Each month, Catholic deacon Bill Ross delivers homilies based on the Sunday Mass Scripture readings – connecting the Word of God to the lives we actually live.
From Taylor Swift to the Wizard of Oz to Weebles that wobble but don't fall down, Deacon Bill uses unexpected references to make ancient truths feel fresh and relevant. These aren't your typical Sunday homilies. They're 10-minute messages that help you hear familiar readings in a whole new way – and give you something practical to take into your week.
Whether you're looking to deepen your faith, understand Scripture better, or simply hear God's message through a more relatable lens, these homilies meet you where you are.
Deacon Bill preaches from St. Mary, Mother of God Parish in Middletown, New Jersey.
Loneliness is everywhere — even in our pews. In this Corpus Christi homily, Deacon Bill reflects on the song “Lonely People” and how the Eucharist speaks directly into the quiet ache so many carry. As the homily says:
“Loneliness whispers, ‘You don’t matter.’ The Eucharist answers, ‘You belong.’”
Through Scripture, the witness of Deacon George, and the promise of Jesus’ real presence, this message reminds us:
“You are not forgotten. You are not invisible.”
If you’ve ever felt alone, this one is for you.
17 Apr 2026
Will you be the same person on Easter? You don't have to be.
A caterpillar doesn't come out of its chrysalis as the same caterpillar. It's always a butterfly. So why do so many of us emerge from Lent unchanged? This Ash Wednesday homily explores what it really means to use these 40 days — like Jesus in the desert — to come out the other side more of the person God wants you to be.
17 Apr 2026
You're never too far gone for God's mercy to find you
A Pulitzer Prize-winning photo from a famine in Sudan becomes the unexpected lens for understanding Divine Mercy Sunday. No matter how weak, how far gone, or how long it's been — Jesus doesn't wait for you to clean yourself up. He walks through locked doors to meet you exactly where you are.
3 Feb 2026
The Beatitudes: Jesus's Roadmap to Heaven
In this homily on the Beatitudes, we explore why Jesus's blessings sound so upside-down from what the world teaches us to value. Through a powerful 3am trust analogy and examining how Jesus Himself lived each Beatitude, discover why the path to heaven doesn't look like the path to worldly success. Includes a practical challenge using the Litany of Humility to help you grow in the virtue that makes all the Beatitudes possible. Because life is good...but heaven is better, and Jesus is showing us the way.
20 Jan 2026
Start Here: Welcome to the Deacon Bill Ross Homilies Podcast!
Welcome! Whether you're an active Catholic, exploring faith for the first time, or have been away from the Church, this introduction episode explains what this podcast is about and what you'll gain from listening. Spoiler: it's not just about hearing Scripture—it's about putting it into action.
14 Jan 2026
It's never too late to start again
A retired Navy Seal asks Deacon Bill an unforgettable question: "Why would God want me back?" In this powerful Advent homily, discover the ancient Latin phrase nunc coepi - "now I begin" - and learn how John the Baptist's message of radical mercy applies to your life today. It's never too late to start again.
6 Jan 2026
Journey with the Magi and transform your life
In this Epiphany homily, we explore the journey of the Magi through four transformative steps: Seek, Adore, Change, and Shine. Discover why pagan astrologers found Jesus before those who had all the knowledge of Scripture, and what it means to become "stars for others" in a world covered by darkness. This message challenges us to follow Christ's light beyond our comfort zones and bring hope to those wandering in search of something greater.
4 Nov 2025
God Winks and Popsicle Stick Prayers
Have you ever experienced a "God wink" – a meaningful coincidence that feels like a sign from above?
In this All Souls Day homily, Deacon Bill introduces a simple family practice that might help you experience more of them: the popsicle stick prayer jar.
Drawing from the Book of Wisdom and John's Gospel, Deacon Bill explores the souls in purgatory – so close to heaven, yet still being purified for that final encounter with God.
But here's the beautiful mystery: while souls in purgatory can't pray for themselves, they can pray for us. And when we pray for them, they intercede for us in return. Those "coincidences" you experience might actually be God winks – answers to the prayers of grateful souls.
Deacon Bill offers a practical challenge: follow it...and then watch for the God winks that follow.
As Archbishop Fulton Sheen promised: when you enter heaven, souls will come toward you saying, "I'm a poor soul you prayed for in purgatory."
22 Oct 2025
What's the most dangerous thing in the world?
Why does a Super Bowl team follow the rules without question – but society feels free to change God's laws?
In this powerful homily, Deacon Bill tackles one of the most dangerous forces in our world: silence in the face of evil. Using the metaphor of sports rules that can never be changed, he challenges us to examine why we allow God's commandments to be rewritten to fit society's desires.
Drawing from the Gospel where Jesus calls out hypocrites who honor God with their lips but whose hearts are far from Him, Deacon Bill reminds us that silence implies acceptance. And as the song "The Sound of Silence" warns us: "silence, like a cancer grows."
St. Catherine of Siena said, "It is silence that kills the world." This week's challenge: Are you a doer of God's word, or just a hearer? And when your day comes to meet God, will you be judged by His laws – or society's?
14 Oct 2025
Objects in the mirror are closer than they appear
"Objects in the mirror are closer than they appear." You've seen that warning on every car mirror – but what if it applied to God?
In this Ascension Sunday homily, Deacon Bill explores the apostles' bewilderment when Jesus ascended into Heaven. One moment they're watching Him disappear into the clouds, feeling abandoned and alone. The next, they're filled with joy. What changed?
The answer: they realized Jesus hadn't left them at all. He was closer than they could imagine – living right inside their hearts.
Deacon Bill explains how the same seeds Jesus planted in the apostles are planted in us through Scripture and the sacraments. And just like the apostles at Pentecost, we're called to let the Holy Spirit activate those seeds and share our faith with joy.
The next time you glance at your side mirror, remember: God is closer than He appears.
14 Oct 2025
What if your Apple Watch could help you get to Heaven?
What if your Apple Watch could help you get to Heaven?
In this homily, Deacon Bill uses the Activity App as an unexpected metaphor for spiritual life. Just as the watch tracks your steps and reminds you to stay active, what if we had a "Heaven App" that kept our eternal goal front and center throughout the day?
Drawing from Ecclesiastes, Colossians, and Luke's Gospel about the rich fool, Deacon Bill explores why we spend so much energy accumulating earthly treasures we can't take with us – and challenges us to shift our focus to what really matters to God.
The good news? We already have the most powerful "app" available: the Holy Spirit. Deacon Bill offers practical ways to use everyday reminders to refocus on building treasures that last forever.
13 Oct 2025
Why does God allow evil in the world?
Why does God allow evil in the world? And why doesn't He just step in and stop it?
These are questions we all wrestle with. In this homily, Deacon Bill reveals that God actually answers them directly in today's Scripture readings. The catch? We've been hearing these passages for years without really listening to what He's telling us.
Join Deacon Bill as he tackles one of faith's toughest questions with fresh insight and practical wisdom.
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