a World of Weeds

The homily emphasizes God's patience and leniency, contrasting it with human 'temerity' or cockiness in faith. It uses the parable of the weeds and wheat to illustrate that good and evil coexist in the world, and we are called to be the 'wheat' by acting with kindness, love, and discernment, rather than hatred or ignorance, especially in a divided world.

The Narrow Path to True Joy: Discerning What You Share

The homily emphasizes the importance of being discerning about what we share and with whom, likening it to not throwing pearls to pigs. It highlights the Golden Rule and reminds listeners that the path to true joy and life is narrow and requires effort.

How to Discern Good Fruit from Bad: Staying Focused on Christ

This homily, delivered during a Miraculous Medal Novena and Holy Hour, focuses on the Gospel reading about knowing prophets by their fruits. The speaker emphasizes the importance of our interior life and being guided by Jesus Christ to bear good fruit, warning against worldly distractions and the potential for even Catholic sources to lead astray if not rooted in the Gospel.

Navigating the Narrow Gate: Discerning Faith in a Hostile World

The homily interprets Jesus' sayings about not casting pearls before swine and entering the narrow gate. It emphasizes the need for moral discernment, distinguishing between those who actively seek to destroy the faith and those who are indifferent. The priest stresses that while we should not indiscriminately share sacred things like the Eucharist, we are called to be witnesses of faith and pray for the salvation of all, recognizing that salvation is found only through faith in Christ.

How to Share Your Faith with Discernment and Trust

The homily focuses on discerning how and when to proclaim the truth of the Gospel, drawing from Jesus' teaching not to 'throw pearls before swine.' It emphasizes that sharing faith requires intentionality and a trust in the attractive power of God's love, rather than relying solely on human prudence. The priest encourages believers to serve others with questions that invite them to verify the truth of Christ's proposal.

When to Keep Fighting for a Soul (and When to Move On)

The homily explores Jesus' teaching, "Do not cast your pearls before swine," and the challenge of discerning when to persevere in evangelization and when to move on. The priest emphasizes that while Jesus, Paul, and Stephen preached to those who hated the truth for the benefit of bystanders, there are also times when Jesus withheld the truth from those not disposed to receive it. The core message is that prayer is essential for discerning when to fight for a soul and when to dedicate time elsewhere, providing clarity of mind and strength of will.

Stop Talking, Listen: How to Truly Encounter God in Prayer

The homily emphasizes the importance of listening to God during prayer, rather than simply reciting a list of intentions. Drawing on a personal anecdote and the teachings of St. Catherine of Siena, the priest explains that God often interrupts our vocal prayers with divine visitations, which should prompt us to pause and sit in His presence. He identifies four types of divine visitations and stresses the need for discernment, ideally with spiritual direction, to recognize and respond to these moments.

Building Your Life on Rock: Jesus' Three Warnings for Disciples

The homily reflects on the three warnings Jesus gives at the end of the Sermon on the Mount: the two paths, the two prophets, and the two builders. It emphasizes the importance of discerning what voices we listen to and building our spiritual lives on the firm foundation of Jesus, acting on His words, especially when trials come. The priest shares a personal anecdote and a quote from Pope John XXIII to illustrate the necessity of trusting God and surrendering our worries.

Why You Should Discern, Not Judge: Lessons from the Splinter and the Beam

Father Yan

The homily emphasizes the importance of self-examination and humility before judging others, drawing from the Gospel's teaching on the 'splinter and beam.' It distinguishes between judging and discerning, advocating for fraternal correction done with charity and humility, and highlights the wise use of words to uplift rather than tear down. The homily concludes by connecting these themes to the example of St. Thomas More.

Why Silence is Essential for Hearing God's Voice

The homily emphasizes the importance of silence for spiritual growth, drawing parallels between St. Benedict's contemplative life and the need for modern individuals to intentionally carve out quiet time. It highlights that listening to God with the 'ear of the heart' requires escaping the constant distractions of contemporary culture.

The Golden Rule: More Than Just a Slogan

The homily unpacks Jesus' 'golden rule' by placing it between two less comfortable teachings: not throwing pearls before swine and entering through the narrow gate. It emphasizes that faith is precious and should be shared discerningly, and that the path to life is difficult, requiring courage and integrity. The golden rule, when understood in this context, becomes a greater challenge than a simple slogan.

When to Engage and When to Withdraw: Lessons from Jesus on Conflict

The homily reflects on Jesus' withdrawal from the Pharisees' plot to kill him, using it as an example for Christians to discern when to engage or disengage from conflict. It also challenges listeners to examine their thoughts and intentions, especially when at rest, urging them to cultivate positive thoughts and dismantle any 'terrain of comfort and confusion' that the enemy might exploit.

Don't Cast Your Pearls Before Swine: Discerning Who Receives Your Faith

The homily emphasizes the importance of discerning to whom we share our faith and wisdom, drawing from the Gospel's warning not to cast pearls before swine. It stresses that our spiritual gifts and good intentions should be given to those who will appreciate and utilize them, rather than destroy them, ensuring they are not wasted.

How to Recognize False Prophets in Today's World

The homily, despite being prepared for a different occasion, focuses on discerning between good and false prophets in society. The priest uses the story of Superman's creation and initial rejection as an analogy for how valuable ideas or truths can be dismissed as foolish by 'false prophets.' He urges listeners to pray for wisdom to recognize and resist the influence of those who deem Christian values, like loving one's neighbor and enemies, as foolish.

Cultivating Your Soul: How Faith Opens Your Spiritual Eyes

The homily emphasizes that cultivating a spiritual garden within one's soul is akin to walking with God, drawing a parallel from a garden inscription. It connects this idea to the Gospel reading of the two blind men, highlighting that spiritual sight, enabled by faith, is crucial for understanding God's greatness, unlike the Pharisees who were spiritually blind. The core message is that faith allows us to transcend our limited perspectives and truly walk with God.