Homily Blog

The Advent Voice That Calls Us Higher Advent reminds us that we are made for more: more than comfort, more than mediocrity, more than the temptations that diminish our dignity, more than any struggle with addiction, in fact, more than the things that bring sadness in our lives. It reminds us of the meaning and purpose of our existence. Catholic speaker and former model Leah Darrow once told a gathering at Steubenville: “Some choices offered to us don’t always lead to the path of...

What Difference Does Advent Make? Here comes another Advent! But what difference does it make? For some, it may feel like “just another year,” another cycle of Christmas lights, cooking, buying gifts, and decorating the house. These little details can be good and attractive, but they can easily weigh us down and make us lose the true meaning of Advent. For instance, some people do not cherish Christmas because of the burden of having to fix so many things for their family. Imagine the demands...

Each year on this feast of Christ the King, I recall the story of a six-year-old boy who once sat determined to draw a picture of God. His mother said, “But no one really knows what God looks like.” The boy replied, “Once I finish this drawing, they will know.” Wouldn’t it be wonderful if our lives were that kind of picture—if people could look at us and finally see what it means to proclaim Jesus as King? The feast of Christ the King is more than an annual event. It is the celebration of...

Personal Witness: Encountering the Lateran Basilica Earlier this year, I was in Rome for the funeral rites of Pope Francis, and one of the profound moments during that pilgrimage was visiting the Lateran Basilica —the Mother and Head of all churches in the world. I was struck by its beauty, its history, and its sacred atmosphere. Today’s feast is a reminder that the Church is not just a building—it’s us . The Lateran Basilica is the Mother Church because it symbolizes the unity and sanctity...

Today, we gather in prayerful remembrance of all the faithful departed. The Church, in her maternal wisdom, pauses to intercede for souls who have gone before us, trusting in the boundless mercy of God. It can be asked whether All Souls’ Day is a day of despair, of mourning, or of grief for those who have died. Rather, it is a day of hope — a hope anchored in Christ’s victory over death and His promise of eternal life. My personal feeling is that All Souls offers me some hope of being...

Self-Worth, Not Self-Worship: Understanding Narcissism The word “narcissism” has become popular in modern society—typically in a negative sense. It originates from the Greek myth when Narcissus falls in love with his own reflection in a pool of water. Narcissism is an exaggerated obsession with self, often at the expense of others. In today’s gospel, Jesus uses the parable of the Pharisee and the tax collector to expose this kind of spiritual narcissism. The Pharisee exalts himself while...

Personal Testimony: A Winning Strategy Some of my seminary teammates will remember this slogan well: “Massive attack, massive defense.” That was our soccer team’s slogan back in 2002 during the All-Nigeria Seminary Games. Our team from Seat of Wisdom Seminary came out bold, fearless, and hungry for victory. We went into every match with fire—often securing wins within the first fifteen minutes. The secret wasn’t just about our individual talents—though we had plenty. What made the difference...

God Crosses Boundaries for Our Healing: The readings this Sunday reveal that God willingly crosses human boundaries to heal and restore....

Habakkuk’s Struggle and God’s Assurance The prophet Habakkuk cries out against the violence, oppression, and destruction he witnesses:...

Comfort That Blinds the Heart The prophet Amos condemns those who live in luxury while ignoring the suffering around them. Similarly,...

Prophetic Warning Against Corruption In the first reading, the prophet Amos exposes the hypocrisy of Israel’s religious and political...

THE PARADOX OF THE CROSS: A SYMBOL OF SUFFERING AND SALVATION Jayden’s pain was so much when I met him. A young husband and dad in his...