Homilies about justice

From Cold War to Positive Peace: What God Wants for Your Relationships

Father Hank

The homily explores the concept of peace, distinguishing between 'hot war,' 'cold war' (or negative peace), and 'positive peace' using literary and historical examples like George Orwell and Martin Luther King Jr. It challenges the congregation to strive for positive peace in their personal relationships, communities, and the world, drawing parallels with the Samaritan woman's journey from conflict to connection with Jesus.

Forgiving the Unforgivable: Earthly Justice vs. Spiritual Mercy

This homily explores the concept of mercy and forgiveness, contrasting Jesus' teaching in Luke's Sermon on the Plain ("Be merciful") with Matthew's Sermon on the Mount ("Be perfect"). The priest emphasizes that true forgiveness, even for the 'unforgivable,' involves wishing spiritual healing for the offender while still upholding earthly justice. He uses the Charleston church shooting as a powerful example of radical forgiveness.

The Courage to Say 'We Are All Jewish': A WWII Hero's Story and the Living Water

The homily uses the story of Sergeant Roddie Edmonds, an American POW who protected Jewish soldiers during WWII, to illustrate the courage and righteousness required to live out one's faith. It connects this act of selflessness to the Samaritan woman's transformation in the Gospel, emphasizing that true worship and living water are found in empathy, caring for our shared humanity, and hearing God's voice, especially during Lent.

Finding Joy and Light in Lent: Lessons from the Man Born Blind

Fr. Élsée

The homily emphasizes finding joy and light even amidst life's difficulties, drawing parallels with the healing of the man born blind and David's anointing. It encourages believers to recognize God's glory in their lives, embrace justice, and trust in God's choice and direction, rather than judging by outward appearances. The core message is to be a light in the world and to seek restoration with God and one another.

St. Katharine Drexel: A Model of Humble Service and Justice

The homily emphasizes the call to live justly and serve humbly, contrasting the hypocrisy of the scribes and Pharisees with the example of Jesus. It highlights the life of St. Katharine Drexel as a model of service, particularly to Native American and African American communities, urging listeners to find strength and courage to carry their crosses and serve God's people.

The Only Two Absolutes: Justice and Love

The priest explores the difference between situational principles like 'inclusivity' and 'discrimination' versus the absolute divine principles of justice and love. He defines justice as rendering what is due to others and love as willing the good of the other, even for those we dislike.

God of the Second Chance: From Prisons to Healing

The priest reflects on the stories of Susanna and the woman caught in adultery, highlighting that God is a God of second chances who does not desire the death of the sinner. He calls for the transformation of prisons into 'correctional facilities' or 'hospitals' for healing, drawing on his experiences in Kenya. The core message is a call to sympathize with and forgive others just as God forgives us every day.

Why God's Laws Are Not About Limiting Your Freedom

The homily addresses the common perception of laws as limiting freedom, contrasting it with God's law as a blessing and a path to wisdom and justice. It emphasizes that Jesus came not to abolish the law but to fulfill it, inviting believers to embrace God's commandments as a guide for living compassionately and justly, especially during the Lenten season.

Beyond Outward Appearances: Living Your Catholic Faith from the Heart

The homily reflects on Jesus' condemnation of the Pharisees' hypocrisy, emphasizing that true faith requires living out what one preaches, practicing justice, mercy, and charity, and serving others rather than seeking self-promotion. It calls believers to grow in love for their Catholic faith by living it from the heart and accepting responsibilities with their titles, helping the poor and being kind.

Lent: Beyond Prayer and Fasting – The Call to Charity and Justice

The homily for the Thursday of the Third Week in Lent emphasizes that true religious observance goes beyond outward practices like prayer and fasting; it must be accompanied by charity and justice. Drawing on the readings, it highlights the need for deep listening to God's word, persistent hope in Christ amidst life's struggles, and continuous repentance for sins, recognizing that God provides strength against spiritual enemies.

It's Never Too Late to Change: A Lenten Reflection

The homily is extremely brief, essentially a one-sentence reflection on the Isaiah reading. The speaker emphasizes that it's never too late to change, to do good, and to seek justice, even if one struggles with loving the rich and powerful.

Seeing with God's Heart: A Lenten Call to Truth and Justice

The homily emphasizes the transformative power of God's vision, urging us to look beyond superficial appearances and see with the heart, as God does. It calls for spiritual renewal during Lent, moving from darkness to light, lies to truth, and injustice to justice, by seeking God's love and mercy.

Don't Miss God's Grace in the Ordinary Moments

Father Mike McHugh

The homily reflects on the story of Naaman and Elisha, highlighting how God often works through ordinary means rather than dramatic displays. It also draws attention to the often-overlooked detail of the enslaved girl in the Old Testament narrative, using it to illustrate the gradual dawning awareness of God's people regarding justice and right, particularly concerning slavery. The core message encourages believers to recognize God's grace in everyday moments and to continue their journey of spiritual growth, thirsting for God's face and staying connected to the Body of Christ.

Cutting Free from the Mob: The Courage to be Humble

The priest contrasts the stories of Susanna and the woman caught in adultery, highlighting the different forms of courage shown by the innocent and the guilty. He emphasizes how the 'humble courage' of the elders to admit their own sinfulness broke the mob mentality and gave others permission to do the right thing. The message calls for modern believers to cut free from 'tribal culture' and stand up for justice and honesty.

God's Laws: Restrictions or Road Map to Love?

The homily emphasizes that God's laws and commandments are not meant to restrict us, but rather to open up possibilities for expressing our love for God and fostering growth. Using the analogy of traffic lights, the homilist explains that laws are designed to prevent chaos and harm, facilitating a peaceful and just society. We are called to view these guidelines as a path to God and a means to make the world better by respecting one another.

God's Kingdom: Not Just for Heaven, But Here and Now

The homily challenges the perception that God's kingdom and justice are only for the next life. Drawing from Jeremiah, it emphasizes that God's justice and kingdom are meant to be present and active here and now in this world, encouraging believers to pray for and expect God's blessings and guidance in their current lives.

How Your Life Teaches God's Law: A Call to Everyday Discipleship

Father McFaden

The homily emphasizes that Jesus came not to abolish the law but to fulfill it, calling all believers to teach the faith through their own example. It highlights the importance of sharing God's love, justice, and mercy in daily life, transforming homes, workplaces, and classrooms into 'schools' of forgiveness and peace.

From Sinner to Servant: How God's Grace Transforms Us

Diácono José Luis

The homily emphasizes that God's grace abounds where sin is present, encouraging conversion and good works. It highlights the importance of living out the Gospel through actions, not just words, and serving others, especially the needy, as a way of serving Christ. The homilist shares personal anecdotes about facing racism and being called to ministry, underscoring the universal call to holiness and the need to internalize God's word.

St. Katherine Drexel: When Actions Speak Louder Than Words

The homily emphasizes the importance of actions aligning with words, drawing parallels between the warnings in Isaiah and Jesus's critique of the Pharisees' hypocrisy. It then highlights the life of St. Katherine Drexel as an example of putting faith into action, particularly her work for Native American and African-American communities, despite initial resistance even from some who knew her.

St. Katherine Drexel: A Saint Who Planted Seeds of Justice

The homily celebrates St. Katherine Drexel, highlighting her as a woman ahead of her time who used her inherited wealth to fight for justice and education for African-Americans and Native Americans. The priest connects her actions to the day's scripture readings, emphasizing her embodiment of humility and service over self-exaltation, and suggesting her work laid groundwork for later civil rights movements.