Whether you call them homilies, sermons, or talks, there’s a lot you can learn from the spiritual leaders in our community. While in a perfect world, you’d have time to listen to everyone, that simply isn’t possible for most with limited time to spare. To help, we’ve surfaced and summarized the teachings from the audio sermons of some of the most influential priests and pastors from around town and in the Christian sphere.

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• Fr. Mike Schmitz
• Cathedral of Christ the King
• Passion City Church
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Fr. Mike Schmitz

In this homily for the 3rd Sunday in Ordinary Time, Fr. Mike Schmitz explores the profound question we often ask during seasons of brokenness: “Is God going to show up?” He begins with a personal story about his grandmother, Helen, a head nurse who sacrificed her dream career in 1973 by resigning when her hospital began performing abortions. At the time, her sacrifice seemed to accomplish little on the surface—laws didn’t change, and she was left devastated by the loss of her livelihood. However, Fr. Mike uses this to illustrate that even when a situation feels hopeless or God seems absent, He is often working beneath the surface in ways we cannot yet see.

Drawing from the day’s Gospel, Fr. Mike contextualizes the arrival of Jesus in Galilee. He describes the deep sense of powerlessness the Jewish people felt after centuries of exile and the literal obliteration of the ten northern tribes. By the time Jesus began His ministry in the regions of Zebulun and Naphtali, it seemed impossible for God to fulfill His ancient promises of a united kingdom. Yet, Jesus intentionally chose those specific regions—the first to be destroyed—to begin his restoration, calling twelve apostles to symbolize the rebuilding of the twelve tribes and establishing the Catholic Church as a global kingdom where every person belongs.

Fr. Mike emphasizes that for a Christian, the question is never if God will show up, but rather how He will show up. He shares an anecdote from actor Jonathan Roumie, who portrays Jesus in The Chosen, who surrendered his financial desperation to God and found unexpected provision the very same day. This shift in perspective—from doubting God’s presence to curiously awaiting His timing—is essential for enduring hardships where the fix isn’t immediate or obvious.

In a powerful conclusion, Fr. Mike connects his grandmother’s 1973 sacrifice to a recent event. He recounts how his grandmother’s convictions were passed to his mother, then to him, eventually leading him to counsel a student in a crisis pregnancy 16 years ago. Because he repeated the truth his family had upheld—that the child in the womb is already a life—that baby was born and is now a thriving 16-year-old. Fr. Mike reminds the congregation that God is the master of working through hopelessness and even conquering the grave, proving that no act of faith is ever truly wasted.

Listen to the full version here.

Cathedral of Christ The King

In this homily for the Third Sunday in Ordinary Time, Monsignor Frank McNamee reflects on the transformative power of being called by name by God. He begins with a lighthearted story about a group of boys in confession who all claim to have “thrown peanuts in the river,” only for the last boy to reveal that his nickname is Peanuts. This humorous opening serves to highlight the central theme of the day’s Gospel: the calling of the first disciples, Simon, Andrew, James, and John, and the profound personal nature of God’s invitation to each individual.

Monsignor McNamee emphasizes the radical nature of the disciples’ response, noting that they left their nets “at once” without negotiation or hesitation. He explains that for these fishermen, their nets represented more than just a hobby; they were their livelihood, security, identity, and routine. Leaving the nets was a physical manifestation of a spiritual reorientation of life, suggesting that true discipleship often requires us to release the things we cling to for safety—be they habits, grudges, or ambitions—in order to follow Christ fully.

Addressing the common fear of loss, the homily reassures the faithful that letting go of our “nets” is not about being left empty-handed. Instead, Monsignor McNamee argues that Christ frees our hands so they can receive something far greater: a new purpose and a mission larger than ourselves. He describes the life of a “fisher of men” as one of participation in God’s saving work, requiring the same patience, trust, and perseverance as physical fishing, but directed toward drawing others into the life of grace.

Finally, Monsignor McNamee speaks to those who feel they must be perfect before they can serve God. He points out that Jesus did not tell the disciples to become holy first; rather, He said, “Follow me, and I will make you.” This formation through discipleship means that God qualifies those He calls, patiently shaping them despite their flaws and failures. He concludes by challenging the congregation to identify the nets they are currently holding onto and to trust in Christ’s power to transform them into who they are meant to be in the eyes of God.

Listen to the full version here.

Passion City Church

In this sermon titled “Reset—Not Conformed, But Transformed,” Pastor Grant Partrick uses a relatable story about his home Wi-Fi failure to illustrate that human striving often makes life’s problems worse. He emphasizes that just as a malfunctioning device needs a reset to its factory settings, our lives require a spiritual reset to the original “grid” for which we were created: being made by God and for God. He argues that many people today live by a flawed grid of being created by chance for comfort, leading to a restlessness that can only be resolved by aligning one’s life with God’s kingdom purpose.

Focusing on Romans 12, Partrick explains that the first step to a life reset is the total surrender of oneself as a “living sacrifice.” He notes that while Old Testament sacrifices required death, the New Testament calls for a surrendered life that is holy and pleasing to God. This total surrender is not partial; it involves bringing every area of life—marriage, career, dreams, and past failures—to the altar. He describes this as the only “logical” response to God’s mercy, shifting the focus from head knowledge to heart application.

The core of the message centers on the command to “not be conformed to the pattern of this world but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.” Partrick warns of the “gravitational pull” of a broken world that tries to squeeze believers into its mold through algorithms, media, and cultural desires for approval. He points out that the goal of the Christian life is not to be a “chameleon” that blends in, but to undergo a “metamorphosis” like a caterpillar turning into a butterfly. This transformation happens when we guard our hearts by soaking in God’s word daily, rather than just on Sundays.

Finally, Partrick clarifies that spiritual growth is not about striving to earn God’s favor but about surrendering to the Holy Spirit’s work. Drawing from 2 Peter 1, he encourages the congregation to “make every effort” to add virtues like goodness, self-control, and love to their faith, but reminds them that these are gifts supplied by God’s grace. The ultimate goal of this mental and spiritual renewal is to have “the spirit of God use the word of God to make the children of God look like the son of God,” leading to a life of true peace and fruitfulness.

Listen to the full version here.

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