Homilies about humility

The Nasty Glitter of Pride (and the Macaroni Miracle)

Fr. Joe

Fr. Joe concludes a Lenten series on the seven deadly sins by focusing on pride, describing it as a 'nasty glitter' that sticks to everything and ruins life's joyful moments. Through humorous personal stories about a slow coffee order and his father's 84-year-long silent endurance of macaroni and cheese, he illustrates how humility is the only cure for the self-obsession that fuels our misery.

St. Joseph's Silent Love: A Path to Holiness and Forgiveness

This homily, delivered during a retreat for the sick, focuses on the virtues of St. Joseph, particularly his humility, silence, and compassionate love, especially in his decision to discreetly leave Mary. The priest emphasizes that true holiness lies in simple acts of love and forgiveness, rather than outward displays or worldly achievements. He encourages listeners to embrace their unique calling, live harmoniously, and find joy in God's unconditional love, drawing parallels between St. Joseph's quiet service and the call for personal sanctity in everyday life.

The Power of Forgiveness: A Sister's Last Wish

The homily emphasizes the importance of forgiveness and mercy, drawing on a personal story of two estranged sisters reconciling before one's death. It urges listeners to embrace humility, acknowledge their faults, and extend compassion to others, rather than judging, echoing the teachings of Daniel and Jesus. The homily concludes by invoking the examples of Mary and Joseph as models of humility and merciful love.

Padre Pio's Confession Method for the Dying: A Priest's Story

The homily emphasizes humility and service, contrasting the behavior of the Pharisees with the true spirit of priesthood. The priest shares personal anecdotes about ministering to the sick and dying, highlighting the importance of timely confession and reconciliation. He also recounts a miraculous story involving Padre Pio and a doctor, illustrating Padre Pio's intercessory power and the unexpected ways God works.

Why We Struggle to Hear God: Overcoming Our Hidden Dependencies

The homily emphasizes the importance of listening to God and recognizing our own dependencies and egoism, especially during Lent. It uses an analogy of a doctor treating Ukrainian and American patients to illustrate different approaches to advice, and the story of St. Simeon Stylites to highlight the value of obedience and humility. The core message is that true freedom comes from identifying and breaking free from our 'slavery' to various dependencies, allowing us to truly hear God and live out our Christian calling by first 'saving ourselves' to effectively help others.

How to Catch the 'Illegal Immigrants' in Your Soul

The bishop reflects on the Prayer of St. Ephrem the Syrian, emphasizing the need to 'repair' one's spiritual life through Lenten retreats. He discusses the importance of recognizing God as the true owner of our lives and warns against the 'illegal immigrants' of the soul—negative thoughts and habits that must be identified and expelled.

¿Estás Ciego a la Presencia Real de Jesús en la Eucaristía?

The homily uses the Gospel story of the man born blind to discuss spiritual blindness, particularly in the context of receiving the Eucharist. The priest emphasizes that many Catholics, despite having physical sight, are spiritually blind to the real presence of Jesus in the Eucharist, evidenced by their lack of reverence, punctuality, proper attire, and preparation (confession). He challenges the congregation to truly see and adore Christ in the Eucharist, just as the blind man adored Jesus after receiving his sight.

A Will of Steel and a Heart of Gold: 50 Years a Priest

Most Rev. Michael J. Boulette

In this Golden Jubilee homily, Bishop Boulette reflects on 50 years of priesthood through the lens of St. Joseph's quiet, virtuous fatherhood. He describes the priestly vocation as a participation in Christ’s pastoral charity, characterized by a 'will of steel joined to a heart of gold.'

The Heaven Test: Are You Ready to See Everyone There?

The homily focuses on the Gospel story of Jesus and the Samaritan woman at the well, highlighting how Jesus defies social and moral conventions to show her respect and offer living water. The priest challenges the congregation to reflect on how often they 'write people off' and to extend the same gentleness and forgiveness to others that they expect from God. He emphasizes that our capacity for forgiveness sets the standard for the mercy we receive from God, illustrating this with personal anecdotes and a poignant story about preparing for heaven.

Fr. Mark: Why We All Belong in 'Sinners Anonymous'

Fr. Mark

The priest reflects on the necessity of remembering our own sinfulness to avoid the trap of judging others, comparing the Christian life to a 'Sinners Anonymous' meeting. He shares a personal story of his own past deception as a young Jesuit and how that memory later granted him the grace to show mercy to a subordinate who made the same mistake.

Humility and Trust: How to Open Yourself to God's Relentless Mercy

Brother Jude

This homily, delivered during a parish mission, emphasizes that God's mercy is always available to those who seek it, but we must be open to receiving it through humility and trust. The speaker illustrates these virtues with personal anecdotes: a former prisoner who forgave his attackers, a homeless man on the subway who asked for prayers, and a Honduran mother who maintained faith amidst unimaginable grief. The homily concludes by highlighting the Eucharist and Confession as primary avenues for encountering God's mercy.

Leaving the Tomb of the 'Perfect' Self

Deacon Norman Roose

The homily reflects on the danger of creating 'false versions' of oneself, such as the 'answer man' or the 'righteous rule-follower,' which lead to isolation and judgment of others. Using the raising of Lazarus as a backdrop, the speaker shares his personal journey from intellectual pride and workaholism to finding true identity as a loved child of God. The message emphasizes that Christ calls us out of the 'tombs' of our own making to live in the freedom of His grace rather than our own efforts.

Cómo Construir una Comunidad de Fe Unida en Tiempos de División

Padre Nelson Pichardo

The homily emphasizes that true unity in the Church and in communities is a gift from the Holy Spirit, not achieved through human efforts or material wealth. It identifies obstacles to unity such as judgment, lack of listening, individualism, and spiritual self-sufficiency. The speaker encourages sincere listening, humility, patience, and charity, highlighting that small, everyday gestures of care and connection are what truly build and strengthen community.

Why Your Inner Vision Needs a Lenten Cleaning

Fr. Jim

The homily emphasizes that Lent is a time for deep introspection, urging us to examine our 'inner sight' and how we perceive God, ourselves, and others. It highlights that our vision is often distorted by personal experiences and agendas, leading to division even within the Church. The priest shares a personal anecdote about misjudging a man based on appearance, underscoring the need to see others with compassion and mercy, as God sees us.

Humility: The Lowly Road that Sets Us Free (with Fr. Patrick)

Father Patrick

This homily, part of a Lenten mission, explores humility through the lens of the Blessed Virgin Mary, contrasting it with human desires for glory and self-will. The speaker uses personal anecdotes, including a chaotic Vatican tour and his own emotional experience of realizing his vocation, to illustrate how humility involves accepting God's plan and confidently embracing one's true self, ultimately leading to faithful obedience even in suffering.

You Are Never Too Young to Be a Saint

Fr. Grant

Fr. Grant uses a childhood story about his broad bedtime prayers to connect with the children in the congregation, highlighting the purity of childlike faith. He explains that Mary was only 14 years old at the Annunciation, illustrating how God consistently chooses the young and innocent to restore humanity to glory.

Why Your Heart Needs a 'Reset' This Lent: An Invitation to Encounter Jesus

Bishop David Roner

The homily emphasizes that preaching is about opening eyes and moving hearts closer to Jesus, leading to conversion. It challenges the congregation to actively engage with their faith beyond an 'eighth-grade' understanding, highlighting that true encounter with Christ happens in the ordinary and requires humility and an open heart, especially during Lent.

Don't Be Stingy with the Mustard: Fr. Joe on Overflowing Mercy

Fr. Joe

Father Joe uses nostalgic references to 1980s lottery commercials and 'all-you-can-eat' shrimp buffets to illustrate the overflowing nature of God's mercy. He challenges the congregation, including the children present, to move beyond stingy or limited forgiveness and instead offer the same 'overflowing' measure of love to others that they receive from God.

Finding Rest in Christ: Why God Draws Near to the Brokenhearted

This homily, delivered during a Lenten reflection, explores the concept of being 'brokenhearted' and how God draws near to those who are wounded. It emphasizes that true rest comes from surrendering our burdens to Jesus with humility, yoking ourselves to his attitudes and mission, and finding freedom from resentment through faith. The speaker illustrates these points with personal anecdotes and reflections on the fragility of life.

A Priest's Honest Confession: Why I Missed Mass and What God Still Asks of Me

The priest shares a deeply personal reflection on a recent mistake where he missed saying Mass, leading him to ask for forgiveness from his congregation. He connects this experience to the Gospel's call for reconciliation before offering gifts, and further reflects on the importance of forgiveness, communication, and accepting one's human imperfections, especially as he ages and faces health challenges. He emphasizes that despite his age, God still has work for him to do, urging himself and the congregation to strive for greater closeness to God through prayer, charity, and sacrifice during Lent.