Homilies about obedience

Lessons from St. John the Baptist: God's Call and Humility

The homily reflects on the three profound mysteries surrounding the birth of St. John the Baptist: Elizabeth's miraculous pregnancy, the divine naming of John, and Zechariah's restored speech. These events highlight God's power to bring new life from barrenness, the importance of divine calling over human tradition, and the triumph of faith over doubt, leading to humble obedience and praise.

Building Your Life on Rock: Why Doing God's Will Matters More Than Just Saying 'Lord, Lord'

This homily emphasizes the importance of not just hearing God's word, but actively doing His will, contrasting Jesus's authority with the scribes' reliance on others' opinions. It warns against building lives, institutions, and even nations on shifting sands of human opinion and ego, advocating instead for a foundation built on God's truth and the power of the Holy Spirit, leading to lasting impact.

Trusting God in Times of Threat: Lessons from King Hezekiah and the Narrow Gate

The homily contrasts King Hezekiah's humble reliance on God against the common tendency of leaders to trust in their own devices. It then connects this Old Testament example to the Gospel reading, emphasizing that God offers an invaluable gift of himself, which we often cast aside through sin. The homily encourages turning to God through the narrow gate of perseverance and obedience to overcome the spiritual enemy of sin.

Father Adam on the Toughest Priestly Promise: Obedience

Father Adam Potter

Father Adam reflects on the difficulty of priestly obedience, particularly in the face of a new assignment, contrasting it with the perceived difficulty of celibacy. He connects his personal struggle to the Gospel's parable of the sower, emphasizing that our hearts must be fertile soil to accept God's will, even when it involves affliction or discomfort. He shares his gratitude for his time at the parish and the lessons learned through trusting God's plan.

Let the Spirit Speak Through You: Finding Grace in Humility and Obedience

Fr. Yosvel Rodriguez Ordaz

The homily emphasizes that our actions and words should be guided by the Holy Spirit, not by our own desires for greatness. It encourages humility, obedience, and silence, drawing inspiration from St. Benedict, and reminds us to stay close to the Lord, especially during struggles, as He will provide the necessary grace and wisdom.

Building Your Life on Rock: Why Obedience Matters More Than Just Belief

The homily connects the Gospel reading about building a house on rock or sand to the Old Testament story of Israel's exile. It emphasizes that true faith requires not just professing belief but actively obeying God's commandments, warning against a hypocritical life that prioritizes convenience over discipline.

Building Your Life on Rock: Faith in Action

The homily emphasizes that true faith is not just about words or outward profession, but about living according to God's will through daily obedience, charity, forgiveness, and fidelity to commandments. It stresses that a life built on Christ's teachings provides the strength to withstand life's inevitable storms and challenges.

Are You Building Your Life on Rock or Sand? The Radical Call of Jesus

The homily emphasizes the importance of not just hearing Jesus' words but acting on them, likening it to building a house on rock versus sand. The priest challenges the congregation to truly listen to Jesus' teachings, even the radical ones like loving enemies, and to see Jesus as a figure of authority and salvation, not just a historical teacher.

Beyond Honoring Mary: How to Imitate Her Faith and Obedience

This homily, delivered on the Feast of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, emphasizes that Mary's greatness comes not just from bearing Jesus, but from hearing and living God's word. The priest challenges listeners to imitate Mary by actively listening to God's voice amidst the competing voices of self and temptation, and then putting His word into practice through concrete acts of kindness, forgiveness, and service.

Build Your Life on Rock, Not Sand: Lessons from Israel's Kings

The homily contrasts the obedience of King Hezekiah, who prayed for mercy despite Israel's unfaithfulness, with the arrogance of King Jehoiachin, who failed to acknowledge the people's sins, leading to the Babylonian exile. It emphasizes Jesus' teaching about building one's life on the solid rock of obedience to God's word versus the sand of disobedience, urging listeners to choose wisely.

The Nativity of John the Baptist: Fulfilling God's Promises

The homily celebrates the Nativity of John the Baptist, highlighting his role as the last prophet of the Old Testament and the first of the New. It emphasizes the fulfillment of God's promises through John's birth and Zachary's regained speech, urging believers to obey God's word and proclaim His faithfulness to enlighten the world.

Our Mission to Prepare the Way for Christ

This homily reflects on the birth of John the Baptist, emphasizing the importance of preparation and identity in our spiritual lives. It highlights Zechariah and Elizabeth's obedience to God's plan in naming their son John, which means 'God is gracious,' signifying a new beginning. The homily calls us to embrace our mission to bear witness to God's grace and share His compassion and forgiveness with the world.

The Brown Scapular: Not a 'Get Out of Jail Free Card,' But a Path to Holiness

This homily focuses on the Brown Scapular of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, explaining its nature as a sacramental and clarifying its promises. The priest emphasizes that wearing the scapular is not a 'get out of jail free card' but a pledge of maternal assistance from Mary for those who strive to live a virtuous life in imitation of her virtues and in obedience to God's commandments. It serves as a reminder that our bodies and lives belong to God and should bear good fruit.

Building Your Life on Rock: Why Actions Speak Louder Than Words

The homily connects the Old Testament story of Jerusalem's fall to the New Testament concept of the Church as the new Jerusalem, where God dwells in the human heart. It emphasizes that merely saying "Lord, Lord" is insufficient; true faith requires acting on God's word, building one's spiritual house on a rock rather than sand.

Fear Not: Proclaiming Your Faith in a Hostile World

Father Anthony

The homily emphasizes the importance of courage and faithfulness in proclaiming the Gospel, even in the face of persecution. Drawing parallels between Jeremiah, early Christians, and St. Thomas More, the priest encourages believers to prioritize obedience to God over earthly powers, reminding them that only the soul, not the body, is truly eternal.

Finding Peace in God's Will: Lessons from St. John the Baptist

The homily emphasizes that every life has a divine purpose, drawing lessons from the life of St. John the Baptist. It highlights that obedience to God's will brings peace and that our lives should be about leading others to Christ, not ourselves.

Why Jesus Told the Healed Leper to Keep Silent

The homily explores why Jesus told the healed leper not to tell anyone, explaining that Jesus sought followers for his message of love and salvation, not just for miracles. It emphasizes the leper's humility in prayer and the importance of obedience to Jesus's commands, even when not fully understood, highlighting that the greatest miracle is the healing of our souls.

Why Just Saying 'Lord, Lord' Isn't Enough for Heaven

The homily emphasizes that true faith is not merely professing 'Lord, Lord,' but actively doing the will of God. Drawing parallels from the Old Testament king Jehoakin and the Gospel, the priest illustrates that disobedience leads to tribulation, while obedience is the foundation of a true relationship with God, distinguishing it from simply feeling close to Him.

Are You Building Your Faith on Rock or Sand?

The homily emphasizes that true faith is not just about speaking about God or knowing His words, but about actively living them out through daily choices and obedience. It uses the parable of the wise and foolish builders to illustrate that a strong spiritual foundation is built on acting upon Christ's teachings, not just hearing them.

Why Saying 'Lord, Lord' Isn't Enough for Heaven

The homily emphasizes that salvation is not solely dependent on God's grace but also requires human cooperation through obedience and conforming one's life to Christ. It highlights the mystery of free will, allowing us to deny God, yet God remains patient, hoping for our conversion. The core message is that merely professing faith ('Lord, Lord') is insufficient; one must actively do the will of the Father.