Homilies about doubt

Why Your Doubts Don't Disqualify You from God

Jim 'Butch' Murphy (Lay Speaker introduced by Fr. Mike)

Guest speaker Jim 'Butch' Murphy explores the mystery of God being simultaneously revealed and concealed, using the healing of the man born blind to illustrate faith as a step-by-step journey. He emphasizes that personal struggles, doubts, and 'unbelief' do not disqualify one from a relationship with Christ, but are actually the primary reasons Jesus seeks us out. The talk concludes with a powerful reflection on the physical reality of Christ's 'broken heart' as the source of the water of baptism.

Mother Miriam: Can Non-Catholics Go to Heaven?

Mother Miriam

Mother Miriam addresses the theological question of salvation for non-Catholics, explaining the concept of 'invincible ignorance' from the Catechism. She emphasizes that while the Catholic Church is the sole means of salvation established by God, those who truly seek truth and live by the grace they have received can be saved through Christ's Church, often through a deathbed revelation.

The Blindness of the Heart: Seeing God's Love and Our Own Flaws

Cha Giose Đinh Quang Thành

The homily explores different forms of blindness, both physical and spiritual, drawing from the Gospel story of the man born blind and a poignant story about a mother's sacrifice. It challenges listeners to recognize their own spiritual blindness, especially in failing to see God's love and the love of those around them, and encourages them to seek spiritual sight during Lent.

Why You Feel Inadequate in Prayer (And Why It's Okay)

This homily, part of a Lenten mission on prayer, addresses common feelings of inadequacy and comparison in one's spiritual life. It emphasizes that prayer is a personal relationship with an infinite God, not a measurable performance, and encourages participants to notice God's presence in daily life, even during 'dry spells' or routine prayer, viewing challenges as opportunities for deeper discovery and growth.

From Blindness to Sight: How Faith Illuminates Our Path

Father George

The homily explores the Gospel story of the man born blind as a metaphor for the Christian journey of faith, moving from spiritual blindness to enlightenment through Christ. It emphasizes that true sight comes from recognizing Jesus as Lord, even when others refuse to see, and illustrates this with the modern story of Scott McIntyre, a blind piano prodigy who navigated life and illness by faith, not by sight.

The Mystery of the Beloved Disciple: Fr. John Durban on Lazarus

Fr. John Durban

Fr. John Durban explores the scholarly theory that Lazarus, rather than John the Apostle, is the 'Beloved Disciple' and the primary source of the Fourth Gospel. He transitions from this academic mystery to a spiritual reflection on the necessity of accepting one's identity as God's beloved to overcome the trap of self-rejection.

What Are You Thirsting For? A Priest's Story of Faith and Illness

Father Tony

The homily explores the theme of thirst, both physical and spiritual, drawing parallels between the Israelites' thirst in the desert and the Samaritan woman's thirst for true connection. The priest shares personal stories of his own struggles with illness and doubt, emphasizing that our thirst is not an obligation but an invitation to a deeper relationship with God. He highlights the transformative power of encountering Jesus, who offers living water that satisfies the deepest longings of the heart, urging listeners to reflect on what they truly thirst for in their lives.

Why It's Hard to Believe God Loves You (And Why You Must)

Father Marius

The homily emphasizes that the defining moment of a Christian life is experiencing God's personal and intimate love, which is an undeserved gift. Drawing on personal anecdotes, including an encounter with Mother Teresa and working with post-abortion retreatants and incarcerated youth, the priest illustrates how many struggle to believe in God's love for them, often listening to the 'father of lies.' He concludes by reiterating the four reasons why God became flesh, all centered on revealing and enabling us to share in His love.

Finding God's Purpose in Suffering and Loss

The homily emphasizes that Satan's goal is to divide and separate, often by tempting us to blame others for our misfortunes or to doubt God's presence during hardships. Drawing on personal experiences of financial difficulty and the loss of a child, the homilist encourages turning to God for healing and unity rather than succumbing to doubt and division when facing suffering.

Who is Truly Blind? Seeing God's Work Beyond Expectations

Reverend Father John O'Neal

The homily begins with a personal anecdote about a cousin's funeral and a story of a brain-damaged girl who had a supernatural awareness of her grandfather's death. This story is used to illustrate that those often dismissed as 'limited' may possess unique spiritual insights. The homily then connects this to the Gospel reading of the man born blind, highlighting how physical blindness can be contrasted with spiritual blindness, particularly among those who claim to see or are religiously 'informed' but refuse to acknowledge God's work.

Would You Have Stoned Jesus? The Chaos of Holy Week

The priest explores the radical nature of the Incarnation, noting that the belief in Jesus as both God and man is the defining distinction of Christianity. He challenges the congregation to consider the historical chaos of Holy Week and honestly ask themselves if they would have recognized Jesus' divinity or mistakenly judged him as a blasphemer.

How One Person's Faith Can Bring an Entire Family Back to Christ

The homily addresses two main points: first, it debunks theories about Jesus's childhood, emphasizing that he grew up as a regular child and only began performing miracles as an adult, which is why his native people initially struggled to believe him. Second, it offers encouragement to those whose family members have drifted from the faith, asserting that one person's belief can inspire an entire household to return to Christ, urging continued prayer and good example.

Why Do We Keep Falling? The Struggle of Faithfulness

The homily challenges listeners to honestly assess their faithfulness to God's teachings, questioning why they often fall short despite knowing what is right. The priest shares his personal struggle with inconsistency in his spiritual life, urging self-reflection on whether one is truly following God or quietly resisting Him through choices and actions.

Why We Hesitate to Fully Follow God

This homily reflects on the reluctance of people, both in Jesus' time and today, to fully embrace God's will and ask deeper questions for fear of greater obligation. It emphasizes that while Jesus' heart is always open and receptive to provide understanding, people often hesitate to fully commit, preferring to keep one foot out of total devotion. The homily encourages strengthening belief and centering Jesus Christ in one's heart.

Overcoming Frustration in Your Faith Journey

The homily explores the concept of frustration, drawing parallels between the historical struggle for American independence and Jesus's own experiences with opposition. It highlights how Jesus's opponents slandered his miracles out of frustration, and encourages listeners to work through their own frustrations in following Jesus with God's power and love.

Why You Lose Nothing By Believing in God (And Everything If You Don't)

The homily emphasizes that denying God's existence or power, despite clear evidence in creation and miracles, is a grave error. It argues that belief in God brings immense spiritual wealth and a deeper experience of reality, while atheism leads to a loss of fundamental truth. The homilist reassures that even in suffering or loss, God's reality remains constant, like the sun behind the clouds.

Are Your Questions About God Leading You to Truth or Blindness?

Father Daniel Greenleaf

The homily distinguishes between constructive and destructive questioning of faith, using the Gospel story of the man born blind. It emphasizes that honest questions, even challenging ones, lead to deeper understanding and a stronger relationship with God, while questions rooted in judgment and unwillingness to be open lead to spiritual blindness, as seen in the Pharisees.

Urgent vs. Important: What Distracts You from God's Word?

The homily distinguishes between what is urgent and what is important, using the Gospel story of the royal official whose son is dying. It challenges listeners to identify the urgent distractions in their own lives that prevent them from focusing on the truly important question of belief in Jesus and His word.

Why We Struggle to Surrender to God's Will

The homily reflects on the Jewish leaders' struggle to comprehend Jesus's claim of equality with God, contrasting it with the modern understanding of the Trinity. It challenges listeners to consider what obstacles prevent them from fully surrendering to God's will, suggesting that modern believers, with their inherent understanding of the Trinity, have even less excuse for not surrendering than the ancient Jews who rejected Jesus.

Why the Eucharist is a 'Crazy Story' Worth Believing

The homily emphasizes that the core claims of Christianity, especially the Real Presence of Christ in the Eucharist, are 'crazy stories' that require faith. It encourages Catholics to deepen their belief in the Eucharist by spending time in Eucharistic adoration, listening for God's voice in their hearts and minds, and keeping a prayer journal to track God's responses and guidance.