Homily | May 16, 2026 | Real Humility Means Letting Others Teach You | (Episode 125)

One of the most interesting people in the New Testament is this man we meet in today's first reading, Apollos.

Scripture describes him as an eloquent, intelligent, passionate, knowledgeable in the scriptures, and filled with the zeal for God.

In other words, this guy could preach.

He was gifted, sharp, compelling, probably the kind of speaker people drove across town to hear.

But then Scripture says something fascinating.

He knew only the baptism of John.

Meaning Apollos was sincere, talented, and passionate, but his understanding was still incomplete.

And that's where the reading becomes incredibly relevant for our time.

Because we live in an age overflowing with information but starving for formation.

Everybody has opinions, everyone is an expert on something, everybody has a platform, has a microphone, a podcast on YouTube, social media.

And confidence is often mistaken for wisdom.

But being passionate does not automatically mean being correct.

That is why one of the most beautiful moments is this reading that Priscilla and Aquila took him aside and explained to him the way of God more accurately.

Notice what Apollos does not do.

He does not become defensive.

He does not say, Well, who are you to correct me?

He does not double down because of pride.

He allows himself to be taught.

That takes humility.

Real humility is not thinking less of yourself, it's being teachable.

And honesty, one of the great spiritual dangers, is reaching a point where we think, well, I already know enough.

I know.

Nobody can teach me, nobody can correct me, nobody can challenge me.

I know what I know.

That attitude destroys marriages, destroys friendships, it destroys spiritual growth.

Some people stop growing the moment they stop listening.

One of the signs of holiness is remaining teachable even after years of experience.

That's why the saints were lifelong students.

Not because they lacked intelligence, but because they understood that truth is deep and conversion never really ends.

And then the gospel today pushes us even deeper.

Jesus says, the Father Himself loves you.

That line is so simple that we almost miss how radical it is.

The Father Himself loves you.

Not tolerates you, not merely puts up with you, not reluctantly accepts you, loves you.

Because I think that one of the biggest struggles many people carry is that deep down they relate to God more as a disappointed boss than a father.

They think God is angry with me.

God is tired of me.

God barely puts up with me.

But Jesus came precisely to reveal the heart of the Father.

And what is that heart?

Well, it's love.

Not sentimental love, not permissive love, but the kind of love that pursues us, corrects us, heals us, and calls us to be higher, to be better.

That's why Jesus says, ask and you will receive, so that your joy may be complete.

Notice Jesus connects prayer with joy.

A lot of people treat prayer like a spiritual emergency room.

They pray only when something is falling apart.

But prayer is not meant to be occasional crisis management.

Prayer is a relationship.

The saints did not pray because they were religious professionals.

They prayed because they understood that they were loved.

And honestly, that changes everything.

If prayer is just obligation, eventually it becomes exhausting and a burden.

But when prayer becomes relationship, it changes the entire spiritual life.

You stop merely saying prayers, you begin speaking to someone who knows you completely and still loves you.

That's why Christianity is different from mere philosophy.

Christianity is not just a system of ethics.

It's not just some rules and philosophical understanding.

It's not just intellectual ideas about God.

No, it is an invitation into communion with the living God.

Maybe that's the deeper connection between the gospel and Apollos today.

Apollos had knowledge, but it but his understanding needed to go deeper.

Many Catholics today are in the same place.

They know about Jesus, but they don't yet know him deeply.

They know prayers, they know rituals, they know a lot of information.

But Christianity is not merely knowing facts about Christ.

It's allowing Christ to transform your life from the inside out.

The goal is not simply to become informed Catholics, the goal is to become saints.

So, my brothers and sisters, allow yourself to be taught.

Humble yourselves.

Saints are people who never stop learning, never stop converting, and never stop discovering how deeply the Father loves them.

That's possible for you and for me.

God bless.

Amen.