Homily | July 9, 2026 | When God Bends Down To Lift You Up | (Episode 191)

Homily | July 16, 2026 | If The Burden Is Light, Why Am I Tired | (Episode 199)

We challenge the myth that following Christ makes life easy, and we explain why Jesus offers a lighter way to carry real burdens instead of pretending they are not there. We connect the Gospel image of the yoke with Isaiah, Saint Augustine, and the quiet strength of humility that leads to peace.  • the misconception that Christian faith removes suffering  • the meaning of Jesus’ yoke as shared strength and direction  • the invitation to come to Christ while burdened, not after life is fixed  • Isaiah on the soul’s deepest desire and the emptiness behind success  • Saint Augustine on restlessness as a path back to God  • the exhaustion of control and the limits of self-reliance  • meekness and humility as the foundation of peace  Come to me, all of you who are tired and burdened.  Thank you for listening! Visit us at www.saintaugustinechurch.org

Homily | July 15, 2026 | You Are Not The Author Of Your Gifts | (Episode 198)

We reflect on Isaiah’s image of the axe that boasts and expose how pride convinces us we are the source of our own success. We look to Saint Bonaventure and Jesus’ call to childlike faith to learn what real humility, teachability, and wisdom look like.  • Isaiah’s axe metaphor as a test for pride  • Mistaking being an instrument for being the author  • Every strength as a gift received, not owned  • Why the saints are humble without denying talent  • Saint Bonaventure’s brilliance rooted in prayer before the crucifix  • Theology as knowing God, not just knowing about God  • The difference between being intelligent and being teachable  • Two examen questions about credit and childlike trust  • Wisdom formed through love for Christ and surrender at the cross  Thank you for listening! Visit us at www.saintaugustinechurch.org

Homily | July 14, 2026 | Building A Life That Does Not Shake | (Episode 197)

We reflect on God’s warning to King Ahaz that a steady life depends on steady faith, especially when fear makes our hearts tremble. Saint Kateri Tekakwitha and Jesus’ call to repentance push us to stop relying on fragile foundations and start responding to the graces we already receive.  • faith as the foundation for stability when life shakes  • false securities that collapse under pressure: money, success, approval  • God’s command to remain calm amid real threats  • peace defined as the presence of God  • Saint Kateri Tekakwitha’s suffering and lasting joy in Christ  • privilege and responsibility in the Gospel towns that refuse repentance  • danger of getting used to holy things without becoming holy  • the Eucharist, confession, and Scripture as living graces demanding a response  • two examining questions: where we place security and what we try to control  • holiness measured by ordinary fidelity, discipline, and perseverance  Thank you for listening! Visit us at www.saintaugustinechurch.org

Homily | July 13, 2026 | God Wants Holiness More Than Offerings | (Episode 196)

We hear God’s blunt warning through Isaiah and face the possibility that our worship can become empty when it doesn’t change how we live. We unpack Jesus’ “sword” as a decision that forces real priorities, then end with a practical challenge to love through small acts done with real faith. • God’s rejection of sacrifices as a condemnation of disconnected worship • Conversion over religious box-checking in Catholic practice • Mass, confession, and Holy Communion as tools for real transformation • The danger of comfort Christianity and spiritual routine • “Not peace but the sword” as the cost of choosing Christ first • Ordinary acts of love as the building blocks of the kingdom • Two questions that test whether faith is visible in how we treat others Thank you for listening! Visit us at www.saintaugustinechurch.org

Homily | July 12, 2026 | God’s Love Does Not Wait For Perfect Soil | (Episode 195)

We notice the “reckless” sower first, because God’s generosity is bigger than His fear of waste and He never rations grace. We also face the harder truth that the seed is alive and powerful, so real growth depends on what we do with the soil of our hearts.  • the sower as the main character, revealing God’s extravagant mercy  • God’s love coming from the giver, not the receiver’s condition  • the seed never being the problem because the Word of God is alive  • the four soils as four heart conditions we all recognize  • hard paths formed by disappointment and numbness  • rocky faith built on emotion without deep roots  • thorns as distraction, worry, pressure, and constant noise  • busyness as a quiet way the heart gets crowded  • soil that can change through freedom, cultivation, and cooperation with grace  • repentance, confession, forgiveness, and silence as practical tools  • trials as refining fire that can crack open a closed heart  • one small, specific step that makes room for thirtyfold fruit  So this week, don’t try to change your entire life. Just cultivate one small piece of the soil. Thank you for listening! Visit us at www.saintaugustinechurch.org