Friends, letting God work on our hearts is a dangerous and difficult business — because it means giving up control. It means saying 'yes' to people and to situations that you would never have chosen yourself. Most of us are terrible when it comes to changing our own hearts, so here’s my encouragement: give your heart to God. Submit to the slow and often painful work of His grace, and trust that He’ll get you where you need to be.

Readings at this Mass: Sir 15:15–20 | 1 Cor 2:6–10 | Mt 5:17–37

When Jesus says, "You are the salt of the earth and the light of the world," He's not flattering us — he's giving us a mission. Just as salt prevents corruption and light dispels darkness, your life – lived in communion with God – is meant to preserve what is good and push back what is false or destructive. If someone acts only for recognition, then that recognition is the whole reward — and it lasts only as long as the spotlight is on them. But when a person uses their gifts with humility, gratitude, and faith – when their excellence becomes an offering – their performance points beyond themselves, becoming a witness to the glory of God.

Readings at this Mass: Is 58:7–10 | 1 Cor 2:1–5 | Mt 5:13–16

If we have the presence of God within us, if we bring the presence of God to every situation we encounter, if we're filled with the presence of God so much so that we don't think of ourselves — that's humility. Humility is not thinking less of myself; it's thinking of myself less. It's being filled with the presence of God, so that that presence of God might overflow into every situation that I encounter. And in this world of polarization, as Christians we are called to practice the presence of God: to bring the presence of God with love and understanding to every disagreement and to every situation.

The book Fr. Dominic refers to in his homily is The Practice of the Presence of God by Brother Lawrence of the Resurrection.

Readings at this Mass: Zep 2:3; 3:12–13 | 1 Cor 1:26–31 | Mt 5:1–12a