Podcasts about Homily

Homily of Fr. Mike O'Connor from Mass January 2, 2026 at Our Lady of the Gulf Catholic Church in Bay St. Louis, MS. Readings 1 Jn 2:22-28 Jn 1:19-28 If you would like to donate to OLG and her livestream ministry, please go to https://olgchurch.net/give

Born in Time, Born into Glory . . . A Christmas Lesson For All of Us Today's Homily centers on the profound pairing of Christmas Day and the Feast of St. Stephen, . . . . . . highlighting the mystery of Christ's Incarnation alongside the Church's first martyr. Christ humbles Himself, laying aside heavenly glory to enter human fragility, while Stephen, in turn, lays aside earthly life to be clothed in heavenly glory. This contrast reveals a single pattern: humble self-giving leads to exaltation. Stephen's Martyrdom Stephen's martyrdom mirrors Christ's own Passion . . . not only in rejection and death outside the city, but most strikingly in his prayer of forgiveness for his persecutors. His final words reveal the true mark of life in the Holy Spirit: not power or eloquence, but radical love and trust. The Gospel's warning about persecution is fulfilled in Stephen, who does not rely on rehearsed words or self-control, but allows the Spirit to speak through him. The Homily emphasizes that martyrdom is not primarily suffering or death, but testimony . . . a witness forged through ordinary, daily faithfulness. Saints are not made by extraordinary moments alone, but by perseverance in fidelity. In Stephen, the Church sees not only the first martyr, but the pattern for all believers: faithfulness today prepares us for whatever witness tomorrow may demand. Listen more to Born in Time, Born into Glory . . . A Christmas Lesson For All of Us -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- A Quote from the Homily This is Jesus Christ, In his Incarnation, He leaves heavenly glory and veils the light of His being in fragile human flesh. And on this day, Stephen, the martyr, rudely stoned, and put to death, lays aside the fragility of his body that he might be vested and robed in the glory of the victorious realm . . . -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Art Work The Martyrdom of St Stephen: Italian Painter: Annibale Carracci: 1603 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Why was this image selected: Carracci's painting shows Stephen at the moment of violent death, yet spiritually lifted beyond it. The painting embodies the Homily 's central contrast: Christ born into time, Stephen born into eternity . . . two “birthdays” revealing the same divine victory. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Gospel Reading: Matthew 10: 17-22 First Reading: Acts 6: 8-10; 7: 54-59

Homily for the Solemnity of Mary, the Holy Mother of God

Msgr. Watkins' #NewYears resolution: Be brief. Be sincere. Be seated.

Homily for the Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God - Jan 1, 2026 Readings for the Mass: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/010126.cfm

Homily by Fr. Francis Mary Roaldi, CFR.

Here St. Isaac does not define virtues as behaviors but as states of being before God. He strips away external markers and leaves the soul alone with truth. What he offers is not a ladder of accomplishments but a geography of the heart. A stranger, he says, is not one who has left a place, but one whose mind has been estranged from all things of life. This is the quiet violence of the Gospel: “They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world” (Jn 17:16). Estrangement here is not contempt for creation but freedom from possession. Abba Arsenius fled Rome, but what he truly fled was the tyranny of relevance. To become a stranger is to consent to being unnecessary. It is to let the world continue without you and discover that God remains. The mourner is not a melancholic soul but a hungry one. He lives, Isaac says, in hunger and thirst for the sake of his hope in good things to come. This is the blessed mourning of the Beatitudes, the ache that refuses consolation because it has tasted something eternal. St. John Climacus calls mourning “a sorrow that is glad,” because it is oriented toward the Kingdom. It is grief baptized by hope. Such a soul does not despise joy; it waits for the only joy that cannot be taken away. Then Isaac dares to say what a monk truly is. Not one who has taken vows, not one who wears a habit, but one who remains outside the world and is ever supplicating God to receive future blessings. The monk stands at the edge of time and begs. His posture is eschatological. He lives as though the promises are real. This is why the monk's wealth is not visible. It is the comfort that comes of mourning and the joy that comes of faith, shining secretly in the mind's hidden chambers. Christ Himself names this hiddenness when He says, “Your Father who sees in secret will reward you” (Mt 6:6). The true treasure does not announce itself. It warms quietly. Mercy, too, is redefined. A merciful man is not one who performs selective kindness but one who has lost the ability to divide the world mentally into worthy and unworthy. This is the mercy of God Himself, who “makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good” (Mt 5:45). St. Isaac elsewhere says that a merciful heart burns for all creation: for humans, animals, demons, even for the enemies of God. Such mercy is not sentimental. It is cruciform. It is the heart stretched until it resembles Christ's own. And then Isaac turns to chastity, and again he refuses reduction. Virginity is not merely bodily restraint but an interior reverence. One who feels shame before himself even when alone. This is a startling phrase. It speaks of a soul that lives before God even when no one is watching. Shame here is not self-loathing but awe. It is the trembling awareness that one's thoughts are already prayers, or blasphemies, before the face of God. Therefore Isaac is unsparing: chastity cannot survive without reading and prolonged prayer. Without immersion in the Word, the imagination becomes a wilderness of unguarded images. Without prayer, the heart has no shelter. Abba Evagrius taught that thoughts are not defeated by force but by replacement—by filling the mind with divine fire. The Jesus Prayer, Scripture read slowly, the psalms murmured in weakness, these do not merely resist impurity; they transfigure desire itself. What unites all these sayings is this: St. Isaac is describing a soul that has accepted vulnerability. God has permitted the soul to be susceptible to accidents: not as punishment, but as mercy. Weakness becomes the doorway. Hunger becomes the guide. Shame becomes watchfulness. Mourning becomes wealth. Nothing here is safe, and nothing here is superficial. This is not an ethic for the strong. It is a path for those who have consented to be poor before God. In the end, St. Isaac is teaching us how to stand unarmed in the presence of the Kingdom; estranged from the world, aching for God, clothed in quiet prayer, and guarded not by our strength but by grace that shines unseen in the depths of the heart. --- Text of chat during the group: 00:04:33 Fr. Charbel Abernethy: Page 170 paragraph 7 Homily Six 00:04:45 Angela Bellamy: What is the book titled please? 00:04:56 Angela Bellamy: Reacted to "What is the book tit..." with

Octave Day of Christmas: Solemnity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Mother of God

Homily of Fr. Mike O'Connor from Mass January 1, 2026 at Our Lady of the Gulf Catholic Church in Bay St. Louis, MS. Readings Nm 6:22-27 Gal 4:4-7 Lk 2:16-21 If you would like to donate to OLG and her livestream ministry, please go to https://olgchurch.net/give

Listen along to Fr. Michael Delcambre's Christmas morning homily. You can find the readings at https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/nativity-lord-christmas

The post Gospel-Homily for Solemnity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Mother of God (2026) appeared first on St. Clement Eucharistic Shrine.

1 January 2026

Homily, Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God January 1, 2026, by Pastor, Fr. Jeff VonLehmen

Homily for the Solemnity of Mary, the Holy Mother of God.

Here is my homily from Jan. 1, 2026, Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God. See the readings at usccb.org.

Homily from the Solemnity of Mary, the Holy Mother of God Resolve: I will not take these things for granted. We are surrounded by the amazing and miraculous every day. But we often miss it because our lives are too busy and too full. If we take a page out of Mary, the Mother of God's book, we would reflect on all these things...and no longer take them for granted. Mass Readings from January 1, 2026: Numbers 6:22-27Psalm 67:2-3, 5, 6, 8Galatians 4:4-7 Luke 2:16-21

The Seventh Day in the Octave of Christmas

Homily of Fr. Mike O'Connor from Mass December 31, 2025 at Our Lady of the Gulf Catholic Church in Bay St. Louis, MS. Readings 1 John 2:18-21 John 1:1-18 If you would like to donate to OLG and her livestream ministry, please go to https://olgchurch.net/give

Listen to Fr. Steve's homily from 12/31/25.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.

Listen to Fr. Steve's homily from 12/30/25.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.

Homily - Feast of the Holy Family - St. Joseph: A Holy Father

The readings for this homily: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/123125.cfmFather Chris Alar, MIC, confronts a hard but urgent truth drawn from Sacred Scripture and the teaching authority of the Church: the Antichrist is not only a future figure, but a present spirit at work in the world. Reflecting on the First Letter of John, Fr. Chris explains that Scripture speaks of both a singular Antichrist still to come and many “antichrists” already active—those who have departed from Christ by rejecting His Church (1 Jn 2:18–19; NABRE).This deception is subtle. It often disguises itself as independence, spirituality without authority, or self-made salvation. Yet the Catechism warns that before Christ's return, the Church must endure a final trial marked by religious deception that offers false solutions at the price of apostasy (Catechism of the Catholic Church §675). To deny the Church established by Christ is to deny Christ Himself, even when His name is still spoken.Father Chris reminds us that the Church is not man-made, but God-made—founded by Christ, entrusted to the Apostles, and preserved through apostolic authority (Mt 16:18; NABRE). Though imperfect in her human members, she remains divinely protected in her mission. Like Noah's Ark, the Church may feel uncomfortable at times, but outside of it there is only drowning.The answer to confusion is not retreat, but fidelity. Through Baptism, Confirmation, and the Eucharist, God sustains His remnant and strengthens them to remain faithful witnesses. Evil has already been defeated, but souls are still at stake. Our task is not fear, but perseverance—praying, teaching, and living the truth so that others may return to Christ through His Church.“Anyone who knows God listens to us” (1 Jn 4:6; NABRE).To deepen your understanding of the Sacraments Christ gave His Church, explore Understanding the Sacraments at ShopMercy.org. ★ Support this podcast ★

Join Father Kevin Drew as he preaches on this The Seventh Day in the Octave of Christmas. Today's readings First Reading: 1 John 2:18-21 Psalm: Psalm 96:1-2, 11-12, 13 Gospel: John 1:1-18 Catholic Radio Network

It is such a gift to be able to celebrate a meal around the table and just feel the love of family. And it is a gift, but it also requires some hard work, because you have to show up, right?And that is a challenge for all of us, because we get busy with our lives, especially when we move out of the house as children. When you return to the house, you have to show up more than just physically. You have to be there emotionally. You have to be there spiritually. And that requires commitment. That requires effort. But that is what family does. Family creates an environment of safety, a place where you are always welcome to come back to. (Read more...) Here is my homily from the Feast of the Holy Family. I also include the special blessing for the families of the newly baptized. I hope you can enjoy it. 

Catholic homilies and Mass readings from St. Anne Roman Catholic Parish in Gilbert, Arizona

Catholic homilies and Mass readings from St. Anne Roman Catholic Parish in Gilbert, Arizona

Catholic homilies and Mass readings from St. Anne Roman Catholic Parish in Gilbert, Arizona

31 December 2025

The Sixth Day in the Octave of Christmas

Homily of Fr. Mike O'Connor from Mass December 30, 2025 at Our Lady of the Gulf Catholic Church in Bay St. Louis, MS. Readings 1 John 2:12-17 Luke 2:36-40 If you would like to donate to OLG and her livestream ministry, please go to https://olgchurch.net/give

The Meaning of Christmas: Sharing Our Humanity, Sharing His Divinity The Homily reflects on the Prologue of the Gospel of John, . . . . . . proclaiming Jesus as the eternal Word who was with God and is God, through whom all things were made. This Word, existing from the beginning, did not come into being but became flesh in the Incarnation. The Homily links this mystery to the liturgical gesture of mixing water and wine at Mass, symbolizing humanity being united with divinity through Christ, who humbled Himself to share fully in our human condition. This mystery of the Word becoming flesh is presented as the heart of Christmas and of Christian life itself: God became human so that we may become Divine. Christianity is Participation in Divine Life The Homily challenges us to apply this truth practically . . . by humility, self-giving, and a willingness to “become less” for the sake of love and relationship. Through a story about two outsiders responding differently to villagers' fear of a rabbit, the message illustrates that transformation happens only through solidarity and shared experience. Ultimately, Christianity is described not merely as morality or spirituality, but as participation in divine life made possible by God's radical act of love in the Incarnation. Listen to The Meaning of Christmas: Sharing Our Humanity, Sharing His Divinity -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Art Work The Adoration of the Shepherds (cropped): German Painter: Anton Raphael Mengs: 1765

The readings for this homily: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/123025.cfmThe mystery of Christmas overturns every illusion of self-salvation. God does not wait for humanity to climb back to Him. He comes down.Father Anthony Gramlich, MIC, draws us into this central truth of the Incarnation: Fallen humanity cannot raise itself by its own efforts. Grace is not something we generate. Redemption begins with divine humility.The world repeatedly offers a different promise — especially in modern spiritual movements — that we can elevate ourselves through technique, effort, or enlightenment. But Scripture reveals the opposite. Because of sin, humanity cannot lift itself to God. Instead, God lowers Himself to lift us. As St. Paul writes, Christ “emptied himself, taking the form of a slave” (Phil 2:7; NABRE). Born in poverty and obscurity, rejected by the world, Jesus enters fully into our human condition — without sin — in order to heal it from within.Father Anthony traces this saving pattern through salvation history itself. Humanity fell through the wood of the tree in Eden, and humanity is raised through the wood of the Cross. God is born on wood, works with wood, and dies on wood so that what once led us away from Heaven becomes the instrument that brings us back. Christmas is already pointing toward Calvary, and Calvary toward resurrection.This mystery demands proclamation. The angels announced it. The shepherds ran to see it. Anna spoke of it to all who awaited redemption. Christmas is not meant to remain silent or sentimental. It is the celebration of a God who acts, a God who saves, and a God who does for us what we cannot do for ourselves. To speak about Christmas rightly is to speak about Jesus Christ — the One who came down so that we might be raised up by grace.“Though he was in the form of God… he humbled himself” (Phil 2:6a & 8a; NABRE). ★ Support this podcast ★

Join Father Kevin Drew as he preaches on this The Sixth Day in the Octave of Christmas. Today's readings First Reading: 1 John 2:12-17 Psalm: Psalm 96:7-8a, 8b-9, 10 Gospel: Luke 2:36-40 Catholic Radio Network

Crisis of Bonds Not Structures... fr Hector Homily for Holy Family Sunday by padre Hector

The only meaning, the true logos, is God. The true logos is what we believe as Christians, the baby Jesus. He is the logos made flesh. That is what we celebrate, that that is the profound meaning. That is a foundation meaning for everything in our lives. God loves us so much that He did not just send a messenger, He sent His very self, His Son. (Read more…) Here is my homily from the Christmas Day Mass. I hope you can enjoy it.

Homily from the Feast of the Holy Family given at St. Daniel on December 28.

Homily from the Feast of John the Evangelist

We sometimes forget that the Holy Family lived real human lives — facing uncertainty, difficult decisions, and moments of struggle. In this homily, Msgr. Watkins invites us to look at their story through a human lens, beginning with the heartfelt reflection: “Poor Joseph.” Walk with them, feel their challenges, and discover a fresh perspective.

Sermon delivered by the Reverend David J. Powers on December 24, 2025.