# Our Lady Of Lourdes Novena, Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time.  Homily by Bro Phillip Neri, OP, Dominican Deacon, February 8, 2026

Page: https://stenobird.com/podcast/st-dominic-s-weekly-328314/our-lady-of-lourdes-novena-fifth-sunday-in-ordinary-time-homily-by-bro-phillip-neri-op-dominican-deacon-february-8-2026
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Podcast: [St. Dominic's Weekly](https://stenobird.com/podcast/st-dominic-s-weekly-328314)
Published: 2026-02-09T18:50:35+00:00
Episode link: https://stdominicsweekly.podbean.com
Audio file: https://cdn.simplecast.com/audio/53f6fba5-5ecc-4306-98b4-04800a712d78/episodes/fb160f35-227c-43ca-bc21-21e257efb445/audio/4dd44c19-0162-4b2f-81de-3ec7fb376fe9/default_tc.mp3?aid=rss_feed&feed=UhvHzFKD
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Duration seconds: 1008

## Resource

Good works do not earn God's love; they merely deepen the divine life already freely shared with us. Through the lens of the Immaculate Conception, this homily explores how we must move from seeking merit to accepting and imitating God's unconditional grace.

## Highlights
- Main idea: Spiritual works are not fuel to start a fire of holiness, but wood to sustain the spark of grace received at baptism
- Failure mode: Treating good deeds as a way to accumulate 'behavior points' rather than as an imitation of God's selfless love
- Practical takeaway: Use the Sacrament of Confession to reignite the spiritual fire when sin has snuffed out your inner light
- Theological insight: Mary's holiness is not a reward for her goodness, but a result of God's prior, unmerited decision to love her
- Core mission: We are called to be the 'salt of the earth' by extending the same unearned generosity to others that God extends to us

## Topics

Catholicism, Immaculate Conception, Holy Spirit, Our Lady of Lourdes, Grace, Christian Living, St. Jude, Homily

## Chapters
- 1:00 — The Salt and the Light: An examination of the Gospel of Matthew regarding the responsibility to let our good deeds glorify the Father.
- 2:00 — The Spark of Holiness: A metaphor comparing good works to stacking wood, emphasizing that we cannot start the fire of faith without God's initial spark.
- 4:00 — Water of Healing, Fire of Love: Exploring the relationship between Baptism, the Holy Spirit, and the Immaculate Conception of Mary.
- 7:00 — The Purity of Mary: Contrasting human sin and pride with Mary's selfless, Spirit-filled life of pure love.
- 9:00 — The Unmerited Gift of Grace: Reflecting on how God's love is a free gift that we must accept rather than a debt we can repay.
- 11:00 — Imitating Divine Generosity: How the prophet Isaiah's call to justice serves as a model for treating neighbors with the same grace God shows us.
- 14:00 — Intercessory Prayers: Devotional prayers to Our Lady of Lourdes and Saint Jude for strength and assistance in times of need.

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## Transcript

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