Homilies about courage

Fr. Marcos: Dios despertará a los pueblos oprimidos (Nicaragua, Cuba y Venezuela)

Padre Marcos

Fr. Marcos uses the resurrection of Lazarus to deliver a powerful social and political critique, likening the 'tombs' of Bethany to the modern suffering of nations like Nicaragua, Cuba, and Venezuela. He proclaims that God stands above all earthly tyrants and that Christ's call to 'come out' is a mandate for both spiritual and social liberation from oppression and injustice.

The Hard is What Makes it Great: Moving Beyond Spiritual Comfort

Cooper Ray

In this Lenten Mission talk, Cooper Ray explores the concept of being 'made for more,' challenging the audience to move beyond spiritual comfort and mediocrity. Using personal stories of his wife's nursing school journey and his own failure to help a homeless man in New Orleans, he emphasizes that the 'hard' parts of the Catholic faith are exactly what make it great and lead to spiritual stretching.

The Fearless Friends of God: A Deathbed Testimony

The priest reflects on the courage of being a 'friend of God,' noting that true believers are often misunderstood or persecuted but remain fearless in their mission. He shares a poignant personal story of a woman on her deathbed who, despite being cared for by a non-believing relative for 40 years, made a final profession of faith in Jesus just 30 minutes before passing away. The message emphasizes that while the world may try to destroy one's image or mission, what God has established in a person's life cannot be removed by human hands.

Bishop Strickland: The Hour for Warning is Here

Bishop Strickland

Bishop Strickland delivers a powerful call to action for Catholic leaders and the faithful, urging them to prioritize truth and sacrifice over comfort and silence in the face of perceived decline within the Church. He emphasizes that true obedience is fidelity to Christ, even when it brings suffering, and that leaders must be watchmen who warn the flock, not managers of decline. He calls for courage, honesty, and a recovery of the sacred fear of God among bishops and priests, and perseverance among the faithful.

What Jesus Teaches Us About Bullying

Father Javier

Father Javier explains the Gospel reading about Jesus healing the crippled man on the Sabbath and the subsequent desire of the Jews to kill him. He interprets this as an act of bullying against Jesus for doing good and for being the Son of God, which he could not change. The homily then applies this to the children in the school, encouraging them to report bullying, ignore bullies, show compassion, and stand up for themselves by not letting negative words affect their self-worth, reminding them that God made them perfect.

More Than a Student: The Cost of Being a Disciple

Father Namir

Using the historical backdrop of the Spanish Civil War and the martyrdom of priests, the speaker explores what it truly means to be a disciple of Christ. He analyzes Jesus sending out the seventy-two and the Parable of the Good Samaritan to illustrate that a disciple must move beyond passive listening to active, sacrificial imitation of the Master.

The Wolf is Real: Why We Need a Shepherd Who Bleeds

The priest contrasts the serene, sanitized images of Jesus as the Good Shepherd in the Roman catacombs with the gritty, dangerous reality of first-century Palestinian shepherding. He emphasizes that Jesus's willingness to die for his 'stubborn and vulnerable' sheep is a deliberate act of love designed to protect the flock from a very real and cunning 'wolf.' Drawing on St. Ignatius of Loyola, he warns that the Christian life—including prayer, commandments, and sacraments—is not a religious crutch but a necessary defense against spiritual isolation and destruction.

Jesus, the Divine Doctor: How We Are All Called to Be Healers

The homily emphasizes that Jesus is the ultimate healer, not only in the next life but also in the present, and that all Christians are called to be instruments of this healing. Drawing from the Gospel of the Samaritan woman, the priest encourages believers to boldly ask for healing, both for themselves and others, and to forgive, as unforgiveness acts like a cancer in the heart. He stresses that Jesus desires to draw faith out of us through these acts of healing and mercy.

The Nike Principle: Why St. Joseph Was a Man of Action, Not Just Silence

Fr. Richard Viggoa

The homily explores the life of St. Joseph, debunking the common artistic portrayal of him as an old man by using Greek linguistic analysis of the Gospels to show he was likely a young, vigorous man under 49. The priest emphasizes Joseph's 'silent action' and his 'Nike principle' of immediate obedience to God despite the grave dangers posed by King Herod to the Davidic royal line.

Fr. Fritzner: Why Doing Good Can Sometimes Get You Burned

Fr. Fritzner

In this school Mass homily, the priest uses a dialogue with students to explore Jesus' identity as the Son of God and our shared identity as God's children. He uses the analogy of getting burned while cooking to explain that doing good works does not exempt us from suffering or opposition, but we must persevere in our mission regardless. He emphasizes that because we are followers of Christ, we should expect to face the same challenges He did while remaining proud of our divine heritage.

Why It's Easier to Stay Dead: Choosing Hope When You're Hopeless

Using Ignatian spirituality, the priest invites the congregation to enter the Gospel of the raising of Lazarus by identifying with Thomas, Martha, or Lazarus. He explores the tension between safety and God's call to risk, the permission to grieve honestly before a weeping God, and the challenge of choosing hope over the 'easiness' of hopelessness.

Bishop Robert Fedek: The Holy Spirit's Guide to Adulthood and True Happiness

Bishop Robert Fedek

The homily, delivered during a Confirmation Mass, emphasizes the importance of the Holy Spirit in guiding young people as they transition into adulthood. The bishop encourages the confirmands to embrace God's love and wisdom, navigate societal pressures by being true to their inner beauty, and discern truth in the overwhelming digital world. He uses the metaphor of a challenging mountain climb to illustrate that the most beautiful and fulfilling path in life, though difficult, is ultimately the most rewarding.

Embracing Restlessness: How God Uses Your Discomfort for Good

Father Thomas McCarthy

This homily, part of a Lenten mission on St. Augustine, explores the concept of 'restlessness' as a positive force for spiritual growth and change. The speaker uses various stories, from the biblical Zacchaeus and the Holy Family to St. Katherine Drexel, the Wizard of Oz, and a paralyzed priest, Father Bill Atkinson, to illustrate how embracing restlessness, overcoming fear, and never giving up can lead to profound transformation and answering God's call. The core message emphasizes that God uses our restlessness to draw us closer to Him and fulfill our potential.

Why Hopelessness is Easy and Hope is Hard

The priest uses Ignatian contemplation to explore the Raising of Lazarus through the perspectives of Thomas, Martha, and Lazarus. He challenges the congregation to identify with Thomas's fear of risk, Martha's honest grief and 'even now' faith, or Lazarus's need to be commanded out of the 'easy' state of hopelessness.

Why Your Homeland Matters: Lessons from Ukraine's Fight for Freedom

This homily, delivered during a Panakhyda (memorial service) for Roman Shukhevych, emphasizes the importance of understanding and defending one's homeland. The speaker uses Shukhevych's life as an example of fighting for one's home and values, contrasting it with modern European attitudes towards defense. It highlights the struggles of Ukrainian refugees experiencing depression and longing for home, underscoring that true happiness and identity are tied to one's roots and nation.

Don't Put the Holy Spirit on a Shelf: Bishop Lou Tilka on St. Carlo Acutis

Bishop Lou Tilka

Bishop Lou Tilka addresses confirmation candidates, using the raising of Lazarus to illustrate how the Holy Spirit unties us from the burial cloths of sin to live in freedom. He highlights the lives of newly canonized saints Pier Giorgio Frassati and Carlo Acutis as modern, relatable examples of young people who used the 'highway' of the Eucharist and the power of the Spirit to achieve holiness. He challenges the youth not to 'put the gift of the Spirit on a shelf' but to use it as a daily source of power and life.

Don't Be Ashamed: Having the Courage to be Catholic at 'Open Mic Night'

Father Terry

The priest shares a story about a couple at a bar during an open mic night where the comedian began mocking Catholic practices like confession. He connects their hesitation to speak up with the Gospel account of Jesus being attacked for His identity, challenging the faithful to have the courage to identify as Catholic even in hostile environments.

San José: El Migrante Valiente y el Milagro de la Providencia Divina

This homily, delivered during Lent and in preparation for the Solemnity of St. Joseph, focuses on St. Joseph as a model of trust in divine providence, especially for migrants. The priest emphasizes that Joseph, a migrant himself, teaches us to detach from worldly possessions and control, and instead, to embrace God's guidance even when faced with closed doors and adversity. He highlights Pope Francis's idea that Joseph himself was the miracle, urging listeners to also be miracles for others.

Standing for Christ the King in a 'Synodal' World

The priest discusses the transition into Passiontide, emphasizing the hostility faced by Jeremiah and Jesus as a result of speaking the unvarnished word of God. He draws a sharp parallel between the biblical Pharisees and modern 'synodal' movements in the Church, arguing that true fidelity requires standing with Christ the King against democratic or worldly adaptations of the faith. He concludes by encouraging devotion to the Sorrowful and Immaculate Heart of Mary to gain the courage to remain at the foot of the Cross.

Let Jesus Be Dangerous: Why the Resurrection Disrupts Our Comfort

Father Joe

The priest explains the historical rivalry between the Pharisees and Sadducees, noting that the raising of Lazarus was the 'dangerous' act that finally united them against Jesus. He challenges the congregation to recognize that Jesus is not just comforting but 'wildly disruptive,' often moving the 'carefully arranged furniture' of our lives to bring dead parts of our hearts back to life.