Homilies about temptation

Jason Evert on Chastity, Pornography, and Finding True Love

This is not a homily from a Mass, but rather a talk by Jason Evert on chastity, relationships, and the dangers of pornography, delivered to a Catholic audience. Evert uses personal anecdotes, research statistics, and scriptural references to emphasize the importance of purity, self-respect, and true love in dating and marriage for both young men and women. He encourages listeners to set high standards, seek reconciliation, and cultivate devotion to Mary as paths to a virtuous life.

The Hard is What Makes it Great: Moving Beyond Spiritual Comfort

Cooper Ray

In this Lenten Mission talk, Cooper Ray explores the concept of being 'made for more,' challenging the audience to move beyond spiritual comfort and mediocrity. Using personal stories of his wife's nursing school journey and his own failure to help a homeless man in New Orleans, he emphasizes that the 'hard' parts of the Catholic faith are exactly what make it great and lead to spiritual stretching.

From Harlot to Saint: The Miraculous Life of Mary of Egypt

A complete liturgical reading of the Life of St. Mary of Egypt, detailing her journey from a life of extreme public depravity in Alexandria to miraculous conversion in Jerusalem and 47 years of asceticism in the Jordanian desert. The narrative follows the monk Zosima as he discovers her, administers her final Communion, and eventually buries her with the assistance of a lion.

Fr. Michael on How Your Phone is Hacking Your Soul

Fr. Michael White

Part of a series titled 'Unplug,' this homily examines the spiritual impact of smartphones and digital technology on modern life. Drawing from St. Paul’s letter to the Ephesians, the priest challenges the congregation to 'shine a light' on fruitless digital habits like envy-inducing social media or anger-fueling news, urging a return to intentional silence and divine light.

¿Qué tan libre eres? El desierto de Cuaresma y la libertad en Cristo

This homily, delivered during a Lenten mission, focuses on the spiritual journey into the 'desert' of Lent as a path to freedom and intimacy with God. The speaker contrasts the Israelites' infidelity and doubt in the desert with Jesus's obedience and trust, urging listeners to use Lent to become more like Christ by shedding attachments and deepening their relationship with God, rather than falling into idolatry of self or material things.

Why We Keep Searching for Happiness in the Wrong Places (Like the Samaritan Woman)

The homily draws parallels between the Israelites' constant complaining in the desert and the Samaritan woman's search for true love, relating both to modern-day addictions and the struggle to break bad habits. It emphasizes that true satisfaction and love are found only in Jesus, not in fleeting worldly pleasures or distractions like phones, and encourages a personal encounter with Christ leading to conversion and communion.

How Technology Blinds Us: A Lenten Challenge

This homily explores different forms of blindness, both physical and spiritual. Drawing from the First Reading and the Gospel, the priest illustrates how human judgment based on appearance can lead to spiritual blindness, contrasting it with God's ability to see the heart. He then connects this to modern life, specifically highlighting how excessive use of technology can distract us from truth and meaningful relationships, urging a Lenten sacrifice of screen time to regain spiritual sight.

La Cuaresma y la Batalla Contra la División Interna y las Adicciones

Padre Jesús Elizalde

The homily emphasizes the Lenten call to internal unity and a decisive commitment to God, contrasting it with the internal division caused by egoism, pride, and sin. The priest shares a personal anecdote about encountering demonic manifestation during a blessing, highlighting the reality of spiritual warfare and the need for preparedness and faith in God's power over evil, especially in a world prone to various addictions.

The Wolf is Real: Why We Need a Shepherd Who Bleeds

The priest contrasts the serene, sanitized images of Jesus as the Good Shepherd in the Roman catacombs with the gritty, dangerous reality of first-century Palestinian shepherding. He emphasizes that Jesus's willingness to die for his 'stubborn and vulnerable' sheep is a deliberate act of love designed to protect the flock from a very real and cunning 'wolf.' Drawing on St. Ignatius of Loyola, he warns that the Christian life—including prayer, commandments, and sacraments—is not a religious crutch but a necessary defense against spiritual isolation and destruction.

Why the Devil Attacks You After Sacraments (and How to Fight Back)

Fr. Robert

The homily emphasizes that spiritual warfare is real, especially when one deepens their faith. The priest explains that the devil's tactic is 'divide and conquer,' often starting with negative thoughts about others, particularly those in leadership. He illustrates how monumental moments of grace, like receiving sacraments, can paradoxically become targets for the enemy's intensified attacks, drawing parallels to a struggling marriage with God.

The Church is a Battleship, Not a Cruise Ship: 5 False Spouses to Avoid This Lent

This homily uses the metaphor of the Church as a battleship, not a cruise ship, to emphasize that all members are called to active service, not passive consumption. Drawing on the Gospel of the Samaritan woman, the homilist identifies five 'false spouses' (politics, money/stuff, time, fear, and self-pride) that distract us from our covenant with Christ. He urges listeners to examine their hearts during Lent and return to the living water of baptism and confession.

The Devil's Nail: Why Your Faith Feels Stuck

Fr. Stanisław Chorąwicki

Fr. Stanisław Chorąwicki opens a Lenten retreat by challenging the congregation to move beyond a 'comfort zone' faith that avoids the dark, difficult areas of life. Using the metaphors of a 'nail' owned by the devil and a drowning man clinging to a rotting plank, he calls for a total surrender to God rather than a superficial, compartmentalized religious practice.

Deja el Cántaro: Cómo Jesús te Encuentra en tu Infierno Personal

Padre Felipe Rufes

The homily uses the story of the Samaritan woman at the well to illustrate how Jesus meets us in our 'hells' of loneliness and unfulfilled desires, often masked by modern distractions like social media (represented by a phone). It emphasizes that true satisfaction and love come from Christ, but requires us to 'drop the pitcher' – let go of temporary, unsatisfying attachments – to truly embrace Him and become His apostles.

The Devil's Strategy: How He Divides and Conquers Us

The homily focuses on the devil's strategy of division and lies, contrasting it with the Holy Spirit's work of unity and truth. Through a compelling story of a man struggling with addiction and despair, the homilist illustrates how the devil tempts us to delay repentance and isolate ourselves, while God offers mercy, love, and the power to overcome sin through the Holy Spirit and the unity of the Church.

La Fe de Marta y los Engaños del Mundo Moderno

Reflecting on the resurrection of Lazarus, the priest emphasizes that Jesus is the victor over both physical and spiritual death. He warns against seeking solutions in 'New Age' practices like reiki or yoga chakras, urging the faithful to maintain the 'faith of Martha' by trusting in God's eternal timing rather than immediate worldly relief.

Deacon Charlie: Resisting the Devil's Lure of Worldly Power and Idols

Deacon Charlie

Deacon Charlie concludes his Lenten series by discussing the third temptation of Jesus in the desert: the offer of all earthly kingdoms for worship of Satan. He connects this to modern idolatry, emphasizing the need to reject worldly allurements like money, power, and self-focus in favor of sacrificial love and worship of God alone. He also shares his personal experience in the deliverance ministry, highlighting the importance of rebuking the devil and embracing fasting, prayer, and almsgiving as practices to heal human frailties and live with an undivided heart for God.

Are You Falling for Spiritual Thirst Traps?

Father Doug Owens

The homily uses the concept of 'thirst traps' from social media to illustrate how people are drawn to vices like lust and anger, which ultimately leave them spiritually unfulfilled. Drawing parallels with the Israelites' thirst in the desert and the Samaritan woman's encounter with Jesus, the priest emphasizes that true and lasting hope and satisfaction come only from God, not from earthly things or divisive ideologies.

Stop Negotiating with the Sin That is Killing You

Fr. Juan Diego

Father Juan Diego delivers a challenging call to move beyond religious mediocrity and the mere 'surviving' of one's faith. He emphasizes that knowing God's word is useless without the decision to 'keep' it, specifically calling out the tendency to avoid difficult conversations and sins we have grown tired of justifying.

The Danger of Fake Friendships: St. Francis de Sales on Holy Company

This Lenten meditation explores St. Francis de Sales' teachings on the necessity of community and the profound impact of friendships on spiritual growth. The priest distinguishes between 'phantom' friendships that lead to sin or emotional dependency and authentic holy friendships that sharpen virtue and lead the soul toward God.

Tú lo Puedes: Cómo Vencer el Espíritu de la Desesperanza

Padre Chinanvo

Fr. Chinanvo reflects on his personal retreat to illustrate the struggle between the 'spirit of hopelessness' and the voice of God the Father. He emphasizes that true spiritual security comes from two certainties: knowing we are unconditionally loved and believing that, through God's grace, we are actually capable of loving and changing our lives.