Homilies about trust

The Only Consolation Jesus Refused to Give Up

Fr. Matthias

Fr. Matthias reflects on the Fifth Sorrowful Mystery, explaining that Jesus' cry of abandonment on the cross was a human feeling of desolation rather than a theological separation from the Father. He emphasizes that while Christ embraced every suffering, He did not deprive Himself of the consolation of Mary's presence, a gift He also offers to us in our darkest moments. The homily is anchored by a remarkable story of a student in Fiji whose tuition was mysteriously paid by an unknown woman while he sat in despair before a grotto of Our Lady.

Finding Miracles and Healing Through Suffering: Donna-Marie Cooper O'Boyle's Story

This Lenten reflection, delivered by Donna-Marie Cooper O'Boyle, emphasizes the constant presence of miracles in daily life and the importance of nourishing one's faith, especially during Lent. She shares deeply personal stories of suffering, including domestic abuse, poverty, and health crises, illustrating how God's providence and the intercession of saints like St. Joseph and Mother Mary brought healing and purpose. The core message is about trusting God's plan, embracing suffering as an opportunity for spiritual growth, and extending love and mercy to others, even in unexpected ways.

Healed: A Seminarian's Miraculous Recovery from Debilitating Illness

Julian shares his powerful testimony of a miraculous healing from a debilitating, undiagnosed neurological condition that left him bedridden for over a year. Despite medical failures and increasing suffering, he surrendered to God, focusing on prayer and spiritual life, and was eventually healed after receiving Holy Communion and praying a devotion to the Precious Blood, hearing God tell him to 'Get up and walk.' His story emphasizes God's mercy, love, and continued power to heal in the present day.

The Junkyard Dog and the Surprises of God

Father Thomas

Father Thomas explores the theme of life's 'surprises'—both good and bad—through the lens of the raising of Lazarus and his own near-death experience with a massive junkyard dog. He encourages the faithful to trust that no matter what unexpected news they receive, God is present to help them handle the situation and that death is never the final chapter.

I Died Twice: Maria Fondora’s Vision of Heaven and the Lesson of Surrender

Father Paul

Maria Fondora shares a powerful witness of faith, detailing her journey from escaping Castro's Cuba to surviving a traumatic liver transplant where she experienced a near-death vision of Christ and heaven. She describes how God used suffering, including the loss of her parents and husband, to lead her toward a mission of service through her restaurant and the Purple Pansies pancreatic cancer foundation.

A Priest's Vietnam Story: Finding God's Providence in Chaos and Coincidence

Charlie Frink

This talk, part of a Lenten Mission, emphasizes trusting in God's providential care, even when His ways are mysterious or difficult to understand. The speaker shares a deeply personal, multi-part story from his Vietnam War experience and subsequent priestly life, illustrating how seemingly random events and connections over decades revealed God's guiding hand. He concludes by drawing on Cardinal Newman and Bead Jarrett's reflections on God's power, wisdom, and love, urging listeners to cultivate profound trust to overcome anxiety and find peace.

Fr. Doug on the Seizure That Saved His Life

Fr. Doug Owens

Fr. Doug Owens shares a deeply personal testimony about his struggle with alcoholism and a life-changing seizure that led to his sobriety, framing it as an intense experience of God's love. He connects this to the raising of Lazarus, explaining that God's love often involves suffering or waiting for a greater glory to be revealed. The homily concludes with a call to choose love over hate and to trust in the Church's mission despite external persecution or internal trials.

When God Answers Your Prayer With a Cross

The priest shares a vulnerable personal story about his mother's struggle with Catholic teachings and how his prayers for her conversion were answered through the unexpected 'cross' of her terminal cancer. He connects this to the Gospel of Lazarus, illustrating that God often allows suffering not out of neglect, but to bring about a greater glory and healing than we could imagine.

Radical Trust: A Priest's Story of His Mother's Last Moments

Father Butler

Reflecting on the raising of Lazarus, the priest shares a deeply personal account of his mother's terminal cancer diagnosis and her final moments of faith. He emphasizes that while death is a universal human experience that causes even Jesus to weep, the core of the Christian faith is a radical trust in Christ as the resurrection and the life.

The Fearless Friends of God: A Deathbed Testimony

The priest reflects on the courage of being a 'friend of God,' noting that true believers are often misunderstood or persecuted but remain fearless in their mission. He shares a poignant personal story of a woman on her deathbed who, despite being cared for by a non-believing relative for 40 years, made a final profession of faith in Jesus just 30 minutes before passing away. The message emphasizes that while the world may try to destroy one's image or mission, what God has established in a person's life cannot be removed by human hands.

St. Joseph the Dreamer: How to Let God Guide Your Decisions

In this interactive homily for the Solemnity of St. Joseph, the priest engages the school community by exploring the four dreams of St. Joseph recorded in Scripture. He introduces the concept of 'St. Joseph the Dreamer' using a 'Sleeping St. Joseph' statue, encouraging the faithful to entrust their difficult decisions and personal intentions to Joseph's intercession.

How to Catch the 'Illegal Immigrants' in Your Soul

The bishop reflects on the Prayer of St. Ephrem the Syrian, emphasizing the need to 'repair' one's spiritual life through Lenten retreats. He discusses the importance of recognizing God as the true owner of our lives and warns against the 'illegal immigrants' of the soul—negative thoughts and habits that must be identified and expelled.

Why Prayer Doesn't Stop Death

Using the story of a friend's father's death, the priest explores the tension between faith-filled prayer and the reality of mortality. He contrasts the different grieving styles of Mary and Martha to show that while faith doesn't grant a 'pass' from death, it provides the trust needed to face what lies beyond it.

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.

When God is 'Too Late': Finding Hope in the Midst of Grief

Fr. Mark Cruz

Fr. Mark Cruz reflects on the deep sorrow and frustration found in the Gospel of Lazarus, connecting Martha's grief to our own experiences of loss, illness, and unanswered prayers. He shares a poignant story of a young boy's sudden death in the Philippines to illustrate that even when God seems absent or 'too late,' He is secretly working a deeper transformation in His own time.

The Nike Principle: Why St. Joseph Was a Man of Action, Not Just Silence

Fr. Richard Viggoa

The homily explores the life of St. Joseph, debunking the common artistic portrayal of him as an old man by using Greek linguistic analysis of the Gospels to show he was likely a young, vigorous man under 49. The priest emphasizes Joseph's 'silent action' and his 'Nike principle' of immediate obedience to God despite the grave dangers posed by King Herod to the Davidic royal line.

Sister Felicity: How the Incarnation and Eucharist Transform Our Lives

Sister Felicity

Sister Felicity shares her vocation story, emphasizing how her journey to becoming a Nashville Dominican was guided by learning to pray, trust, and recognize divine providence, despite her initial resistance. She then delves into the theological significance of the Incarnation and the Eucharist, explaining how Jesus' humanity dignifies our own and provides an example for living, while his real presence in the Eucharist offers profound union and a continuous expression of his love. The homily encourages intentional living, prayer, and reverence for the Eucharist as ways to live out our union with Christ.

The Divine Chiropractor: Why God’s Healing Takes Time

Using a unique analogy of a chiropractor's 'ringer dinger' adjustment, the priest explains that our spiritual pain often stems from misalignments we don't recognize. He emphasizes that Jesus, the Divine Physician, often works in roundabout ways or through periods of waiting to heal the root causes of our suffering rather than just the symptoms.

From Africa to LA: The Healing Power of Gratitude in Lent

Fr. Tadeusz Brzożowski

The homily, delivered by a missionary from Kenya, emphasizes the transformative power of gratitude and trust in God's plan, drawing parallels between the joyful and grateful spirit of African communities and the need for Westerners to overcome a 'paralysis of time' and a tendency to dwell on past grievances. It encourages a shift from complaint to thanksgiving, from control to surrender, and from spiritual blindness to seeing with the 'eyes of the heart,' especially during Lent.

The Power of an Empty Cup: Why God Needs Your Emptiness

Drawing from a Bruce Lee quote about the usefulness of an empty cup, the priest explores how God works most deeply in us when we are emptied of our own plans and control. He connects this to the raising of Lazarus, emphasizing that the tomb is not a finality but a space where human limits end and God's miracles begin.