The Will of God Is the Path to Peace

Click for More

The readings for this homily: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/120425.cfm

In this powerful Advent homily, Fr. Mark reveals why the Church gives us such seemingly “unrelated” readings during the early days of the season. Beneath the surface, he shows a single thread tying them together: Israel’s longing for a Messiah who would finally give humanity the power to live God’s will. From the failures of the Old Testament to the warnings of the prophets, the people discovered what we must rediscover—misery always follows when we trust ourselves more than God.

Israel’s exile, their suffering, and their longing formed the backdrop for Advent hope: a Messiah who would restore not only the kingdom, but the human heart. As Fr. Mark explains, God’s will is never arbitrary. Because “God is goodness itself” (CCC 199), His will can only be good, healing, and life-giving. When we surrender to that will, we stand on the unchanging rock of divine truth—immovable, stable, and at peace. “Order brings peace,” says St. Thomas Aquinas, and Advent invites us to let God reorder our desires so that our hearts may rest in Him.

Jesus warns us in today’s Gospel that salvation is inseparable from doing the Father’s will. Advent, then, becomes a season of holy realignment: turning from sin, renouncing self-reliance, and trusting in God’s providence with the same hopeful expectation Israel once knew. As we prepare for Christmas, Fr. Mark urges us to pray with conviction: “Not my will, Lord, but Yours be done.”

To deepen your Advent journey, explore more teachings on DivineMercyPlus.org and the free, ad-free Divine Mercy Plus app. Visit the link in our bio for homilies, reflections, the Rosary, the Chaplet, and Advent resources to guide you toward Christ.

Added to Favorites!
Added to Watch Later!

You might also like...

Are you living a moral life?

In our post–Christian world today, we see many factors that contribute to people living and leading immoral lives. With pornography and drug abuse and cohabitation, people have forgotten God and therefore have chosen to turn away from the moral laws he has prescribed to us.Father Mark Baron, MIC reflects on how we can live our lives with a central focus on morality and adhering to the teachings that Christ left us.

The Difference between Socialism & Communism and What the Church Teaches

As our culture continues to redefine truth, where should Catholics stand? In this powerful homily, Fr. Chris Alar, MIC explains the Catholic Church's teaching on communism, socialism, human dignity, private property, and the role of the State in light of the Gospel.

The Amazing Connection Between St. Faustina and St. Margaret Mary Alacoque

Fr. Chris Alar, MIC, takes us deep into the heart of the Church’s great mystery — the inseparable link between the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the message of Divine Mercy. Long before St. Faustina received the vision of Christ’s mercy, St. Margaret Mary Alacoque revealed the burning love of His Heart. Both messages — separated by centuries — form one divine revelation of the same truth: God is Love, and His love takes action through mercy.