Homilies about relationship
St. Francis of Assisi Parish
Belchertown, Massachusetts
My 'Metanoia' Moment: How God Called Me Back Home
St. Francis of Assisi Parish · Belchertown, Massachusetts · Mar 7, 2026
Sunday MassThe homily emphasizes the Lenten call to repentance and conversion, drawing parallels between the Samaritan woman's encounter with Jesus and our own need for a deeper relationship with God. The Deacon shares a personal story of his own 'metanoia' moment, highlighting how God's love and mercy are always available, even when we've strayed, and that true worship is in spirit and truth, not bound by physical locations.
St. Katharine Drexel
Sugar Grove, Illinois
Jesus Didn't Come for Miracles, He Came for Your Trust
St. Katharine Drexel · Sugar Grove, Illinois · Mar 16, 2026
Daily MassThis homily emphasizes that Jesus did not come as a mere miracle worker, but to cultivate personal faith and a trusting relationship with Him. The priest explains that true faith involves a 'trusting surrender' to the impossibility of God walking among us, opening us to God's will. The Eucharist is presented as a prime opportunity to respond to Jesus' invitation to trust and give ourselves to Him.
Abbatial Church of St. Gregory
Portsmouth, Rhode Island
Process vs. Relationship: What God Really Wants From Your Prayer
Abbatial Church of St. Gregory · Portsmouth, Rhode Island · Mar 14, 2026
Daily MassThe homily contrasts the Pharisee's process-driven piety with the tax collector's relationship-based prayer, emphasizing that God desires a genuine relationship with us, which includes acknowledging our shortcomings and saying 'I'm sorry.' It highlights that this relationship with God is fostered through loving and kind relationships with one another.
St. John Vianney
Mentor, Ohio
Is Your Lent Bringing You Closer to God?
St. John Vianney · Mentor, Ohio · Mar 11, 2026
Daily MassThe homily emphasizes that God desires a close, personal relationship with us, unlike the distant, vengeful gods of ancient cultures. It challenges listeners to examine their Lenten practices, asking if they are merely going through the motions or if these practices are genuinely drawing them closer to God and deepening their relationship with Him.
St. Ann
Parsippany, New Jersey
Beyond Rules: How Jesus Fulfills the Law with Love
St. Ann · Parsippany, New Jersey · Mar 11, 2026
Daily MassThe homily emphasizes that Jesus came not to abolish the law and the prophets, but to fulfill them by revealing God's true intention: not just rules and obedience, but a relationship rooted in love. It encourages Christians to live the commandments from the heart, motivated by a desire to live the life God designed, rather than by fear of punishment.
St. Paul of the Cross
Park Ridge, Illinois
How to Imitate Christ and Find the Cross in Your Daily Life
St. Paul of the Cross · Park Ridge, Illinois · Mar 18, 2026
Daily MassThe homily, delivered on the feast of St. Cyril of Jerusalem, focuses on the imitation of Christ, drawing parallels between Jesus's imitation of the Father and our call to imitate Christ. It emphasizes choosing the 'cross' in our lives, not the easy way out, as a path to a deeper relationship with God and salvation.
Annunciation
Webster Groves, Missouri
Lenten Prayer: Why Listening to God is More Important Than Talking
Annunciation · Webster Groves, Missouri · Mar 12, 2026
Daily MassThe homily emphasizes the importance of listening in prayer, especially during Lent. Drawing from Jeremiah, the priest highlights that obedience is linked to listening to God's voice, fostering a deeper relationship where God is truly our God and we are His people. He encourages giving God quiet time for listening, rather than just speaking.
St. Mary
Dover, New Jersey
How to Truly Listen to God's Voice in Prayer
St. Mary · Dover, New Jersey · Mar 12, 2026
Daily MassThe homily emphasizes the importance of listening to God's voice, not just speaking to Him in prayer. It calls for a discerning heart to understand God's will, especially during the Lenten season, to deepen one's relationship with Jesus.
St. Brigid of Kildare
Midland, Michigan
What Jesus Really Thirsts For: The Samaritan Woman and Your Soul
St. Brigid of Kildare · Midland, Michigan · Mar 8, 2026
Sunday MassThis homily explores the encounter between Jesus and the Samaritan woman at the well, interpreting it through the lens of thirst, desire, and nuptial imagery. It emphasizes that Jesus thirsts for us, accepts us despite our brokenness, and desires to unite with us in a perfect, eternal love, symbolized by the living water and the marriage covenant. The homily encourages a relationship with Jesus that slowly reveals our true selves and rescues us from sin, rather than an instant fix.
St. Elias (Ruthenian)
Munhall, Pennsylvania
Lent: More Than Duties, It's a Living Covenant with God
St. Elias (Ruthenian) · Munhall, Pennsylvania · Mar 18, 2026
Daily MassThis homily emphasizes that the spiritual life, especially during Lent, is not merely about religious duties but about a living relationship with God. It highlights the concept of a covenant with God, which signifies faithfulness, belonging, and a life connected to God's promises. The homily encourages believers to consciously live in God's presence, renewing their commitment daily through humility, patience, and prayer, and returning to this covenant through repentance.
Parish of St. Francis of Assisi–Waldo Site
Manitowoc, Wisconsin
How to Deepen Your Relationship with God This Lent
Parish of St. Francis of Assisi–Waldo Site · Manitowoc, Wisconsin · Mar 13, 2026
Daily MassThis homily for the Third Week of Lent emphasizes God's call to return, confess, and repent, drawing parallels between ancient Israel and contemporary believers. It highlights God's mercy and the blessings that flow from a reconciled relationship, urging listeners to actively hear God's voice and engage in a deeper relationship with Him during Lent.
St. John the Evangelist
Morrisville, Pennsylvania
Lent: Are You Controlling It or Receiving It?
St. John the Evangelist · Morrisville, Pennsylvania · Mar 2, 2026
Daily MassThis homily challenges the common Lenten mindset of 'grading' spiritual performance, emphasizing that Lent is an invitation to relationship and formation, not evaluation. It encourages a shift from controlling Lenten practices to receiving God's grace, highlighting that true sacrifice should draw us closer to God, not lead to frustration or sin.
St. Aloysius
Bowling Green, Ohio
Obedience: Not Servitude, But a Relationship with God
St. Aloysius · Bowling Green, Ohio · Mar 11, 2026
Daily MassThe homily challenges the modern negative perception of obedience, particularly in contrast to the glorification of rebellion. It emphasizes that divine obedience is not servitude but a relationship, a response to God's offer of commandments that lead to wisdom and the fullness of life. The core message is to embrace and teach God's commands without fear, recognizing them as a path to a deeper relationship with an all-knowing God.
St. Mary
Fort Wayne, Indiana
Pray, Don't Complain: What God Really Asks of Us
St. Mary · Fort Wayne, Indiana · Mar 8, 2026
Sunday MassThe homily emphasizes the importance of prayer over complaining when facing problems, drawing from the Israelites' grumbling in the desert. It calls for a deeper spiritual connection with God beyond mere external rituals, highlighting that God also asks something of us: our faith, hearts, worship, and a sincere relationship. The priest encourages sharing one's faith and the good works of the community with others.
Mary, Mother of the Church
Saint Louis, Missouri
Lent is Not About You: What God Really Wants This Season
Mary, Mother of the Church · Saint Louis, Missouri · Mar 13, 2026
Daily MassThe homily challenges the traditional Lenten question, "How are you doing?" by reframing it to "What does God want us to be doing for Lent?" It emphasizes that Lent is not about personal achievement or earning God's love, but about deepening our relationship with God, who already loves us completely. The core message is to stop listening to our own voices and instead listen for God's voice, which calls us into a deeper relationship with Him in the present moment.