Homilies about inclusion

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.

Radical Inclusion: The Eucharist and Pride Month

Father Dono Godfrey

This homily, delivered by a lesbian Catholic couple, emphasizes radical inclusion, abundance, and hospitality as core messages of the Eucharist, especially relevant during Pride Month. They share their personal experience of being welcomed and affirmed in their marriage at St. Columba, calling the community to extend this welcome to all marginalized groups, including LGBTQ+ individuals, the poor, and immigrants.

Jesus Touches the Outcast: No One is Unclean

The homily reflects on the Gospel story of Jesus healing a leper, emphasizing Jesus's willingness to touch the outcast and his instruction to the healed man to show himself to the priests. The priest highlights Jesus's message that no one is unclean or to be removed from the community, inviting listeners to be witnesses who help others open their eyes to this truth.

Jesus' Revolutionary Touch: Why We Must Embrace All

The homily focuses on Jesus' healing of the leper and the revolutionary nature of his touch, which defied Jewish purity laws. It highlights how the early Christian church continued this practice of inclusion, accepting all people regardless of perceived 'uncleanliness,' and calls modern believers to similarly embrace and allow others to touch their lives, recognizing everyone as equally loved by God.

God's Kingdom: A Place of Radical Inclusion

The homily reflects on the healing of the leper, interpreting leprosy as a symbol of being an outsider or marginalized. It emphasizes God's kingdom as a place of inclusion, not exclusion, and challenges listeners to examine their own attitudes towards others, practice forgiveness and compassion, and live as genuine disciples of Christ, always remembering that God's ways are not our ways.