Homilies about kindness

How Kindness Changed a Refugee's Life: A Priest's Lenten Reflection

Father Mike

The homily focuses on kindness as a form of almsgiving during Lent, drawing from the speaker's personal experience as a Vietnamese refugee. He recounts how the kindness of strangers, a Filipino priest, and the Vincentian community shaped his life and led him to the priesthood, attributing God's kindness to the intercession of the Blessed Mother. The homily encourages listeners to extend similar kindness to others.

The Simple Goodness That Leads to God's Mansions

The homily celebrates Carol Fitzsimmons as a woman who consistently strived to do what was right and make others happy, emphasizing that her simple goodness is what God asks of us. The priest shares personal anecdotes about her meticulous nature and desire to please, highlighting that such kindness is a reward in itself, leading to the 'mansions' promised in God's house.

Why Simple Acts of Kindness are More Powerful Than Grand Gestures

The homily reflects on the story of Naaman and the people of Nazareth rejecting Jesus, highlighting our tendency to overlook simple solutions and prefer the complex. It emphasizes that true healing and redemption come not from grand gestures, but from small, everyday acts of selflessness, forgiveness, and kindness, especially during the Lenten journey.

Why Forgiving Others Brings You Peace

The homily, delivered to a school audience, emphasizes the importance of 'putting on' virtues like kindness, love, patience, and forgiveness, drawing a parallel to getting dressed for school. It highlights that true joy and happiness come from embodying these virtues, especially forgiveness, which is presented as essential for one's own peace of mind, even if the offender doesn't 'deserve' it.

Fr. Howser: Breaking the 'Zombie' Routine with St. Joseph's Kindness

Father Howser

Reflecting on the Solemnity of St. Joseph, the homily emphasizes Joseph's role as a guardian who 'watched over' the Holy Family through trust and attentiveness. The priest calls the faithful to counter a 'harsh and chaotic' world by looking up from their routines to offer simple gestures of kindness and recognition to others.

Finding God's Joy: Wonder and Kindness in Lent

This homily, delivered during Lent, encourages listeners to cultivate a deeper awareness of God's presence through wonder in creation and to actively transform the world through acts of kindness. Drawing from the parable of the rich man and Lazarus, the homilist emphasizes that while God allows all things, our response to life and our ability to change the world for the better lies in embracing wonder and kindness, recognizing God's joy within us.

Love Does Not Measure Itself: Living Out God's Generosity

The homily reflects on Jesus' words about measuring others as we wish to be measured, emphasizing the call to imitate God's abundant generosity and mercy. Using a tape measure as a prop, the speaker illustrates how we often measure out kindness selectively, contrasting this with the Christian call to love and treat everyone, rich or poor, with the same enthusiasm and generosity as Christ, holding nothing back.

The Power of Kindness: Learning from Joseph and St. Francis of Rome

The homily emphasizes the importance of basic kindness, sharing, and welcoming others, contrasting it with the violence and meanness that arise from selfishness and jealousy. It also shares the story of St. Francis of Rome, highlighting her dedication to helping people, especially at night, and her angelic protection, while also humorously noting the reluctance of priests to join her. The homily concludes with a reflection on dealing with feelings of exclusion by seeking out good people and moving forward.

How Children Can Live Lent: Small Acts, Big Impact

Father Anthony

The homily begins with the priest engaging the children who participated in the readings, praising their clear voices. He then connects the Gospel parable of the vineyard to his own family's history with vineyards and the importance of family gatherings centered around faith. The core message revolves around how children can live out their faith during Lent through acts of charity, kindness, and prayer, emphasizing that even small actions are pleasing to God.

The Priestly Call: Why Kindness, Empathy, and Forgiveness are Essential

Father Kenneth

The homily emphasizes the Christian call to be 'priestly' in daily life, which means living with kindness, empathy, and forgiveness towards others, rather than judging or condemning. It challenges the common human tendency to easily draw conclusions and pray for the destruction of enemies, advocating instead for understanding and a desire for peace, even for those who cause conflict.

The Golden Rule of Forgiveness: How We Want to Be Treated

The homily emphasizes the importance of treating others with the same kindness, patience, and forgiveness that we desire for ourselves. Drawing from the Gospel reading, it challenges listeners to reflect on their own actions and extend understanding to others, acknowledging that we often don't know the struggles they face.

Making Room for God: Lent, Spring, and New Creation

Father Bob Kelly

The homily, delivered to a group of schoolchildren, focuses on the meaning of Lent as a time for new creation, both in nature and in our spiritual lives. It encourages children to make room for God in their hearts through prayer, giving things up, and acts of kindness, connecting these practices to the coming of spring and God's renewal.

Are the Fruits of the Spirit Visible in Your Life?

The priest explores the internal presence of the Holy Spirit by distinguishing between the seven gifts received at Baptism and the twelve fruits that manifest in a believer's life. He challenges the congregation to perform a daily examination of conscience to see if fruits like patience, kindness, and joy are visible in their interactions. The message emphasizes that while God provides the spiritual gifts, it is our responsibility to use them so they become an outward expression of faith.

Why Forgiving Your Family Matters: Lessons from Joseph

The homily focuses on the importance of kindness and forgiveness, drawing heavily from the story of Joseph and his brothers. The priest highlights how jealousy led to Joseph's brothers' cruel actions, but Joseph ultimately forgave them and saved his family. He connects this ancient story to modern-day issues like sibling rivalry and bullying, emphasizing that everyone is created in God's image and called to treat each other with respect, especially during Lent.

Why Choosing Mercy Over Revenge Can Save You

The homily reflects on the stories of Joseph and the parable of the vineyard, emphasizing the theme of mercy over revenge. It encourages treating everyone with dignity and kindness, as God often works through unexpected people, even those who have hurt us, to bring blessings. The priest shares personal anecdotes about his childhood experiences with poverty and how he chooses mercy when encountering those who once looked down on him.

St. Gertrude the Great's Vision: Seeing Christ in the Suffering

The homily reflects on the Gospel story of the rich man and Lazarus, emphasizing the importance of kindness as a fruit of the Holy Spirit. Drawing on the visions of St. Gertrude the Great, the priest illustrates how even a saint can be tempted to inflict 'poisoned dressings' on Christ's suffering mystical body, urging disciples to see the Divine Redeemer in others and avoid cruelty.

How to Be Truly Great in God's Eyes: The Path of Service

The homily focuses on Jesus' teaching that true greatness comes from service, not from worldly power or status. Drawing from the Gospel reading, the priest emphasizes that to be great in God's eyes means to be a servant to others, caring for them, loving them, and forgiving them, just as Christ did. He encourages the congregation, especially the children, to practice kindness, sharing, and love in their daily, ordinary actions to achieve this spiritual greatness.