The Homilies of Father Merkley

- What blessings have you received from God? How many have you received? - How is God inviting you to be attentive to and use the blessings you've received? - What mistake does the Gospel's parable show the rich farmer made? - Is God always your number #1 priority, or do your blessings sometimes take priority? This is a recorded homily from Fr. Gregory Merkley, delivered on October 11th, 2021, whi...

- Should our thanksgiving be annual, or often? - How can we understand the essence of gratitude? - Are you aware that everything you have is a gift? - How does Jesus invite us to be made ready to receive eternal life? This is a recorded homily from Fr. Gregory Merkley, delivered on October 10th, 2021, 28th Sunday of Ordinary Time (Canadian Thanksgiving Weekend)

- What does Fr. Gregory Merkley think about the rosary? - What is so special about the rosary? - What do the saints and the Church say about the rosary? - How should the promises of Mary to those who pray her rosary inspire us to pray it more faithfully? This is a recorded homily from Fr. Gregory Merkley, delivered on October 7th, 2021, Memorial of Our Lady of the Rosary.

- What do today's readings invite us to look at? - What is 'Mary's part'? - Are you making enough time for the Lord every day? - How is the Lord calling you to a higher quality and/or quantity prayer life? This is a recorded homily from Fr. Gregory Merkley, delivered on October 5th, 2021, Tuesday of the 27th week of Ordinary Time (B1).

- What does it really mean in the book of Genesis that the man and woman are 'partners'? What else does Genesis tell us about men and women? - What else are we reminded of by today's readings about Holy Matrimony? - What does Jesus say when He is asked about divorce? - What does the Church teach today about divorce, and what is a "declaration of nullity" or an "annulment"? Why might one be granted...

- Have you ever found yourself touched when reading Sacred Scripture? - What is God's motivation in all He says and does? - Do you read the Sacred Scriptures every day, and let them nourish you? - Do you let Sacred Scripture transform you into a laborer in God's vineyard like St. Jerome so completely did? This is a recorded homily from Fr. Gregory Merkley, delivered on September 30th, 2021, memori...

- What is perhaps Satan's greatest deception? - Who are the (arch)angels in general? - What are the particular missions of these three Archangels? - Do you invoke Saints Michael, Gabriel, and Raphael regularly? This is a recorded homily from Fr. Gregory Merkley, delivered on September 29th, 2021, Feast of Saints Michael, Gabriel, and Raphael, Archangels.

- Are you sure deep down that God is with you, and looking after you? - Did the apostles have it all figured out? Did that change God being with them? - Will God helps us, even though we don't have it all figured out yet? - How can this reality comfort us in our day-to-day life? This is a recorded homily from Fr. Gregory Merkley, delivered on September 28th, 2021, Tuesday in the 26th Week in Ordin...

- Why does it hurt so much for us to be excluded? - What is the "principle of charitable interpretation"? - What does it mean to have an authentic 'Christian inclusivity'? - What do this Sunday's readings have to say about all this? This is a recorded homily from Fr. Gregory Merkley, delivered on September 26th, 2021, 26th Sunday in Ordinary Time (B1).

- Why might you not believe God delights in you? - What does God do for those He loves? - Who was St. Padre Pio, and how did he follow the Lord? - Are you willing to unite your crosses to Christ to please God even more? This is a recorded homily from Fr. Gregory Merkley, delivered on September 23rd, Memorial of St. Pius of Pietrelcina (St. Padre Pio).

- How does the Israelite's exile connect with your life? - What does Jesus mean when he talks about his 'Exodus' at the Transfiguration? - What dangers do you need to watch out for while journeying in this 'our exile'? - Where is your true home? This is a recorded homily from Fr. Gregory Merkley, delivered on September 23rd, Wednesday of the 25th Week of Ordinary Time (B1).

- What does "I desire mercy, not sacrifice" mean? - What happened at the call of St. Matthew? - How much does Jesus want to heal and forgive us? - What is the greatest sacrifice God asks of us? This is a recorded homily from Fr. Gregory Merkley, delivered on September 21st, 2021, Feast of St. Matthew.

- What does the Church teach about the judgment? - How should we react to this? - Why is a state of grace so important? - Are you called to be a light? This is a recorded homily from Fr. Gregory Merkley, delivered on September 20th, 2021, Monday of the Week Sunday of Ordinary Time (B1).

- What major lesson does Jesus teach His disciples in this Sunday's readings? - What does it mean to serve? - Why should we live out a call to service? - How can we live out our call to service? This is a recorded homily from Fr. Gregory Merkley, delivered on September 19th, 2021, 25th Sunday of Ordinary Time (B).

- What consolation does today's Gospel offer us? - What should animate all our faith life? - How well do we know we are sinners who have been loved and forgiven? - Did the saints we celebrate today experience this dynamic as well? This is a recorded homily from Fr. Gregory Merkley, delivered on September 16th, 2021, Memorial of Saints Cornelius and Cyprian, Martyrs.

- What is this memorial of Our Lady of Sorrows all about? - Why is Mary called 'Our Lady of Sorrows'? - Why should we frequently meditate on Christ's passion? - How much did Mary suffer compared to the greatest martyrs of our faith? This is a recorded homily from Fr. Gregory Merkley, delivered on September 15th, 2021, on the memorial of Our Lady of Sorrows.

- On this feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross, we can ask, why would God allow the cross?      Here is the song I referenced: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VR6NTA_4ktI - What way do our crosses bear good fruit? - Can we offer up our sufferings as a form of prayer for others? - What is the historical background of this feast?      See more a...

- Are the people around you good listeners? Are you? - How do you listen to God? How does He listen to you? - Does listening well characterize you? - How do we sometimes misunderstand what the cross is? This is a recorded homily from Fr. Gregory Merkley, delivered on September 12th, 2021, the 24th Sunday of Ordinary Time (B1)

- What is a hypocrite? - Why is it not helpful to be one? - Who is hypocritical? - Where are we acting like hypocrites? This is a recorded homily from Fr. Gregory Merkley, delivered on September 10th, 2021, Friday in the 23rd Week of Ordinary Time (B1).

- Who is the greatest creature ever created? - Could God have made a better woman than Mary? - Why should we honor Mary especially today? - Let's resolve to love Mary better than before. This is a recorded homily from Fr. Gregory Merkley, delivered on September 8th, 2021, the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

- Is work a good thing? - Why do we work? - What is work all about? - How can the acronym 'W.O.R.K' help us work better? This is a recorded homily from Fr. Gregory Merkley, delivered on September 6th, 2021, Monday in the 23rd Week of Ordinary Time (B1).

- How do you feel about the news today?  - How does Fr. Merkley feel about the news today? - How open are you to the Lord? - How does the Lord want to touch you today? This is a recorded homily from Fr. Gregory Merkley, delivered on September 5th, 2021, Sunday of the 23rd Week of Ordinary Time (B).

- What is the bark of St. Peter? - How does St. Peter show his humility? - What is Christ revealing to us through St. Peter? - Why does God ask us to go along with Him in things we don't understand? This is a recorded homily from Fr. Gregory Merkley, delivered on September 2nd, 2021, Thursday in the 22nd Week of Ordinary Time (B1).

- What kind of authority does Jesus have? - Why is that a good thing for you and I? - Does God want to help us, and can He, because He is in the real one in authority? - How can I submit to God's authority in my life, and find strength thereby? This is a recorded homily from Fr. Gregory Merkley, delivered on August 31st, 2021, Tuesday in the 22nd Week of Ordinary Time (B1).

This homily is for the 22nd Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year B. It was delivered on August 29th, 2021.