Homilies about power
St. Martha Catholic Church
Valinda, California
Power vs. Service: What True Greatness Looks Like in God's Kingdom
St. Martha Catholic Church · Valinda, California · Mar 4, 2026
Daily MassThe homily contrasts worldly ambition for power with the Christian call to service and sacrifice. Using the story of Agrippina and Nero, and the mother of James and John, it emphasizes that true greatness in God's kingdom comes through humble service and a willingness to sacrifice, transforming suffering into liberating love.
Sacred Heart
Conroe, Texas
True Authority: Serving, Not Dominating
Sacred Heart · Conroe, Texas · Mar 4, 2026
Daily MassThe homily reflects on the Gospel reading where the mother of Zebedee's sons asks Jesus for positions of power for her children. The priest emphasizes that true authority in Christ's kingdom is not about dominion but about sacrificial service and humility, mirroring Jesus's own path to the cross. He challenges listeners to empty themselves and embrace service over a thirst for worldly power.
St. Mary of Czestochowa Church
Cicero, Illinois
The Dangers of Power and the Call to Serve
St. Mary of Czestochowa Church · Cicero, Illinois · Mar 5, 2026
Daily MassSpanishThe homily reflects on the Gospel reading where Jesus warns against the desire for power and worldly oppression. The priest connects this to contemporary global conflicts, emphasizing the devastating consequences of the lust for power, which leads to destruction and the suffering of innocent lives. He urges the faithful to pray for those affected by war and injustice and to reject the world's mentality of power in favor of Christ's teaching of service.
St. Dominic
Miami, Florida
The Emerald Within: Discovering Your True Self in Lent
St. Dominic · Miami, Florida · Mar 4, 2026
Daily MassSpanishThe homily reflects on the Gospel reading where the mother of James and John asks Jesus for positions of power for her sons. The priest uses this to discuss the human desire for power and status, contrasting it with Jesus' call to service. He then shares an analogy of an emerald hidden within a rough stone, likening it to the inherent beauty and sanctity within each person that God, like a mother, helps to polish and reveal, especially during the Lenten season.
Mary Mother of God
Harrison, Arkansas
True Greatness: Serving Others, Not Being Served
Mary Mother of God · Harrison, Arkansas · Mar 4, 2026
Daily MassThe homily reflects on the Gospel reading where the mother of James and John seeks positions of power and honor for her sons. It distinguishes between the inherent goodness of power and honor when used for virtue and common good, versus their misuse when driven by ego for self-advancement. The core message emphasizes Jesus' teaching that true greatness in the Kingdom of God is found in humble service, not in being served.
St. Pius X
Chula Vista, California
True Power: Serving God's Kingdom, Not Your Own
St. Pius X · Chula Vista, California · Mar 4, 2026
Daily MassThe homily challenges the worldly understanding of power, contrasting it with God's definition of power as service, exemplified by Christ's sacrifice on the cross. It encourages listeners to use their influence not for personal gain or to build their own 'kingdoms,' but to serve others and lead them towards God's kingdom, reflecting the Father's love.
St. Elizabeth Ann Seton
Fort Wayne, Indiana
The True Meaning of Power: Service, Not Control
St. Elizabeth Ann Seton · Fort Wayne, Indiana · Mar 4, 2026
Daily MassThe homily challenges the common perception of power as corrupt, asserting that true power, as taught by Christ, is not about personal gain or control, but about service and love. It emphasizes that power, when rooted in love, guides and nurtures, contrasting it with tyrannical abuse. The core message is to use power for the benefit of others and the mission of the Church.
Notre Dame d'Haiti
Miami, Florida
The Temptation of Power: Why Jesus Calls Us to Humility
Notre Dame d'Haiti · Miami, Florida · Mar 4, 2026
Daily MassFrenchThe homily addresses the human temptation for power, domination, and the desire for the 'first place,' contrasting it with Jesus' call to humility and service. It uses the Gospel story of James and John's mother seeking positions of glory for her sons to illustrate this human flaw, and connects it to contemporary societal issues like political corruption and personal greed. The core message is to choose the path of abasement and service, like Christ, to find true and eternal glory, rather than the fleeting and ultimately disappointing pursuit of worldly power.
St. Charles Borromeo
Livermore, California
The Path to True Greatness: Serving, Not Seeking Power
St. Charles Borromeo · Livermore, California · Mar 4, 2026
Daily MassThe homily explores human ambition, drawing parallels between Jeremiah's adversaries and the disciples' desire for power and honor. It emphasizes Jesus' teaching on servant leadership, where true greatness and being first in the Kingdom of God come from serving others and giving one's life, rather than seeking worldly power and honor as substitutes for God.
St. Andrew the Apostle
Apex, North Carolina
True Authority: Serving, Not Ruling
St. Andrew the Apostle · Apex, North Carolina · Mar 4, 2026
Daily MassThe homily emphasizes that true authority and greatness in the Christian life come from serving others, not from seeking power or prestige. Drawing on the Gospel where Jesus teaches his disciples about service, the priest challenges the congregation to align their prayers and desires with God's will, rather than their own ambitions, particularly in a world that often values dominance.
Sts. Peter and Paul
West Valley City, Utah
Beyond Wealth: The Four Substitutes for God (and How to Avoid Them)
Sts. Peter and Paul · West Valley City, Utah · Mar 5, 2026
Daily MassThe homily challenges the common interpretation of the rich man and Lazarus, suggesting the rich man's sin was not merely wealth but his failure to act despite knowing Lazarus by name. It expands on St. Thomas Aquinas's four substitutes for God—wealth, power, pleasure, and recognition—arguing that anyone, regardless of their status, can fall into the trap of seeking salvation in these worldly things instead of God. The homily concludes with a theological clarification about Jesus' descent into 'hell' as the 'abode of the dead,' emphasizing his salvation for those who died before him.
St. Mark
Oro Valley, Arizona
Power: Domination or Service? A Lenten Reflection on Utilitarianism
St. Mark · Oro Valley, Arizona · Mar 4, 2026
Daily MassThis homily challenges the common understanding of power, contrasting the Roman Empire's view of power as domination with the Christian call to service. It critiques modern society's utilitarian approach to morality, where actions are judged by their outcomes rather than inherent right or wrong, using examples like the bombing of Hiroshima and a hypothetical organ harvesting scenario to illustrate the dangers of this philosophy.
Holy Family
Grand Blanc, Michigan
The Power of Service: What St. Casimir and a Closing Parish Teach Us
Holy Family · Grand Blanc, Michigan · Mar 4, 2026
Daily MassThe homily emphasizes that true power in the Kingdom of Heaven is found in serving others, not in worldly authority. Drawing on the example of St. Casimir, a Polish royal who used his power to care for the needy, the priest illustrates this point with a personal story about how his parish received artifacts from a closing church named after St. Casimir, highlighting the generosity of a grieving community.