Sinopsis
Homilies and talks given at St. Teresa's Parish, Christchurch NZ by the Community of St. John
Episodios
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“Into the Desert: Listening to God This Lent” - Homily - 1st Sunday of Lent, Year C
10/03/2025 Duración: 13minIn this homily, Fr. Michael reflects on Jesus’ forty days in the desert and the invitation for each of us to follow Him into that place of encounter. Sharing his personal experience of time in hermitage and the story of St. Catherine of Siena, he explains how the “desert” is where we learn to listen to God and face our temptations. Lent is a time to strip away distractions, make space for God, and renew our choice to give our lives to Him. Fr. Michael encourages us to embrace this season as a real encounter with God’s love and to seek the grace of confession if needed.
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“A Tree is Known by Its Fruits: Seeking the Heart of Christ” - Homily - 7th Sunday of Ordinary Time, Year C
05/03/2025 Duración: 10minIn this homily, Fr. Michael reflects on Jesus’ teaching that a tree is known by its fruits. He explores how we often misjudge ourselves, focusing on exterior success instead of the true interior fruits of peace, love, and forgiveness. Through powerful stories of family wounds, forgiveness, and accompanying the dying, he highlights how the spiritual state of our hearts is revealed at life’s most critical moments. Are we bearing good fruit—Christ’s love—or are we clinging to bitterness? Fr. Michael challenges us to trust God fully, let go of resentment, and conform our hearts to Christ, who forgave even from the Cross.
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“The Secret of Lent: Living in the Presence of God” - Homily - Ash Wednesday
05/03/2025 Duración: 09minIn this homily, Fr. Michael reflects on the Gospel’s call to prayer, fasting, and almsgiving—not as outward displays but as acts of deep interiority. Through personal stories, he explores how our Lenten practices must flow from an inner relationship with God, rather than seeking recognition. True transformation comes when we give our soul through prayer, our body through fasting, and our love through almsgiving. How can we guard this secret presence of God in our daily lives?
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“The Beatitudes: Belonging to God Alone” - Homily - 6th Sunday of Ordinary Time, Year C
16/02/2025 Duración: 17minIn this homily, Fr. Michael unpacks the radical nature of the Beatitudes in the Gospel of Luke. True happiness, he explains, is not found in wealth, success, or external behaviors, but in placing everything in God’s hands. Through powerful personal stories, he illustrates how those who let go of worldly attachments and embrace God’s love discover the true meaning of blessing. The Beatitudes call us not just to “behave,” but to belong—to God and to His Church. Are we willing to let go and trust that God alone is enough?
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“Duc in Altum: The Maturity of Faith” - Homily - 5th Sunday of Ordinary Time, Year C
09/02/2025 Duración: 14minIn this homily, Fr. Michael reflects on the call of Peter and the words of Jesus: “Put out into the deep.” (Duc in altum). He explores the maturation of faith, using Peter as a model of spiritual growth. From listening in faith to stepping out in faith to becoming a fisher of souls, we see how Christ calls each of us into deeper trust, discipleship, and mission. How is Christ inviting you to grow in faith today?
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“Living a Life of Worship: Placing Everything on the Altar” - Homily - Presentation of the Lord
02/02/2025 Duración: 11minIn this homily, Fr. Michael reflects on the Presentation of the Lord in the Temple and how Mary lived interiorly of the liturgy. She offered her Son to the Father, consecrating Him to God, while remaining open to the prophecy of Simeon and Anna. Fr. Michael challenges us to do the same—placing our lives, our children, our work, and all that we have on the altar. This is not just an act of worship but a way of life. He also encourages us to be open to hearing God’s voice today through Scripture, the Church, and the community.
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“The Revolution of Grace: Transforming the World Through Christ” - Homily - 3rd Sunday of Ordinary Time, Year C
26/01/2025 Duración: 10minIn this homily, Fr. Michael reflects on the profound proclamation of Jesus in the Gospel. Though suffering and injustice remain, Christ’s mission brings a revolutionary transformation through God’s grace, flowing from His wounded heart. Fr. Michael explores how this grace has reshaped the world, bearing fruit in politics, education, care for the poor, human rights, science, art, forgiveness, and community life. Discover how Christ’s grace continues to invite us into this divine transformation.
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“The Bride of Christ: A Joyful Covenant of Love” - Homily - 2nd Sunday of Ordinary Time, Year C
19/01/2025 Duración: 13minIn this homily, Fr. Michael reflects on the Gospel of the Wedding at Cana and the First Reading, revealing how Christ invites us into a profound, loving, and joyful marriage covenant with God. By turning water into wine as His first miracle, Jesus shows His intent to draw us into a deep union with Him as the spouse of our soul. Fr. Michael explores the beauty of this covenant, where the Church becomes the bride of Christ, called to a life of love and joy in Him.
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“Baptism: A Seed of Glory and a Call to Virtue” - Homily - Baptism of the Lord, Year C
13/01/2025 Duración: 14minIn this homily, Fr. Michael reflects on the Baptism of the Lord, exploring its profound significance as adoption into God’s family and the beginning of a journey toward glory. Baptism is more than a moment; it is the seed of eternal life, calling us to live lives of virtue, especially charity. Fr. Michael illustrates how the grace of Baptism transforms every aspect of life, using the example of marriage to show how virtue grows as we learn to lay down our lives in tenderness and love.
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“New Beginnings with God: Following Mary’s Yes” - Midnight Mass - Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God 2025
05/01/2025 Duración: 06minIn this New Year’s homily, Fr. Michael reflects on the profound example of Mary, the Mother of God, who embraced an entirely new beginning by saying “yes” to God’s will. Her words, “Let it be done to me according to your will,” changed the course of history and brought the Savior into the world. Fr. Michael invites us to begin this year by surrendering to God’s will, allowing Him to write the story of our lives, and trusting in His providence for a fresh start.
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“The Magi’s Journey: Wonder and the Search for God” - Homily - Epiphany 2025
05/01/2025 Duración: 12minIn this homily for the Feast of the Epiphany, Fr. Michael reflects on the journey of the Magi, exploring what we know and don’t know about their historic arrival. He highlights the radical importance of wonder—wonder that drives us to search for God, just as the Magi did. Fr. Michael challenges us to resist the creeping influence of atheistic materialism, whether through ideology or the practical busyness of life, and instead cultivate a heart open to the mystery and presence of God.
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"Advent: Preparing for Christ with Hope and Courage” - Homily - 1st Sunday of Advent, Year C
02/12/2024 Duración: 08minIn this homily, Fr. Michael reflects on the true meaning of Advent as a time of preparation for Christ’s Second Coming. He challenges us to engage in the spiritual battle against pride and to cultivate real virtue, especially the virtues of hope and courage. Hope sustains us in trusting God’s providence and victory, while courage empowers us to confront the darkness and doubts within our hearts. This homily invites us to embrace Advent as a season of spiritual readiness, preparing to encounter the victorious Christ.
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“Not Far from the Kingdom: Embracing Faith in Christ” - Homily - 31st Sunday of OT, Year B
03/11/2024 Duración: 09minIn this homily, Fr. Michael reflects on Jesus’ words to the scribe, “You are not far from the Kingdom.” While love of God and neighbor is essential, it brings us only close to the Kingdom. Fr. Michael explains that true entry requires a leap of faith in God’s providence and mercy, made known through Jesus Christ, the Word made flesh. This homily challenges us to go beyond mere moral living and embrace the Savior God has given, recognizing that we all fall short of the law and need the gift of Christ to bridge the gap.
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“Renewing the Covenant of Marriage: No Longer Hardened Hearts” - Homily - 27th Sunday of OT, Year B
08/10/2024 Duración: 07minn this homily, Fr. Michael explores Jesus’ teaching on marriage, reflecting on why Christ renews the covenant of marriage and calls us to a deeper fidelity. He explains that while Moses permitted divorce because of the hardness of people’s hearts, Jesus invites us to embrace a new heart—one transformed by grace and committed to the permanence of marital love. With this renewed heart in Christ, we are called to live the original vision of marriage: a lifelong, faithful, and loving covenant that reflects God’s love for His people.
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“Becoming Like Little Children: Trust and Humility” - Homily - 25th Sunday of OT, Year B
22/09/2024 Duración: 08minIn this homily, Fr. Michael reflects on the Gospel where Jesus teaches His disciples about true greatness. As they argue about who will be the greatest, Jesus brings a child into their midst and challenges them to be childlike in their faith. Fr. Michael explains that being childlike is not about immaturity, but about trust, humility, and openness to God’s will. By letting go of our need to control everything and trusting in God’s plan, we find true peace and freedom. This homily invites us to embrace childlike faith, relying on God’s love and guidance, even when the path leads through the Cross.
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"Faith, Control, and the Cross: Peter’s Journey” - Homily - 24th Sunday of OT, Year B
15/09/2024 Duración: 09minIn this homily, Fr. Michael examines Peter’s journey in the Gospel of Mark, highlighting three key stages: his bold act of faith in recognizing Jesus as the Messiah, his misguided attempt to control the narrative by rejecting the idea of Jesus going to the Cross, and finally, Jesus’ teaching that true discipleship involves picking up one’s cross and laying down one’s life. Fr. Michael connects Peter’s journey to our own lives, illustrating how we often face the same challenge: moving from trying to control our circumstances to trusting in God’s plan, especially in areas like parenting, where faith must lead over control.
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“Slowly Revealed: Understanding God’s Unveiling” - Homily - 23rd Sunday of OT, Year B
07/09/2024 Duración: 10minIn this homily, Fr. Michael explores the recurring theme in the Gospel of Mark where Jesus often tells people not to reveal His miracles or identity too soon. He reflects on how Jesus gradually unveils His divinity throughout His ministry, culminating in the Transfiguration and ultimately the Crucifixion. Fr. Michael draws a parallel to how God reveals Himself to each of us over time, step by step, understanding that too much too soon could overwhelm us or lead us to reject Him. This homily invites us to trust in God’s timing and to be open to His gentle guidance in our lives.
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“True Worship: More Than Lip-Service” - Homily - 2nd Sunday of Ordinary Time, Year B
01/09/2024 Duración: 11minIn this homily, Fr. Michael reflects on Jesus’ critique of empty worship, highlighting the danger of honouring God only with our lips while our hearts remain distant. He explores how authentic worship requires submitting our entire lives—including our politics, actions, and intentions—to God’s law. Fr. Michael challenges us to govern our hearts with humility, surrendering our sins and evil intentions to God to offer true and meaningful worship. This message invites us to examine our own lives and commit to worship that flows from a heart fully aligned with God’s will.
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“Will You Also Leave?” - Homily - 21st Sunday of OT, Year B
25/08/2024 Duración: 13minIn this homily for the 21st Sunday of Ordinary Time, Fr. Michael reflects on the powerful and challenging message in the Gospel, where many disciples leave Jesus after hearing His hard teachings. He delves into the scandal of the Gospel, the importance of mutual submission, and the radical trust required in faith. Fr. Michael challenges us to respond to Jesus’ question: “Will you also leave?” and invites us to embrace the complete trust necessary to enter into eternal life.
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More than a Meal: Christ's Body Given for Us - Homily - 20th Sunday of OT (Year B)
17/08/2024 Duración: 14minIn this powerful homily, Fr. Michael explores the profound meaning behind Jesus' words, "This is my body, given for you." Drawing inspiration from Mary's example, he illuminates the connection between our self-giving and receiving Christ's Body in the Eucharist, urging us to become one body with Him through a life of sacrifice and love.