Is God a vending machine or a Father who knows what we truly need?
In this homily, Fr Sam reflects on the deep meaning of prayer as revealed in the readings for the 17th Sunday in Ordinary Time. Rather than viewing prayer as a transaction to get things from God, Fr Sam explores how true prayer draws us into relationship with God Himself. Drawing from Abraham’s bold intercession for Sodom and Jesus’ teaching on the Lord’s Prayer, we are reminded that prayer changes us—not God. We don’t wear God down; we are built up in His mercy.
Let us stop demanding results and start seeking relationship.
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Readings:
First Reading: Genesis 18:20–32
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 138
Second Reading: Colossians 2:12–14
Gospel: Luke 11:1–13
#PrayerNotTransaction #CatholicHomily #GospelReflection #FrSamFrench #Luke11 #AbrahamIntercedes #GodIsFather #DivineMercy #HolySpirit #CatholicTeaching
What if the holiest thing you could do… was nothing at all?
In this homily, Fr Sam reflects on the virtue of hospitality through the lens of Abraham, Mary, and Martha. With insight from Scripture and a café conversation, he reveals that holiness begins not with action, but with presence — a heart ready to receive God in silence. Drawing on the wisdom of the saints and the call to Eucharistic Adoration, Fr Sam invites us to “waste time with God” in order to bear real spiritual fruit.
For more content from Fr Sam French: https://frsamfrench.com
Readings:
Genesis 18:1–10
Psalm 15
Colossians 1:24–28
Luke 10:38–42
#CatholicHomily #SundayReflection #FrSamFrench #CatholicPreaching #MaryAndMartha #SilentPrayer #HolyHour #EucharisticAdoration #CatholicChurch #OrdinaryTime
Are we chasing artificial light while real joy is right outside our door?
In this homily, Fr Sam reflects on the parable of the Good Samaritan through a surprising lens. Instead of casting us as the hero, Jesus flips the story to reveal how we are the wounded, left in the dark and searching for something real. Fr Sam draws connections between the artificial light of social media and materialism, and the true healing light of Christ.
This week, we’re challenged to stop looking to influencers and illusions for fulfillment, and instead open our hearts to the One who truly sees us. When all the hype fades, only the light of His love remains.
More content at: https://www.frsamfrench.com
Readings:
Deuteronomy 30:10–14
Psalm 69 (or Psalm 19)
Colossians 1:15–20
Luke 10:25–37
#CatholicHomily #GoodSamaritan #OrdinaryTime #FrSamFrench #CatholicFaith #SpiritualLife #ChristianReflection #SundayGospel #JesusHeals #MentalHealthAndFaith
Are feelings becoming more important than truth in our culture?
In this homily, Fr Sam explores the growing dominance of "I feel" statements and the danger of replacing truth with personal comfort. Reflecting on the cost of true discipleship, Fr Sam draws from Carl Trueman, Dietrich Bonhoeffer, and Jesus’ sending of the 72 disciples to emphasize that real faith often challenges rather than comforts. Discover how uniting our struggles with Christ’s cross transforms pain into profound joy.
Visit Fr Sam's website for more: https://frsamfrench.com
Scripture References:
Isaiah 66:10-14
Psalm 66
Galatians 6:14-18
Luke 10:1-12,17-20
#CatholicHomily #FaithOverFeelings #CostOfDiscipleship #GospelReflection #ChristianLife #SundayHomily #CatholicFaith #RealGrace #FrSamFrench #AuthenticDiscipleship
Can we truly know God without prayer? In this homily, Fr Sam reflects on the inspiring examples of Saints Peter and Paul, two extraordinary yet deeply human figures whose lives show the power of openness to God. Peter, flawed yet faithful, reminds us of the transformative power of prayer, while Paul demonstrates how a true encounter with Jesus compels us into mission. Discover how prayer leads us from merely following religious rules to experiencing life-changing love, and how mission moves us from darkness into the joy of sharing God’s love.
For more reflections and resources, visit: frsamfrench.com
Readings: Acts 12:1-11; 2 Timothy 4:6-8,17-18; Matthew 16:13-19
#SaintPeter #SaintPaul #PrayerLife #Mission #CatholicFaith #AuthenticChristianity #SpiritualGrowth #HomilyReflection #BibleStudy #CatholicSaints
Is your faith something you know, or Someone you’ve met?
In this homily, Fr Sam reflects on the deep ache many Catholics carry: how do we bring our children, friends, or loved ones back to the Church? He shares his own story of encountering Jesus in the Eucharist as a teenage, and how that encounter changed everything. This powerful reflection moves beyond rituals and rules, to the heart of our Catholic life: the relationship with the living Christ, truly present in the Blessed Sacrament.
Faith isn’t passed on through obligation, but through encounter. And the Eucharist is that encounter.
Visit Fr Sam’s website to explore more: https://frsamfrench.com
Scripture Readings:
Genesis 14:18-20
1 Corinthians 11:23-26
Luke 9:11-17
#Hashtags:
#CatholicHomily #CorpusChristi #Eucharist #CatholicFaith #FrSamFrench #CatholicChurch #FaithAndRelationship #RealPresence #CatholicYouth #Evangelisation
Discover the true answer to "Life, the Universe, and Everything" in this powerful reflection on the Most Holy Trinity.
In this homily, Fr Sam reflects on the profound mystery of the Trinity, emphasizing that our understanding of God as a relational community of love - Father, Son, and Holy Spirit - is central to our faith. Drawing from personal anecdotes, theological insights, and even humor from "The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy," Fr Sam encourages us not to solve the mystery, but to enter into the transformative love of God.
Explore more at frsamfrench.com
Scriptures: Proverbs 8; Romans 5; John 16
You were made for more.
In this homily, Fr Sam reflects on how the fear that silenced the Apostles after the Ascension was transformed into boldness through the fire of Pentecost. Drawing a powerful parallel between our spiritual lives and dormant potential, he explores what happens when we allow the Holy Spirit to truly animate us from within.
In this week’s reflection, Fr Sam unpacks the enduring relevance of Pentecost, encouraging us to stop living like “Christian paperweights” and start awakening to the divine power placed within us at Baptism and Confirmation.
👉 Visit www.frsamfrench.com to explore more homilies, reflections, and spiritual resources.
Scripture Readings | Pentecost Sunday | Year C
– First Reading: Acts 2:1–11– Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 104– Second Reading: Romans 8:8–17– Gospel: John 14:15–16, 23b–26
#HolySpirit #PentecostSunday #CatholicHomily #FrSamFrench #SpiritualCourage #ChristianLife #FaithOnFire #CatholicTeaching #Romans8 #ComeHolySpirit
Is your faith something you share with joy, or keep to yourself?
In this homily for Ascension Sunday, Fr Sam French reflects on the final command of Jesus before His return to the Father: to spread the Gospel to all nations. Drawing parallels with how we instinctively share memes and joyful moments online, Fr Sam asks why we hesitate to share the Good News of Jesus Christ.
This message explores the spiritual resistance we face from the world, the flesh, and the devil, and how we are equipped by the Holy Spirit to overcome them. It is a call to every Catholic to step out of lukewarm comfort, embrace their baptismal gifts, and allow faith to become truly contagious.
The Gospel is meant to go viral. The only question is: will you hit share?
Connect with Fr Sam: https://www.frsamfrench.com
Would there be enough evidence to convict you of being a Christian?
In this homily for the 5th Sunday of Easter, Fr Sam challenges us to take a long, honest look at our discipleship. Christianity is not a cultural label or comfort-zone lifestyle. It is radical, self-giving love...seen most clearly in the Cross.
Drawing from Christ’s command to love as He loved, and St Paul’s bold witness in Antioch, Fr Sam invites us to reject "comfort-zone Christianity" and embrace faith that transforms lives. He shares practical steps for making our faith convincing: through the Catechism, acts of service, and a life rooted in prayer.
This is a message for Catholics who are ready to live the Gospel not just with words, but with action. Because the world doesn’t any old Catholics. It needs witnesses!
So, ask yourself: Is your Christianity convincing?
Connect with Fr Sam: https://www.frsamfrench.com
What do mothers and priests have in common with Jesus the Good Shepherd
In this homily for the Fourth Sunday of Easter, Fr Sam reflects on a beautiful convergence. It is both Good Shepherd Sunday and Mother’s Day, a chance to see how the self-giving love of Christ is mirrored in the vocations of motherhood and priesthood.
Drawing from John’s Gospel, Fr Sam unpacks what makes Jesus the Good Shepherd. It is not sentimentality or soft imagery, but the courageous love that lays down one’s life for others. That same love is visible in the quiet heroism of mothers who sacrifice for their children, and in priests who give their lives to serve the people of God.
This is a message about vocation, love, and the power of prayer. It is a call to see beyond the superficial and rediscover the deep beauty of lives lived for others. It is also a moment to give thanks for the new hope stirring in the Church, as more men respond to the call to serve as priests, and as families continue to raise children in faith and love.
On this Good Shepherd Sunday, we honour the hearts that lay down their lives for the sake of others.
Thank God for good mothers. Pray for good priests. Follow the Good Shepherd.
Connect with Fr Sam: https://www.frsamfrench.com
#GoodShepherdSunday #CatholicHomily #MothersDay
Why do we stay in the Church when the failings of its leaders are so public and painful?
This week, Fr Sam reflects on the image of the boat in the Gospel of John. More than just a fishing vessel, it becomes a symbol of the Church itself. When the apostles try to fish on their own, they fail. But when they listen to the voice of Jesus, the net overflows. It is a powerful reminder that without Christ, the Church is empty. With Him, it is alive.
Fr Sam speaks candidly about the pain and disillusionment so many feel when the Church seems lost or broken. He shares his own experience of entering the priesthood in a time when trust in the Church was at its lowest. But he reminds us that we are not here because of the human leaders who sometimes falter. We are here because Jesus chose this boat. And when His voice is followed, the mission of salvation continues.
This homily is an invitation to see the Church not as an institution of control, but as the vessel Christ Himself steers. It is a call to remain faithful, to pray for our leaders, and to trust that God still works through the net of the Church to gather the world to Himself.
We stay in the boat not because it is perfect, but because Christ is in it
Connect with Fr Sam: https://www.frsamfrench.com
What if your doubts are not a barrier to faith but the doorway into it?
In this week’s homily, Fr Sam dives into the story of St Thomas and the human hunger for proof. In a world obsessed with photos and evidence, it is easy to fall into the trap of thinking faith should work the same way. But Jesus invites us to something far greater.
Fr Sam shows how doubt is not the enemy of faith. It can be the soil where deep trust takes root. Drawing on his own experience of suffering and healing, he reflects on how the wounds we carry are not signs of defeat but places where Christ meets us most powerfully.
This is a message for anyone who has ever wrestled with hard questions or carried hidden hurts. Jesus is not afraid of your doubts. He is already present in them, offering His peace and His presence.
We do not need a photo to prove He is alive. We need the courage to reach out, encounter Him in the Word, the Eucharist, and the Sacrament of Confession, and discover that the Risen Christ is closer than we ever imagined.
My Lord and my God
Connect with Fr Sam: https://www.frsamfrench.com
What if the Resurrection isn’t just a matter of faith—but of fact?
In this Easter Sunday homily, Fr Sam puts the Resurrection on trial—not to cast doubt, but to show that our faith in the risen Christ is grounded in history, reason, and truth. Like a courtroom drama, he presents three compelling exhibits: ancient testimony, radical transformation, and the unexpected witness of women.
This isn’t just a celebration of Easter joy—it’s a challenge to think, to believe, and to respond.
Drawing from saints, scientists, and Scripture, Fr Sam dismantles the myth that faith and reason are at odds. He shows how the empty tomb is not only believable, but life-changing. If Christ is risen, then his every word carries eternal weight. Including this one: “Come, follow me.”
And that’s the invitation—offered to every heart this Easter. Come back to Confession. Receive the gift of the Eucharist. Say “yes” to the God who gave everything for you.
Because if Jesus really rose from the dead… nothing can stay the same.
Christ is risen. He is risen indeed. Alleluia.
Connect with Fr Sam: https://www.frsamfrench.com
Ever been tempted to throw a stone—figuratively or literally? This Sunday, Jesus challenges us to drop it.
In this week’s homily, Fr Sam breaks open one of the most confronting Gospel stories: the woman caught in adultery. It’s a scene charged with tension—sin, shame, public judgment. But instead of condemning her, Jesus does something unexpected. He writes in the dirt. He defuses the crowd. He shows mercy.
Reflecting on a bronze statue from his seminary days—capturing the precise moment a Pharisee drops his stone and walks away—Fr Sam explores what it means to be people of both justice and mercy. He traces the thread of God’s relentless love from the Old Testament to the present, showing how divine mercy isn’t passive—it pursues us like a shepherd chasing his lost sheep.
This homily doesn’t soften sin—it names it. But it also reminds us that God’s mercy is always greater. That we’re called not just to receive it, but to extend it—even when it’s hard. Especially when it’s hard.
Fr Sam weaves in a funny airport story with a surprise twist that flips our assumptions upside down—just like mercy does.
So here’s the invitation: if you’ve been hurt, misunderstood, or tempted to judge—drop the stone. Come to Confession. Receive mercy. And then pass it on.
Don’t hate the sinner—or the chips. Hate the sin.
Connect with Fr Sam: https://www.frsamfrench.com
Ever feel like you’re wandering through the desert spiritually? This Sunday is your foretaste of hope.
In this week’s homily, Fr Sam reflects on Laetare Sunday, the midpoint of Lent, where the Church invites us to rejoice—even in the midst of our Lenten sacrifices. Drawing from salvation history, he traces the journey from Abraham, to Moses, to Joshua leading God’s people into the Promised Land. Just like the Israelites tasted the first fruits of that land, we’re given a glimpse of the joy of Easter—a taste of heaven.
At the heart of this Sunday’s readings is the story of the Prodigal Son. Fr Sam unpacks how this powerful parable isn’t just about a wayward son—it’s about all of us. Whether we relate to the son who wandered or the brother who stayed, the message is the same: the Father’s mercy is greater than our sin. And His love runs to meet us, even when we’re still far off.
Fr Sam shares how this parable connects with confession, forgiveness, and the Christian call to community. He offers a simple invitation: if you’ve been away, come home. Come to Confession. Experience the mercy of God and start again.
This Lent, don’t just wander—come back to the Father. He’s already on His way to meet you.
Connect with Fr Sam: https://www.frsamfrench.com
Do you ever wonder if it's worth the effort to climb the mountain toward God? We've all heard the story of Jesus' Transfiguration—but do we really grasp what it means for our lives today?In this week's homily, Fr Sam unpacks the mystery of the Transfiguration, drawing wisdom from one of his favourite saints and theologians, Saint Thomas Aquinas. Jesus revealed His glory on the mountain not just as a spectacular moment, but as a signpost pointing us toward our ultimate destination: heaven. Life's journey is filled with crosses—struggles, doubts, disappointments—but Jesus shows us the glory ahead to give us hope.Fr Sam shares a personal experience from his seminary days, a "mountaintop encounter" with Jesus in Scripture that strengthened his faith and carried him through challenges. Lent invites each of us to climb that mountain, to meet Jesus as He truly is. It won't always be easy—but Fr Sam offers a practical, simple way to start: 5-10 minutes of daily Bible reading, stacked onto an existing habit you never skip.Ready to begin your climb? Encounter Jesus this Lent—He's already waiting for you at the top.Connect with Fr Sam: https://linktr.ee/frsamfrench
Do you fear what would happen if you gave everything to Jesus? Do you hesitate, wondering what you’d have to give up to follow Him completely? You’re not alone.
This week, Fr Sam explores the fear that holds us back from trusting God—whether it’s the call to a vocation, the struggle against temptation, or the pull of comfort and success. Lent is a journey into the desert, but it’s not about loss—it’s about discovery. Jesus goes before us, showing us that in self-denial, we don’t find emptiness… we find God waiting for us.
What temptations are clouding your vision? Where is God calling you deeper? This Lent, don’t run from the desert—walk into it. He’s already there.
Connect with Fr Sam: https://linktr.ee/frsamfrench
Do you want to follow Jesus? Do you want to know God’s love, be a saint, and be saved? Jesus gives us the roadmap: “Deny yourself, take up your cross, and follow me.”
That’s a radical challenge in a world obsessed with comfort, self-indulgence, and instant gratification. We’re wired to chase what feels good—but Jesus warns us: “Can a blind man lead a blind man?” If we let culture, entertainment, or our own desires shape our vision, we’ll never see the truth of the Gospel. Worse still, we often fixate on the sins of others while ignoring the plank in our own eye.
This homily is a wake-up call as we enter Lent. The world has made sin invisible—but if we can’t see our sin, we can’t see God’s mercy either. Fr Sam challenges us: Are we ready to open our eyes, repent, and follow Christ? The time is now.
Connect with Fr Sam: https://linktr.ee/frsamfrench
Last week, Jesus flipped the world’s idea of happiness upside down. This week, He takes it even further—commanding something that feels almost impossible: Love your enemies.
It’s not a suggestion. It’s not a feel-good slogan. It’s a radical, supernatural call that goes against every instinct for self-preservation and revenge. In a world obsessed with “my truth” and personal justice, Jesus calls us to something higher: agapē—God’s selfless, sacrificial love. It’s the same love He showed on the Cross, the love that chooses mercy over payback, and the love that sets us free through forgiveness.
But let’s be honest—how do we love like this? How do we forgive when it’s the last thing we want to do? Fr Sam breaks down why forgiveness isn’t just about the other person—it’s about our own healing. When we hold onto resentment, we stay trapped. When we choose to forgive, God’s power moves through us.
As we continue through the Jubilee Year of Hope, Fr Sam challenges us: Who do we need to forgive? Where is God calling us to love beyond what feels possible? Let’s ask for the grace to love like Jesus—especially when it hurts.
Connect with Fr Sam: https://linktr.ee/frsamfrench
