Choose Eternal Happiness Over Fleeting Pleasure – Jan 26 – Homily – Fr Joseph Michael

 

Fr Joseph Michael gives the homily at Bloomington, IN, on Jan 26, 2026, warning against hardness of heart and unrepentance as the unforgivable sin, emphasizing Jesus' power to free us from Satan, the world's glorification of sin, and the example of Saints Timothy and Titus to live courageously in faith.

In his homily, Father reminds us to stay alert to avoid a hardened heart that refuses God's mercy, which is the unforgivable sin of unrepentance. He explains how Jesus, who came to free us from Satan's grip with His divine power, was wrongly accused of using evil forces despite His miracles of healing and feeding the multitudes. Father points out how today's world celebrates sin, leading people to choose fleeting pleasures over eternal joy with God, risking damnation without fear. We must open our hearts to the Holy Spirit, repent through confession, and embrace the freedom Jesus won on the cross. Our true home is heaven, not this world. Father honors Saints Timothy and Titus, Paul's companions and bishops of Ephesus and Crete, whose letters guide us. He asks them to help us live boldly for Christ amid a rejecting world, upholding His teachings faithfully.

For Further Reading:
Sacrament of Penance - Forgiveness through confession - http://www.scborromeo.org/ccc/para/1422.htm
Unforgivable Sin - Blasphemy against Holy Spirit - http://www.scborromeo.org/ccc/para/1864.htm
Freedom from Sin - Christ's redemptive power - http://www.scborromeo.org/ccc/para/1741.htm
Miracle of Loaves - Multiplication of bread - https://bible.usccb.org/bible/matthew/14?13
Blasphemy Against Jesus - Accusation of demonic power - https://bible.usccb.org/bible/matthew/12?22
Epistle to Timothy - Paul's guidance to bishop - https://bible.usccb.org/bible/1timothy/0
Epistle to Titus - Instructions for church leaders - https://bible.usccb.org/bible/titus/0
Hell and Damnation - Consequences of unrepented sin - http://www.scborromeo.org/ccc/para/1033.htm

Ave Maria!

Mass: Sts. Timothy and Titus (2Tim 1) - Mem - http://www.catholic.org/saints/saint.php?saint_id=2352
Readings: Monday 3rd Week of Ordinary Time - http://usccb.org/bible/readings/012626.cfm
1st: 2sa 5:1-7, 10
Resp: psa 89:20, 21-22, 25-26
Gsp: mar 3:22-30

More on the Readings: https://airmaria.com/r?m=1022&r=1577

Also on YouTube: https://youtu.be/nDYiDDEsnEc