The Homilies of Father Merkley

- 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...

- 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).