The Homilies of Father Merkley

True Humility - What is true humility? - What is false humility? - What are the extremes we might be tempted to move in as regards this virtue? - Is God calling you to grow deeper in humility? This is a recorded homily from Fr. Gregory Merkley, delivered on August the 28th, 2022, 22nd Sunday of Ordinary time, Year C.

- What makes for a successful Lent? - Why is Confession not so scary? - Is Confession in the Bible, and why is it a thing? - What is it like for a priest to hear confessions? This is a recorded homily from Fr. Gregory Merkley, delivered on March 13th, the 2nd Sunday of Ordinary time, Year C.

- Who would you say is the most perfect married couple you've ever seen? Why? - Why does the Church give us 'ordinary time' in the Church's liturgical year? - Does God wants to be closer to you than even the closest spouses? - How can my relationship with God get better? This is a recorded homily from Fr. Gregory Merkley, delivered on January 16th, 2022, the 2nd Sunday of Ordinary Time, Year C.

- What is often considered the most venerable and traditional of the Eucharistic prayers? - What did St. Cecilia do that made her special? - Why does the Church praise virginity so much? - Where is God calling you to live your vocation more generously? This is a recorded homily from Fr. Gregory Merkley, delivered on November 22nd, Memorial of St. Cecilia.

- What did you become at your baptism? - What is the solemnity of Christ the King really about? - When did you give Jesus your car keys? Does He still have them? - Where is God calling you to live as more surrendered to Him? This is a recorded homily from Fr. Gregory Merkley, delivered on November 21st, Solemnity of Christ the King (Year B)

- What is the context for the recent liturgical cycle of 1st readings? - How do certain Jews respond heroically to being persecuted for their faith? - How do you respond when your faith is under attack? - How can you be more like Sts. Peter and Paul? This is a recorded homily from Fr. Gregory Merkley, delivered on November 18th, Memorial of the Dedication of the Basilica of Sts. Peter and Paul, Ap...

- What does a 'radical Christian' look like? - What did St. Elizabeth of Hungary do that was great and radical? - How are you called to be radical in following Jesus? - Do you always let Jesus 'reign over you' as today's parable shows He wants to? This is a recorded homily from Fr. Gregory Merkley, delivered on November 17th, 2021, Memorial of St. Elizabeth of Hungary.

- What do you call a group of people gathered in prayer like Zacchaeus? - What do Eleazar and Zacchaeus teach us today? - How are you called to please God more in your life? - How is God inviting you to imitate Eleazar or Zacchaeus? This is a recorded homily from Fr. Gregory Merkley, delivered on November 16th, Tuesday in the 33rd Week of Ordinary Time (B1)

- What do the readings invite us to ponder today? - How does God want us to use our time? - Do others know you as a person whose time is generously available for others? - What is the Holy Spirit inviting you to see about how you use the time you have? This is a recorded homily from Fr. Gregory Merkley, delivered on November 14th, 2021, 33rd Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year B.

- St. Josephat came into union with the Catholic Church as an adult. Do you know anyone else who has done that? - What is 'ecumenism' aimed at? (Hint: John 17:21) - How should our relations be with other types of Christians? - How does this teaching help us 'be ready' for Christ's return? This is a recorded homily from Fr. Gregory Merkley, delivered on November 12th, 2021, Friday in the 32nd Week...

- What resource did Father Merkley recommend to use for listening each day? - Who is St. Martin of Tours? - How does his story connect with what we remember today? - What is the true war that alone can end all other wars? This is a recorded homily from Fr. Gregory Merkley, delivered on November 11th, 2021, the memorial of St. Martin of Tours and Remembrance Day

- What is today's feast all about? - Who gave the land for this beautiful basilica? - What does Jesus call us to be in today's Gospel? - Who is the most perfect example of what the Church is called to be, both individually and corporately? This is a recorded homily from Fr. Gregory Merkley, delivered on November 9th, 2021, the feast of the Dedication of the Basilica of St. John Lateran.

- If God made out a cheque to you, what would He write down (what did He write down)? - If God gave you a blank cheque to give back to Him,  what would you write on it? - What does God want most of all from each one of us? - What do the readings today say to us about being generous with God? This is a recorded homily from Fr. Gregory Merkley, delivered on November 7th, 2021, 32nd Sunday in Or...

- What does the parable of the unrighteous steward teach us? - What does it mean to be "shrewd"? - How is God calling you to be smart, clever, and work intelligently to live and proclaim the Gospel? - What does St. Gaudentius say about this parable? This is a recorded homily from Fr. Gregory Merkley, delivered on November 5th, 2021, Friday in the 31st Week of Ordinary Time (B1).

- What does the story about Fr. Merkley's lost cat tell us about God's love? (PS - Father found that cat later on and it was all good!) - What have you lost that was dear to you, and how did it make you feel? - How can God's love for you excite your love for Him? - How does this connect with who we pray for this month? This is a recorded homily from Fr. Gregory Merkley, delivered on November 4th,...

- What is today's solemnity of 'All Saints' all about? - What does it mean that the Church calls all of us to be saints, and to be holy? - How do the beatitudes show us a path towards holiness? - How can you receive the graces you need to become a saint as well? This is a recorded homily from Fr. Gregory Merkley, delivered on November 1st, 2021, the solemnity of All Saints.

- What is the greatest commandment of all, according to Jesus? - What does it mean to love, according to St. Thomas Aquinas and St. Augustine? - What tools does God have in His 'toolkit' to help us to love better? - How does Fr. Greg's multitool help us understand how God works in our lives? This is a recorded homily from Fr. Gregory Merkley, delivered on October 31st, 2021, 31st Sunday of Ordinar...

- Have you ever 'happy cried' at someone's kindness to you? - How does our heart become transformed to be more and more like Jesus Christ's? - How did the Holy Spirit work in the lives of Sts. Simon and Jude? - How is God calling us to become instruments of God like them? This is a recorded homily from Fr. Gregory Merkley, delivered on October 28th, 2021, feast of Saints Simon and Jude, apostles a...

- What does Jesus mean when He says, 'Strive to enter by the narrow door' in today's Gospel? - Does anyone really 'coast' into Heaven? - Who wants us to get to Heaven the most? Is it ourselves? Other people? - What does it mean to be "In Christ"? This is a recorded homily from Fr. Gregory Merkley, delivered on October 27th, 2021, Wednesday of the 30th Week in Ordinary Time (B1).

- Why does Fr. Merkley use sunglasses as a prop for today? - How does God look on those who have special crosses? - How is God inviting us to have 'new vision', to see with Christ's eyes? - How does this new vision bring new joy to those around us? This is a recorded homily from Fr. Gregory Merkley, delivered on October 24th, 2021, 30th Sunday of Ordinary Time, Year B.

- Why would Jesus, the 'Prince of Peace', say in today's Gospel that He "came to bring division"? - What is the cause of that division? - What does that division look like? - How should we understand our response to it? This is a recorded homily from Fr. Gregory Merkley, delivered on October 21st, 2021, Thursday in the 29th week of Ordinary Time, B1.

- Have you noticed much division lately? - What is the real cause of all the division in the world? - Why does St. Paul of the Cross think we should meditate on Christ's Cross? - How and why will this help us be alert, and bring peace and healing to a troubled world? This is a recorded homily from Fr. Gregory Merkley, delivered on October 19th, 2021, memorial of St. Paul of the Cross (Readings fro...

- What is the prop Fr. Merkley used in this homily, and why? - What does it mean that Jesus gave Himself to be a 'ransom for many'? - What is a fantastic summary of the Catholic faith? - What are the main elements of the Gospel? This is a recorded homily from Fr. Gregory Merkley, delivered on October 17h, 2021, 29th Sunday in Ordinary Time (B1)

- How does the Lord justify us? - What does it mean to be justified? - How does one get to share in the "divine nature"? - What does sharing in that divine nature really look like? This is a recorded homily from Fr. Gregory Merkley, delivered on October 14th, 2021, Thursday in the 28th week of Ordinary Time (B1)

- What does St. Thomas Aquinas say about why and how humans are 'broken' since the fall of Adam and Eve? - What is one of the symptoms of this brokenness, in relation to how we are tempted to put on a show for others without true faithfulness to God? - Is God capable of healing us in our brokenness? - What means does God use to heal us from this brokenness over time? This is a recorded homily from...