St. Gabriel Catholic Church - Homily Podcast: Recent Episodes
St. Gabriel Catholic Church
Grow in your relationship with Jesus through homilies given by Fr. Richard Sutter and Fr. Mike Mitchell at St. Gabriel Catholic Church in Charlotte, NC
This is the video Father leads in to at the end of his homily: https://youtu.be/8y3iILOX1To
Learn more about Alpha at stgabrielchurch.org/alpha
The work Father speaks about in his homily is the dome of the baptistery in Padua Italy, frescoed by Giusto de Menabuoi around 1378.
Fr. Mike Mitchell's brother Father Jason takes his place while he is on mission in Guatemala.
Fr. Mike shares an incredible story of tragedy and forgiveness in Haiti, reflecting the power of the Christian way of life.
The things we treasure in this life are carried into the next life. Jesus comes to bring us eternal happiness.
An experience in Haiti and a painting of Peter and John provide the backdrop as Fr. Mike invites us to meet Christ in person.
When have you been called to be uncomfortable for something good - to take up your cross?
With tender mercy, Jesus came out of love to forgive everyone. Fr. Mike invites us to forgive someone in our lives and to forgive ourselves.
Through the wedding at Cana and Michelangelo's Pieta, Fr. Mike invites us to follow Mary's fiat - saying "let it be done" in the easier and the more difficult times in our lives.
You are chosen! The Heavenly Father looks at me and you, and says to each of us, "You are my beloved daughter/son, in whom I am well pleased."
Fr. Richard invites us to "be the gift" in 2022, giving our hearts more fully to Jesus this year.
Fr. Mike shares an example from Haiti to emphasize how important the family is to us as Christians. In our families, we can find hope.
Do we have role models? It's okay to have them, yet we have one ideal role model - Jesus Christ. Through his example, we learn how we can serve others.
If you're feeling lost, God knows where you're at. We are found in our community of brothers and sisters in Christ! When we reflect on our meaning and purpose in this life and see how the future can be better, we take steps closer to heaven.
We all have a desire to belong. May our belonging to Christ bring meaning to our lives, and stir up the flame in our hearts.
Fr. Mike takes another art journey to tell the story behind Jesus' humanity. This week, in which we are called to rejoice, we can almost celebrate a small Christmas for Jesus is always here with us.
Fr. Mike takes us through a painting by Caravaggio to demonstrate that we don't need to hide ourselves from God. We are all broken and healing is here!
While we may not experience complete healing in this life, we can place our hope in Jesus, who offers us completeness of healing in eternity. Fr. Richard encourages us to continue to be voices of hope this Advent season. When we experience healing, we can heal others!
We may use technology, the media and our daily activities to seek peace in this world. We find that Jesus is the answer to our quest for peace and his kingdom is not of this world. When we listen to his voice, we can find peace during our time here on earth.
Fr. Mike shares that people often ask him what they can do as Christians to change the world. The answer is simpler than we think, and Fr. Mike uses Chick-fil-A as an example! We're Christians on Sunday, but let us carry that through to our Monday and the rest of our week.
As the Mass readings transition to topics like the end of the world and the second coming, Fr. Mike assures us that we don't need to be afraid! We don't know when Jesus will come again, but when we practice faith over foolishness, we are accepting our invitation to Heaven.
Jesus is standing at the gates of our hearts! Fr. Richard offers a short prayer for us to remember, "Know He is near". It helps us recall and invite the presence of God and keeps our faith strong on shaky ground.
Sometimes, we put ourselves in "maintenance mode", keeping up with our Christian routine but not gaining anything spiritually. It's time we focus on what matters in our relationship with Christ - worship, spiritual growth and giving.
Being a disciple of Christ isn't always easy, but God places great examples of discipleship in our lives to keep us on the Way. Fr. Richard shares an example of discipleship from his life.
Without an ask or promotion, let us seek out the needs of our neighbor and give offerings from the heart. We have a city to serve!
Jesus asks us to live as his disciples, not stewards. We truly worship God when we pray from the heart and give to Him at a cost to us.
When Jesus also asks us, "What do you want me to do for you?", we hope to answer, "Disciple me, Lord!" Fr. Richard describes his recent encounter with a yellow jacket, as well as a spiritual encounter that led him to the priesthood. We're invited into an encounter of our own - one of spiritual growth.
Although the challenges of life can make it difficult to get to Mass, we all have a desire for Jesus in our hearts. When we keep the Sabbath holy and use it for worship, rather than it being at the service of our work week, our life has meaning and peace.
All of us are seeking to be discipled by someone or something. Even though we come to Mass each week, do we ever ask why?
While it's easy to trust our materials, skills and talents, when we drop everything and trust God, we're given so much more in return. Guest priest Fr. John Bartunek tells a story of God's providence in his own life, how his father came to accept his vocation as a Catholic priest.
Sometimes, we lose sight of the difference between childlike and childish behavior as adults. Behavior matters as a disciple of Jesus. Fr. Richard challenges us to bring back better behavior and be examples for others, especially our youth.
Fr. Mike breaks down the intricacies in the Wedding at Cana painting by Paolo Veronese. We find that this painting, along with the readings for this week, invites us to love more deeply.
At times, we look at our lives and wonder where God is. However, we can't put God into a box and tell him how to solve our problems. Fr. Mike recalls an important lesson about learning God's language.
We often hear the phrases, "Don't judge" or "Who am I to judge?". As Christians, when we judge, we need to stop at the heart and start judging the needs of our neighbor. Fr. Richard tells the story of his cab driver in Italy, who he witnessed at Confession after 20 plus years of being away from the Church.
Fr. Richard calls us to serve and be first at any cost, highlighting an inspiring sports story and the Annual Report.
Fr. Mike tells the story of a little boy in Haiti, who shows us that those who seem to be "last" in life can teach us so much, and may even be first in Heaven.
Peter and Jonah have some similarities, in that they struggle with God's will for them at times. From them, we learn that when we trust in God, take up our cross and say yes, something beautiful can happen.
Regardless of our answer to this question, Jesus loves us all - whether or not we come to Mass or believe in Him fully. When we use our energy to activate or faith and set the example for others, rather than attempting to fix those around us, we find the truth.
Fr. Richard shares a time when he let Jesus open his mind to differing outlooks and ideas, and invites us to bring Jesus into our conversations.
For some, the first time they saw or heard, they looked at Jesus' face or heard His voice. Fr. Mike tells a story from Haiti and invites us to seek out God's voice in the midst of many, and be an encouraging voice for others.
We hear the Word of God every week at Mass, and we're called to go out and perform those acts of kindness, love and charity in our daily lives. Let's push back against the compartmentalization of the faith, and let the Word guide us everywhere we go.
Sometimes, we feel pressure to put forth our best selves or put on a brave face when we're around others. When we come to God, we don't need to hide who we are. Fr. Mike tells a story about a woman who put forth her true self before God and others.
While we receive rewards and symbols of courage, being courageous is waking up everyday and leading your family, friends, congregation and neighbors to Jesus!
At first glance, the readings this week may seem outdated and irrelevant to our married lives. However, Fr. Mike invites us to uncover the true meaning of what God tells us about being married to our spouses, as well as being the bride of Christ.
If you're always worried about what's around the corner, Mary understands. Her life was full of troubles and uncertainty, and we can look to her as a source of comfort while bearing our own crosses. Fr. Mike breaks down the history and theology of the Assumption, and reminds us of how it relates to our lives today.
Mary was the first tabernacle, an Ark of the Covenant, carrier of the Bread of Life. Have you ever thought of yourself as an Ark of the Covenant, given that we receive our Lord when we come to Mass? We are called to bring his life out into the world!
Sometimes we feel like Elijah in the first reading, ready to give up. But how do we feed ourselves and gather strength for the journey? Fr. Richard asks us to reflect on how much time a week we dedicate to feeding ourselves with Jesus' love and teachings, and offers a glimpse into St. Gabriel's programs for the fall.
Jesus always gently invites us to take part in him, and never forces us. Fr. Mike interprets Supper at Emmaus by Caravaggio, a painting that challenges us to confirm our belief in our Christian faith.
The bread of life...manna from Heaven...the Eucharist. If someone asked you "What is it?", could you answer? Fr. Richard invites us to address the need to make room to deepen our relationship, understanding and experience of Jesus.
Once a heart is committed to conversion, it learns to pray in faith. When we care for others and offer forgiveness, we live by faith.
Like the Wedding at Cana, Jesus performed a miracle with the loaves and fishes that produced an abundance of leftover food. He provides bread for today, and for tomorrow.
No matter where we are in life, close to the church or not, Jesus is never angry with us. He will always be with us and wait patiently as we explore our faith.
Fr. Jason preaches on the second reading this week, calling for us to reconcile with those who may need forgiveness or those we might want to seek forgiveness from.
We share in spiritual realities, as the Church is human and divine. We've all been given different gifts by God, which we use to share Jesus with others. Fr. Jason explains this by comparing the gifts of the disciples, as well as his own gifts with those of Fr. Mike's.
Jesus makes us a part of his mission, as we are joined to Christ through suffering. We receive Anointing of the Sick to ease the burden of the crosses we carry. Fr. Mike goes in depth on this sacrament and explains how we can be an extension of Simon of Cyrene.
Jesus wants to be a part of our ordinary life in hidden ways - through the tabernacle, Scripture, our loved ones. When we recognize Him in our lives in this way, we can feel more at peace with the difficult moments of life.
We are called to live lives that proclaim the Word of God! Fr. Jason gives some context to the Gospel story, demonstrating how we can interpret Scripture to act out our faith.
People used to think afflictions were a sign of rejection by God. We know now that God wants us to bring Him our troubles and be charitable towards others, giving people their dignity back and allowing them a close encounter with Jesus. Having experiences with God is what makes us Christians!
Let's go beyond feelings and understanding - when we participate in Mass and spread the Good News, we are finding faith rooted in Jesus.
When we are dealing with hardship, we can invite Jesus into our heart. Fr. Richard shares some of his experiences and guidance with all types of fathers. Jesus invites us to be a living reflection of his father in Heaven.
Fr. Mike gives an early father’s day homily, recognizing his own father’s hidden holiness through a childhood story. Christian life is as easy as loving your family!
If we have faith the size of a mustard seed, how can we help it grow this summer? Fr. Richard identifies parents as the primary catechists of the faith and invites all of us to spread the kingdom of God.
Sometimes, Jesus asks us to "bring it", calling us to make sacrifices from our heart. He asks us to "bring it" in our responses at Mass, calling us to pray something rather than say something. What can we bring to Jesus this week?
Fr. Mike gives a brief history of why and how we recognize the true presence of Jesus in the Eucharist, and gives a story from when his parents took him and his siblings to Mass with the saints.
Fr. Mike takes us to Trinity 101 with a reflection on Rublev's icon of the Holy Trinity. Although our homes may not look like the peace and harmony that the icon conveys, we can strive to bring the Gospel into our homes and let God transform our lives.
When we leave Mass on Sunday, how can we carry the Gospel on to our Monday? Fr. Richard invites us to practice patience this week.
The first step of prayer is acknowledge the presence of God. When we allow the Holy Spirit, the gentle guest of our soul, to enter, we are not alone. Fr. Richard invites the congregation to stand up and open their arms to welcome the Holy Spirit into their hearts.
Fr. Mike shares a Holy Spirit moment from his missionary work in Haiti. The Holy Spirit brings a joy that cannot be taken away - will you welcome it into your heart?
The transformation of our little part of Charlotte starts in our hearts and homes. When we share how wonderful it is to be a child of God, the people around us start to care about Jesus too.
Jesus wants us to experience a “wow moment” so that we can go out and do the “what” - proclaim the good news of Jesus Christ.
When we get something new, surprise-visit someone, win a game, we experience fleeting, passing joy. When we make acts of sacrifice, like mothers do, we experience the deep, resonating joy that we all can experience when we live in the love of our Lord.
Three women, earthly and spiritual mothers, exhibit the power of motherly love in the discovery of a missing little boy wearing a Miraculous Medal. Fr. Mike shares this story from Cité Soleil to thank all kinds of mothers, for being a place where God's love can freely dwell.
Last week, we saw our Lord as the Good Shepherd. This week, He's the owner of the vineyard, still a loving Father who's pruning our branches and taking care of our lives. How can we strengthen our relationship with God when we view Him in this way?
Experiencing the fullness of life – and bringing our light to others – is rooted in the fruits of the Holy Spirit. How can we exercise self-control this week in a way that glorifies our heavenly Father?
As God's sheep, we get drawn out to other pastures that don't truly fulfill us. Ultimately, we all want to be protected. Let's spend our lives getting to know the Good Shepherd!
How do we think of God in our lives? It's time we think of Him as a loving Father, rather than an angry judge. Fr. Mike shares an experience from his studies in Italy, and reminds us that God is a Good Shepherd, seeking his sheep.
We can give witness to God in the ways we talk, act, think and live. Will we let our faith stop with us, or can we be a link in the chain, continuing to pass down the love and light of our Catholic faith?
A fourth grader with remarkable insight into the Easter season, Fr. Richard being mistaken for a waiter and a woman who invited her non-Catholic doctors and nurses to say the rosary with her before going to Heaven...we are all called to be witnesses in one way or another to God's radical love for us!
Let us open our hearts to God's mercy and let the peace of Jesus reign. Fr. Richard invites us to always remind ourselves that we are blessed, beloved, courageous and strong.
Open your heart and accept God's tender mercy into your life. Fr. Mike shares how his journey to the priesthood was influenced by St. Faustina's diary mysteriously left outside his door.
Where do we look for answers to our toughest questions about life and faith? Look at Christ, crucified on the cross. Fr. Mike shares a powerful story of a suffering mother in Haiti.
Jesus wants to bring his hope, life, and light into the darkness of our world. We are called to share it with others.
Through the tree of the cross, our beloved Lord brought life. Fr. Richard takes us through what Holy Week will look like at St. Gabriel.
This hour is our hour. Our Mass begins when we take our love for Jesus out into the world.
Instead of asking what we're giving up for Lent, let us ask what our Lenten sacrifice is. Fr. Mike offers examples for different stages of life of what these sacrifices look like, including his own experience of an emergency phone call before a relaxing oil painting session. How will you make today holy?
Go into the darkness of your doubt and find The Light of the world. Jesus calls each of us to himself, like Nicodemus, Joseph of Arimathea and Matthew in the Caravaggio work titled The Calling of Saint Matthew.
Why do we go to Mass? Jesus quenches our thirst, and sustains us more than any other type of sustenance we might try to fill our lives with.
Just like the Israelites were reluctant to leave Egypt at first, we're reluctant to leave behind the lies and baggage of our past experiences that keep us from a fuller relationship with God. We must pray for hope, a true gift from God.
Fr. Mike explains the significance of Raphael's work of art, titled Transfiguration. Jesus invites us up the mountain, where we can gain perspective, but we must also invite Him down to our lives on earth.
How can we use earthly resources like art, technology and the living Word of God to transfigure our lives? When we connect our human nature with the divinity of Jesus, we're prepared to go up the mountain with Him and take up our own crosses.
It’s good to get uncomfortable and unfamiliar at times. When we go into the desert with Jesus and find solitude, He will speak to us in the silence of our hearts.
How do we view sin? Let’s look through the eyes of little Grandpa, the subject of another beautiful story from Fr. Mike.
We fill our lives with things of this world, but during Lent we make space for Christ by giving something up. This Lent, we can start doing something, stop doing something and pray something.
Are you ready to GO beyond the ashes? Fr. Richard shares how we can go beyond a Lent that is predictable and routine.
Jesus wasn't on the cross because He had to be. He was there because he loved us, giving us the greatest valentine of all. When someone is in need, can we show them that same heroic, human, Christian love?
Who can I bring to the door this week? It might be hard to find faith during these difficult times, but we can bring purpose to our suffering when we know, love and serve God. When we love Him and others in this life, we can be with Him eternally.
Fr. Mike offers another perspective to the infamous question, "Why do bad things happen to good people?". He tells the story of the Book of Job, reminding us that God is the answer to all of our deeper questions. We can see His face when we love others.
Fr. Mike shares what he describes as his most powerful story. Taking place in Port-au-Prince, the story of a little boy and overcoming a spirit of fear will remind us to set ourselves free from the darkness of sin and into God's light.