Bishop Barron’s Sunday Sermons - Catholic Preaching and Homilies

The Answer to Your Deepest Longing

Protect the Life of Christ in You

In this homily, Bishop Robert Barron reflects on the Feast of the Holy Family and its connection to Christmas, emphasizing the vulnerability of the Christ child and the need for protection. Drawing from the Book of Revelation, he introduces the image of the Red Dragon as a symbol of opposition to Christ's birth, both h...

Are You Willing to Surrender to God?

In this homily, Bishop Barron discusses the central theme of the spiritual life as a "Copernican revolution," contrasting the self-centeredness prevalent in contemporary culture with the biblical call to surrender to God's higher purpose. He critiques the cultural emphasis on individual choice and autonomy, arguing tha...

Waiting in Action

In this homily, Bishop Robert Barron reflects on the readings for the third Sunday of Advent, Gaudete Sunday, emphasizing the importance of understanding what to do while waiting for the coming of the Lord. Drawing from the letter of James, he uses the image of a farmer patiently awaiting the rains to illustrate how su...

The Seven Gifts of the Holy Spirit

The Season of Sacred Waiting

In this homily, Bishop Robert Barron reflects on the meaning of Advent as a season of sacred waiting, relating it to the broader human experience of longing for a happiness not fully attainable in this world. He shares personal anecdotes about his impatience and dislike for waiting, contrasting this with the numerous i...

The Marks of Spiritual Leadership

The Old World Has Been Shaken

The Place of Right Praise

In this homily, Bishop Robert Barron discusses the significance of the dedication of the Lateran Basilica in Rome, emphasizing its importance as the cathedral of the Bishop of Rome and the mother church of Catholicism. He explores the theme of the temple in the Bible, from Ezekiel's vision of the restored temple and th...

Why We Pray for All Souls

In this homily, Bishop Robert Barron reflects on All Souls Day and the concept of the soul, drawing from Genesis and the teachings of St. Thomas Aquinas. He explains the soul as the breath of life breathed into humans by God, a principle that connects us to the immaterial and distinguishes us from animals. Bishop Barro...

Are You Revolving Around God—Or God Around You?

In this homily, Bishop Robert Barron discusses the parable of the Pharisee and the tax collector from the Gospel of Luke, using it to illustrate the principle that one's ego should revolve around God, not the other way around. He contrasts the Pharisee, who is self-righteous and uses religion to elevate himself, with t...

The Power of Prayer

In this episode of Word on Fire, Bishop Robert Barron addresses the increasing tendency to disparage prayer in contemporary society, especially in the wake of tragic events. He argues that dismissing prayer as ineffectual is a uniquely modern phenomenon, contrasting it with historical and biblical perspectives where pr...

The Gospel Is Jesus Christ

In this homily, Bishop Robert Barron discusses the essence of the Gospel, emphasizing that it is Jesus Christ himself, the descendant of David, raised from the dead. He clarifies that the Gospel is not merely ethical teachings or doctrinal implications but a personal relationship with Jesus. Drawing from Paul's second ...

Trust in God’s Plan

In this homily, Bishop Robert Barron discusses the concept of faith, contrasting it with the common misunderstanding of faith as blind acceptance. He uses the Old Testament prophet Habakkuk's questioning of God amidst suffering to illustrate humanity's limited perspective. Faith, according to Barron, is a humble trust ...

Love for the Poor

In this homily, Bishop Robert Barron reflects on the Church's core missions: worship, evangelization, and serving the poor, highlighting Pope Francis's emphasis on the latter. Drawing from the prophet Amos and the Gospel of Lazarus and Dives, Barron underscores the Bible's consistent call for social justice and concern...

The Use—and Abuse—of Power

In this homily, Bishop Robert Barron discusses Catholic social teaching regarding power, drawing from the readings of the 25th Sunday of Ordinary Time. He contrasts the Nietzschean view of power as inherently oppressive with the biblical perspective, which recognizes its potential for good when used to promote tranquil...

Christ, and Him Crucified

In this homily, Bishop Robert Barron reflects on the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross, exploring the paradoxical nature of exalting a symbol of Roman tyranny and violence. He contrasts the Roman view of the cross as a tool of oppression with the Christian understanding of it as a symbol of God's descent into h...

Are You Ready for Serious Discipleship?

Don’t Play the Pride Game

In this homily, Bishop Robert Barron discusses the concept of pride, identifying it as the most deadly of sins, originating from fear and excessive self-love, which isolates individuals from reality. He contrasts pride with humility, which he defines as being grounded and in touch with reality. Using the metaphor of a ...

Does God Punish Us?

In this homily, Bishop Robert Barron addresses the controversial topic of divine punishment, drawing from the Letter to the Hebrews. He argues that while God is love, love sometimes requires harshness to correct those who are off course. Using examples from both the Old and New Testaments, he illustrates how punishment...