Homilies about longing

Jesus, The Hound of Heaven: Why God Relentlessly Pursues You

The homily focuses on Jesus' thirst for our longing, using the image of 'The Hound of Heaven' to illustrate God's relentless pursuit of us. It connects this to the Samaritan woman at the well, highlighting her loneliness and the church's call to offer radical hospitality and welcome to all, especially those who feel judged or unwelcome. The core message is that Jesus longs to fill the God-shaped hole in our hearts, and we are called to slow down, pray, and allow Him to quench our deepest thirsts.

Why We're Never Truly Satisfied in This Life (and Why That's Good)

The homily reflects on the deep human longing for God, using the psalm 'A thirst is my soul for the living God' as its central theme. It highlights that this life can never fully satisfy our deepest desires because we are made for eternal union with God, not for this world as our ultimate home. The season of Lent is presented as an opportunity to identify and detach from worldly distractions that we use to try and quiet this inherent restlessness, redirecting our focus back to God as the sole source of true fulfillment.

The Holy Thirst: Finding God's Living Water in a Restless World

Father Peter

The homily reflects on the Gospel story of the Samaritan woman at the well, interpreting her physical and spiritual thirst as a universal human longing that only God can satisfy. It connects this longing to the sacrament of baptism and the Lenten scrutinies for catechumens, urging all the baptized to also scrutinize their lives and offer Christ's living water to a thirsty world.