Podcasts about Homily

The Kingdom Grows in Silence Today's Homily focuses on Jesus' parables of the seed . . . . . . and mustard seed from the Gospel of Mark along with the story of King David's sin and repentance from the Book of Samuel. The Mysterious, Gradual, and Often Hidden Nature of Spiritual Growth The Homily highlights the mysterious, gradual, and often hidden nature of spiritual growth in the Kingdom of God. Just as seeds grow quietly in the soil without human control, grace works slowly and inevitably within receptive hearts. David's fall with Bathsheba illustrates humanity's constant vulnerability to sin . . . even among the chosen and favored . . . while Psalm 51 gives voice to repentance and the hope of interior transformation. Against this backdrop, Jesus' parables reveal that God's Kingdom does not arrive through spectacle or instant change, but through small beginnings, patient faith, and sustained growth nourished within the soil of the Church. True understanding of Christ's teaching requires not only intellectual effort but a living relationship with Him. From baptism to the Eucharist, God plants His life within us like a seed, promising that . . . even when it seems small or insignificant . . . it carries within it the power to grow, transform, and bear abundant fruit for the life of the world. Listen to this Meditation Media. Listen to: The Kingdom Grows in Silence -------------------------------------------------------------------- Gospel Reading: Mark 4: 26-34 First Reading: 2 Samuel 11: 1-4, 5-10, 13-17 -------------------------------------------------------------------- Art Work The Sower: French Artist and Painter: Jean-François Millet: 1850 -------------------------------------------------------------------- Why was this image selected: The Sower captures the quiet, uncelebrated act of scattering seed—an image that perfectly reflects the parable of the seed growing “he knows not how.” The figure works faithfully, unaware of how or when the harvest will come, mirroring the mysterious, hidden action of grace in the soul and the slow unfolding of the Kingdom of God.

Homily from the Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time Jesus, do not let what You did for me end with me. To have been given all that one needs...and then to not use it would be a tragedy. We are surrounded by the tragedy of wasted potential. But this doesn't have to be the end of our story. Mass Readings from February 8, 2026: Isaiah 58:7-10 Psalm 112:4-5, 6-7, 8-91 Corinthians 2:1-5 Matthew 5:13-16

Send us a text"And if we are faithful in this way, as an organized Church and as its individual members, we will succeed in announcing Christ to the world until all is seen in full light.” (Lumen Gentium, Dogmatic Constitution on the Church, from Vatican II in Plain English by Bill Huebsch)I am away this weekend. I am traveling to Rome and Madrid. I am hoping to attend Pope Leo's audience on Wednesday in the Vatican.

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Jesus Asks, Why Are You Afraid? Awakening Faith Within TheHomily reviews the Gospel account of Jesus calming the storm . . . . . . (Mark 4:35–41) with moral and spiritual lessons drawn from King David's repentance and everyday human experience. The disciples' fear during the storm reveals their fragile faith, even though Christ is present with them. Jesus' calm, even while asleep, demonstrates perfect trust in the Father and offers a model for finding interior peace amid life's storms. The Homily contrasts human judgment . . . quick to condemn others but slow to recognize personal sin . . . with David's humility in acknowledging his own wrongdoing. Sin, while forgivable, always leaves consequences, illustrated through the parable of nails hammered into a wall. The reflection urges self-awareness, repentance, and mercy. Awaken Christ Within You Ultimately, the Homily calls believers to awaken Christ within themselves through prayer and the sacraments, especially Confession and the Eucharist. True peace comes from allowing Jesus to dwell actively in one's heart, enabling courage, trust, and stability amid the storms of life. Listen to Jesus Asks, Why Are You Afraid? Awakening Faith Within -------------------------------------------------------------- Art Work Christ Asleep during the Tempest: French Painter: Eugène Delacroix: 1853 The painting is now displayed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City. -------------------------------------------------------------- Gospel Reading: Mark 4: 35-41 First Reading: 2 Samuel 12: 1-7, 10-17 -------------------------------------------------------------- Why was this image selected: The artist emphasizes Christ sleeping peacefully while chaos reigns around Him. This directly reflects the Homily's insight that fear arises when Christ is “allowed to sleep” within us, and that faith must actively awaken His presence through prayer and sacramental life.

Homily of Fr. Mike O'Connor from Mass on February 3, 2026, at Our Lady of the Gulf Catholic Church in Bay St. Louis, MS. Readings 2 Sm 18:9-10, 14b, 24-25a, 30; 19:3 Mk 5:21-43 If you would like to donate to OLG and her livestream ministry, please go to https://olgchurch.net/give

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St. Joseph of Leonessa, Capuchin, Priest (Memorial)

Jesus knows who He is and how the Father sees Him, which allows Him to shine. At times we don't shine as we ought, but rather allow the world and what others say to dull our light. How do we invite Christ in, shining ever brighter?  Come, follow us: Parish Website  |  Facebook  |  Instagram  |  YouTube  |  Spotify Music

True Happiness Is Found in God The Gospel of the Beatitudes presents a vision of happiness that overturns ordinary human expectations. While the world associates blessedness with wealth, power, and security, Jesus proclaims the blessed as those who are poor in spirit, meek, merciful, pure of heart, and persecuted for righteousness. Drawing from Greek and Hebrew traditions, the Homily explains that “blessed” no longer means being untouched by suffering, but rather living with a heart oriented toward God. Blessed Means . . . A divided heart seeks happiness in wealth, power, pleasure, and fame, yet remains restless and unfulfilled. In contrast, a pure or undivided heart finds its fulfillment in God alone. From this God-centered heart flows mercy, justice, and love for others. True happiness, the Homily informs us, is not found in worldly achievements but in meditating on and living according to the law of the Lord, allowing God to be the sole treasure of the heart. Listen to this Meditation Media. True Happiness Is Found in God ------------------------------------------------------------------------- Gospel Reading: Matthew 5: 1-12 First Reading: Zephaniah 2: 3; 3:12-13 Second Reading: 1 Corinthians 1: 26-31 ------------------------------------------------------------------------- Art Work Snowbow: QoAHs Digital Team: 2026 Taken near Rochester, NY ------------------------------------------------------------------------- Why was this image selected: Have you ever just stopped and looked at the world and appreciate the beauty within it … the beauty God has made within this world? The QoAH digital team recently experienced a special nature moment viewing a Snowbow. Ok, is there really such a word? The answer is yes! It happens when the rising sun shines off snow crystals in the air. The above image shows the rising sun on the right and snow crystals revealing an orange and red stream of color. The vertical bands of color are straight up and down, unlike the normal arc curve of a typical rainbow. There was another upward band to the right of the sun … off camera. Just an amazingly beautiful view of nature… Happiness Found in God!

St. Blaise, Bishop and Martyr (Optional Memorial)

Homily of Fr. Mike O'Connor from Mass on February 3, 2026, at Our Lady of the Gulf Catholic Church in Bay St. Louis, MS. Readings If you would like to donate to OLG and her livestream ministry, please go to https://olgchurch.net/give 2 Samuel 18:9-10, 14b, 24-25a, 30–19:3 Mark 5:21-43

As Jesus delivers the Sermon on the Mount, we can often feel like it is a harsh ruling that he delivers.  But what if we instead remembered that Jesus talks to each of us personally, inviting us to the fulfillment that he offers.   Come, follow us: Parish Website  |  Facebook  |  Instagram  |  YouTube  |  Spotify Music

This week, we kicked off our sermon series Established as we take a look at the different stories throughout 1 Samuel. This week, we looked at the story of Hannah and how she was barren but rooted in God and found His faithfulness amidst disappointment.1 Samuel 1:1-2 Genesis 2:24 Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.Matthew 19:4-6  He (Jesus) answered, “Have you not read that He who created them from the beginning made them male and female, 5  and said, ‘Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh'?  6  So they are no longer two but one flesh. What therefore God has joined together, let not man separate.”  I SAMUEL 1:3-18 Being Established DURING Great Disappointment1. Continue in Prayer 10, 12, 13, 16, 26, 27.2. Endure in all Things 183. Worship the Lord  19  1 SAMUEL 1:19-204. Patient in Trust  20I SAMUEL 1:21-28I SAMUEL 2:1-10Christ is the promised King who will establish His people by His victory over death.

The Presentation of the Lord (Feast)

Homily of Fr. Mike O'Connor from Mass on February 2, 2026, at Our Lady of the Gulf Catholic Church in Bay St. Louis, MS. Readings Malachi 3:1-4 Hebrews 2:14-18 MLuke 2:22-40 If you would like to donate to OLG and her livestream ministry, please go to https://olgchurch.net/give

Original Airdate: January 29, 2023 Zephaniah 2:3; 3:12-13 | 1 Corinthians 1:26-31 | Matthew 5:1-12a Grant us, Lord our God, that we may honor you with our mind and love everyone in truth of heart.  Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God forever and ever, amen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mass Readings for 4th Sunday in Ordinary Time - February 1, 2026 Reading 1, Zephaniah 2:3; 3:12-13 Responsorial Psalm, Psalms 146:6-7, 8-9, 9-10 Reading 2, Corinthians 1:26-31 Gospel, Matthew 5:1-12

Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Homily of Fr. Mike O'Connor from Mass on February 1, 2026, at Our Lady of the Gulf Catholic Church in Bay St. Louis, MS. Readings Zephaniah 2:3; 3:12-13 1 Corinthians 1:26-31 Matthew 5:1-12a If you would like to donate to OLG and her livestream ministry, please go to https://olgchurch.net/give

Homily given at St. Thomas à Becket on the 4th Sunday in Ordinary Time (February 1, 2026)

Waiting for God's Time The Gospel recounts Jesus ascending the mountain to call and appoint the Twelve Apostles, . . . . . . choosing them to be with him, to preach, and to exercise spiritual authority. This act highlights divine initiative: God chooses, calls, and sends according to His will, not human ambition. The Homily then turns to the Old Testament encounter between David and Saul. Saul, consumed by jealousy, seeks to kill David in order to preserve his power, while David . . . though unjustly persecuted for many years . . . refuses to take revenge when Saul's life is placed in his hands. David recognizes Saul as “the Lord's anointed” and entrusts justice and fulfillment of God's promise entirely to God's timing. True Faith Resists the Urge to Hasten God's Promises The central lesson contrasts jealousy and revenge with patience, discernment, and reverence for life. Jealousy corrupts the heart and leads toward death, while waiting on God preserves life and aligns human action with divine purpose. David teaches that God's plans do not require human violence or manipulation to be fulfilled. True faith resists the urge to hasten God's promises and instead allows God alone to sign His work, especially when life itself is at stake. Listen to this Meditation Media. Waiting for God's Time ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Art Work King David – the King of Israel: Dutch Painter: Gerard van Honthorst:  1622 King David playing the harp.

Jesus: The True King Before the Sea of Need The Homily focuses on the Gospel of Mark . . . . . . and the Old Testament account of David and Saul to contrast two radically different models of kingship and authority. In the Gospel, Jesus draws overwhelming crowds from every direction . . . Galilee, Judea, Jerusalem, and beyond. The weight of human need is so great that his disciples must prepare a boat to keep him from being crushed. Jesus heals, teaches, and confronts unclean spirits, yet refuses acclaim or self-promotion. His kingship is defined not by ego or force, but by mercy, humility, and service to the wounded. This is set against the tragic example of King Saul, whose victory over Goliath becomes the seed of his downfall. Saul's fragile ego turns David . . . God's chosen servant . . . into a perceived enemy. Saul embodies the ruler who serves God on his own terms, seeking praise, control, and personal glory. David, though deeply flawed, remains oriented toward God's will, capable of repentance and humility. The Homily culminates in Christ as the true Son of David and Mary as Queen through obedience. God's kingdom is revealed not as conquest by power, but as a conquest of love—founded on surrender to God's will rather than domination. True authority flows from hearts mastered by God, not from self-assertion or acclaim. Listen to Jesus: The True King Before the Sea of Need ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Art Work Christ Healing the Paralytic at the Pool of Bethesda: Spanish Painter: Bartolomé Esteban Murillo: 1667 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Gospel Reading: Mark 3: 7-12 First Reading: 1 Samuel 18: 6-9; 19:1-7 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Why was this image selected: Murillo's Christ stands amid a mass of broken, desperate humanity . . . bodies pressed close, faces marked by suffering. The painting mirrors Mark's emphasis on overwhelming crowds and Christ's quiet authority. Jesus is central not as a ruler demanding praise, but as a healer absorbing the crushing weight of human need.

Homily from the Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time Do not give away what has real value for counterfeit happiness. There are many idols in our lives that promise the happiness that only God can give. The counterfeits of Wealth, Power, Pleasure, and Fame have taken all that people have and left them with nothing. Jesus gives us a new way to live...that actually leads to authentic happiness. Mass Readings from February 1, 2026: Zephaniah 2:3; 3:12-13 Psalm 146:6-7, 8-9, 9-101 Corinthians 1:26-31 Matthew 5:1-12a

Here Isaac is not giving us a technique for moral improvement. He is unveiling an icon. Behind his austere language of toil and Scripture and withdrawal stands a single, luminous vision: the human heart being slowly remade into the dwelling place of God. Asceticism is not a set of behaviors aimed at self mastery. It is the patient clearing of space so that the Trinity may come to rest within us. Everything Isaac names flows from this one mystery. He begins with what looks like a chain of practices. Bodily toil guards purity. Scripture sustains the toil. Hope and fear steady the soul. Prayer and withdrawal from men protect the heart. But Isaac is not describing a ladder that climbs upward by human effort. He is describing how the soul is held open until it can be seized by the Spirit. These disciplines do not save. They keep us available for salvation. They prevent the heart from sealing itself against grace. This is why Isaac speaks so soberly about the Scriptures. Until the Comforter has come and taken up His dwelling in the depths of the person we need the written word to keep us from drifting into forgetfulness and fantasy. The Scriptures are not information. They are a form of remembrance. They press the shape of Christ into the memory of the heart so that when our mind is scattered and the passions begin to speak their lies we are not carried away from our true homeland. But Isaac also knows that even Scripture is provisional. There comes a moment when the teaching no longer comes from without but from within. When the Spirit penetrates the noetic powers of the soul the heart itself becomes the book. The same Word who once spoke in letters now speaks in fire. This is not a rejection of Scripture but its fulfillment. The written Gospel gives way to the living Christ engraved upon the heart. Here we touch the heart of Eastern Christian mysticism. Salvation is not merely a verdict. It is a transformation of perception. The center of knowing shifts. The ego no longer stands as the interpreter of reality. The Spirit becomes the teacher. And because this teaching comes from God Himself it is not lost. It does not evaporate under distraction or suffering. It remains as a living memory of communion. Isaac then strikes at something that terrifies the ego. He distinguishes between good thoughts and a good heart. We are accustomed to judging ourselves by the surface weather of the mind. We watch our thoughts rise and fall like waves and imagine that our worth before God is decided by their movement. Isaac says this is an illusion. Thoughts come and go like sea winds. They stir the waters but they do not constitute the depths. The heart is the foundation. It is the place where we truly consent or refuse. A person may be flooded with thoughts and yet remain rooted in God. Another may have refined ideas and yet be inwardly turned toward self. What matters is not the agitation of the surface but the direction of the ground beneath it. This is a devastating word for the controlling ego. We want to manage our thoughts. We want to produce holiness by technique. We want to ensure our standing before God by monitoring every inner movement. Isaac tells us that this entire project is misguided. If judgment were passed on every thought we would be condemned and justified a thousand times a day. That is not how God sees us. God looks at the heart. He looks at where we have placed our deepest trust. And here the abyss opens. To let go of the ego is not to become passive or vague. It is to cease making ourselves the measure of reality. It is to fall into the love of God without conditions. The heart that consents to this fall becomes a foundation of peace even while the mind continues to be stirred by many winds. This is why the saints can live in such freedom. They are no longer organized around self protection. They have entrusted themselves to the Paschal mystery. For Isaac all of this is Christological. The Spirit who teaches the heart is the Spirit poured out by the crucified and risen Lord. The abyss into which we fall is the same abyss into which Christ descended in His self emptying love. To enter this path is to be drawn into the very life of the Trinity. We are no longer managing ourselves toward virtue. We are being re created from within by divine love. This is the beauty of the ascetical mystical tradition of the East. It does not offer self improvement. It offers transfiguration. It does not promise control. It invites surrender. It does not measure us by the turbulence of our thoughts but by the quiet yes of the heart. Isaac shows us a humanity that has learned to rest in God even while the winds still blow. A humanity no longer driven by fear or fantasy but grounded in the living presence of the Spirit. This is what we have become in Christ. And this is what the desert still calls us to be. --- Text of chat during the group: 00:01:01 Jonathan Grobler: Evening father 00:02:20 Fr. Charbel Abernethy: Good evening 00:02:50 Ryan Ngeve: Good evening Father 00:04:37 Bob Čihák, AZ: P. 175, # 19, final paragraph 00:04:49 Adam Paige: Happy feast day of Saint Isaac the Syrian to all ! New movie from the writer & director of “Man of God” (about St Nektarios) coming out this weekend: “Moses the Black” ! https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moses_the_Black_(film) 00:05:49 Anna: There was a run on bananas with this last storm 00:06:06 Anna: What movie 00:06:35 Anna: Thanks 00:08:08 Anna: Movie theater for Moses the Black... https://www.fathomentertainment.com/releases/moses-the-black/ 00:08:19 Anna: It's in theaters 00:09:35 Anna: That doesn't look like it 00:10:11 Jonathan Grobler: Excited for Lent, will hopefully be confirmed this Easter 00:10:41 Jessica McHale: 16th of Feb 00:10:41 Bob Čihák, AZ: P. 175, # 19, final paragraph 00:10:53 Angela Bellamy: Is there a resource some place on how Lent is traditionally observed? 00:11:18 Anna: That link is the movie playing on the 30th and so on 00:11:18 Janine: Yes 00:11:22 Anna: https://www.fathomentertainment.com/releases/moses-the-black/ 00:11:30 Janine: Alexander 00:11:45 Jessica McHale: Great Lent: Journey to Pascha by Father Alexander Schmemann 00:14:22 Angela Bellamy: Reacted to "Great Lent: Journey ..." with

St. John Bosco, Priest (Memorial)

Send us a textWe are the disciples on the mountain, listening to every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord. The very first word that comes out of Jesus' mouth is “blessed.” Words create realities. The pronouncement of blessing actually conveys the blessing. I have Mass on Sunday, February 1, at St. Isidore @ 7:30/9:30 amThe 7:30 am Mass will be live-streamed. https://stisidore.church/worship-online/frjoedailey@gmail.com

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St. Hyacinth Marescotti, Virgin (Memorial)

Homily of Fr. Mike O'Connor from Mass on January 30, 2026, at Our Lady of the Gulf Catholic Church in Bay St. Louis, MS. Readings 2 Sm 11:1-4a, 5-10a, 13-17 Mk 4:26-34 If you would like to donate to OLG and her livestream ministry, please go to https://olgchurch.net/give

Isaiah 29:13-25; From a sermon by St. Augustin (2:15); Luke 24:25-53 (6:52); Homily by Fr. Zach Michalczyk (9:00)   Support our seminary: archden.org/futurepriests

Join Father Kevin Drew as he preaches on this Friday of the Third Week of Ordinary Time. Today's readings First Reading: 2 Samuel 11:1-4a, 5-10a, 13-17 Psalm: Psalm 51:3-4, 5-6a, 6bcd-7, 10-11 Gospel: Mark 4:26-34 Catholic Radio Network

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Weekday

Listen to Fr. Steve's homily from 1/29/25.Thanks for listening! Please leave us a rating and/or review, and share on social media or with a friend! You can email ashley@rootedinthereallyreal.com with any questions or suggestions. God bless.

God's Call and Our Response The Homily reflects on readings from Scripture, focusing on how Saul . . . . . . despite being appointed and anointed by God and filled with the Holy Spirit . . . fell from grace. The central question, “How have the warriors fallen?” is repeated to emphasize a tragic decline rooted in disobedience to God and jealousy. Saul stopped listening to God, chose his own ego, and became consumed by comparison and envy toward David's success. The Homily compares this to everyday experiences of comparison and highlights that the antidote is gratitude and obedience to God, recognizing that God's grace meets our needs, not our wants. The Homily closes with a prayer that we remain attentive, obedient, and grateful to God so as not to fall like Saul. Listen to God's Call and Our Response --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Why was this image selected: This moment of divine calling highlights the importance of listening and responding to God . . . a central lesson in the text. It contrasts obedience with Saul's failure to heed God. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Art Work The Calling of St. Matthew: Italian Painter: Michelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio, : 1599-1600 This painting is unique. It depicts Jesus, with an outstretched arm, pointing to Levi. The tax collectors are illuminated by light as they look at Jesus. St. Peter stands near Jesus, as He tells Levi to Follow Me!. The painting resides in Rome within San Luigi dei Francesi. The painting hangs next to two other St. Matthew paintings, including the Martyrdom of St. Matthew. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Gospel Reading: Mark 3: 20-21 First Reading: 2 Samuel 1: 1-4, 11-12, 19, 23-27

The readings for this homily: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/012926.cfmWhen Jesus speaks of a lamp placed on a stand, He reveals how God works in history. What God makes known is meant to give light, and what He reveals is never accidental or incomplete.Father Mark Baron, MIC, shows how the Gospel and the First Reading proclaim a single, unified plan of salvation. The promise given to King David of a kingdom without end was never about political survival or earthly dominance. Even when Israel's kingdoms fell, God's promise did not fail. It was fulfilled in a way far greater than David could have imagined.At the Annunciation, the eternal kingdom promised to David takes flesh in Christ. God does not establish a political empire; He establishes a spiritual kingdom meant to rule hearts. From Abraham to Moses, from David to Christ, God's covenants expand His family until all are invited in. Israel is not discarded or replaced, but fulfilled. The Church is the continuation and completion of God's plan — the universal family gathered under Christ the King.Father Mark also clarifies modern misunderstandings that divide salvation history or reduce God's kingdom to end-times speculation. Catholic teaching proclaims one continuous plan, guided by the Holy Spirit, entrusted to the Church, and ordered toward charity, justice, and conversion of heart.Christ already reigns — in the Eucharist, in the Sacraments, and in every heart willing to receive His grace.Watch the full homily on DivineMercyPlus.org, the no-cost, ad-free Catholic streaming platform with exclusive Catholic content. ★ Support this podcast ★

Join Father Kevin Drew as he preaches on this Thursday of the Third Week in Ordinary Time. Today's readings First Reading: 2 Samuel 7:18-19, 24-29 Psalm: Psalm 132:1-2, 3-5, 11, 12, 13-14 Gospel: Mark 4:21-25 Catholic Radio Network

He was born early in the seventh century in the East. His birthplace is unclear: the Great Horologion says that he was born in eastern Arabia (present-day Qatar); the Synaxarion that he was born in Kurdistan. While still young he entered the Lavra of St Matthew with his brother, but after a few years of monastic life, having advanced far in obedience and the practice of prayer, he withdrew into the desert. His reputation for holiness reached the city of Nineveh, where the people prevailed on the hierarchy to consecrate him as their bishop in 670. Reluctantly but obediently, St Isaac took up the duties of shepherd of his flock in Nineveh. After a few months, he was called on to settle a dispute between two of the faithful, but they rejected his counsel and said 'Leave your Gospel out of this matter!' The holy bishop said, 'If they are not prepared to obey Our Lord's commandments, what need have they of me?', and retired to live as a hermit in the mountains of Kurdistan. Later, he settled in the monastery of Raban Shapur, where he wrote his Ascetical Homilies and other jewel-like works on the spiritual life. There he reposed in peace.   The fame of St Isaac' Homilies spread, and about one hundred years after their writing they were translated from Syriac into Greek by two monks in Palestine. In this form they spread throughout the monastic world, becoming a treasured guide to those who seek the fullness of the life of prayer. The Synaxarion says, "The book of Saint Isaac is, with the Ladder of Saint John Climacus, the indispensible guide for every Orthdox soul to journey safely toward God. Hence, not many years ago, a holy spiritual father, Jerome of Egina (d. 1966), recommended begging, if necessary, in order to be able to purchase a copy." We are blessed to have a good translation of the Ascetical Homilies available in English.   Saint Isaac is a very unusual case of an Orthodox Saint who lived outside the canonical boundaries of the Church: he was a bishop of the "Nestorian" communion, now sometimes called the "Oriental Orthodox." The purity of his own Orthodox faith is so clearly evident in his writings that the Church has nonetheless recognized his sanctity.

St. Thomas Aquinas, Priest, Doctor of the Church (Memorial)

Homily of Fr. Mike O'Connor from Mass on January 28, 2026, at Our Lady of the Gulf Catholic Church in Bay St. Louis, MS. Readings 2 Samuel 7:4-17 Mark 4:1-20 If you would like to donate to OLG and her livestream ministry, please go to https://olgchurch.net/give

Homily from the Third Sunday in Ordinary Time The question is not IF God will show up, but HOW will God show up. There are times in our lives when it seems like there is no way forward. There are times when it seems like there is no way God can come through on His promises. There are times when it seems like God will not show up. But God always does in a way only He knows. Mass Readings from January 25, 2026: Isaiah 8:23—9:3 Psalm 27:1, 4, 13-141 Corinthians 1:10-13, 17 Matthew 4:12-23 or 4:12-17