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The Average Shepherd

Fr Sam French
The Average Shepherd
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  • Is Your Christianity Convincing? | Homily for the 5th Sunday of Easter | Year C
    Would there be enough evidence to convict you of being a Christian?In this homily for the 5th Sunday of Easter, Fr Sam challenges us to take a long, honest look at our discipleship. Christianity is not a cultural label or comfort-zone lifestyle. It is radical, self-giving love...seen most clearly in the Cross.Drawing from Christ’s command to love as He loved, and St Paul’s bold witness in Antioch, Fr Sam invites us to reject "comfort-zone Christianity" and embrace faith that transforms lives. He shares practical steps for making our faith convincing: through the Catechism, acts of service, and a life rooted in prayer.This is a message for Catholics who are ready to live the Gospel not just with words, but with action. Because the world doesn’t any old Catholics. It needs witnesses!So, ask yourself: Is your Christianity convincing?Connect with Fr Sam: https://www.frsamfrench.com
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  • Mothers Priests and the Love of Jesus | 4th Sunday of Eastertide | Year C
    What do mothers and priests have in common with Jesus the Good ShepherdIn this homily for the Fourth Sunday of Easter, Fr Sam reflects on a beautiful convergence. It is both Good Shepherd Sunday and Mother’s Day, a chance to see how the self-giving love of Christ is mirrored in the vocations of motherhood and priesthood.Drawing from John’s Gospel, Fr Sam unpacks what makes Jesus the Good Shepherd. It is not sentimentality or soft imagery, but the courageous love that lays down one’s life for others. That same love is visible in the quiet heroism of mothers who sacrifice for their children, and in priests who give their lives to serve the people of God.This is a message about vocation, love, and the power of prayer. It is a call to see beyond the superficial and rediscover the deep beauty of lives lived for others. It is also a moment to give thanks for the new hope stirring in the Church, as more men respond to the call to serve as priests, and as families continue to raise children in faith and love.On this Good Shepherd Sunday, we honour the hearts that lay down their lives for the sake of others.Thank God for good mothers. Pray for good priests. Follow the Good Shepherd.Connect with Fr Sam: https://www.frsamfrench.com#GoodShepherdSunday #CatholicHomily #MothersDay
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  • The Barque of Peter | 3rd Sunday of Easter | Year C
    Why do we stay in the Church when the failings of its leaders are so public and painful?This week, Fr Sam reflects on the image of the boat in the Gospel of John. More than just a fishing vessel, it becomes a symbol of the Church itself. When the apostles try to fish on their own, they fail. But when they listen to the voice of Jesus, the net overflows. It is a powerful reminder that without Christ, the Church is empty. With Him, it is alive.Fr Sam speaks candidly about the pain and disillusionment so many feel when the Church seems lost or broken. He shares his own experience of entering the priesthood in a time when trust in the Church was at its lowest. But he reminds us that we are not here because of the human leaders who sometimes falter. We are here because Jesus chose this boat. And when His voice is followed, the mission of salvation continues.This homily is an invitation to see the Church not as an institution of control, but as the vessel Christ Himself steers. It is a call to remain faithful, to pray for our leaders, and to trust that God still works through the net of the Church to gather the world to Himself.We stay in the boat not because it is perfect, but because Christ is in itConnect with Fr Sam: https://www.frsamfrench.com
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  • Pics or it Didn't Happen | 2nd Sunday of Easter | Year C
    What if your doubts are not a barrier to faith but the doorway into it?In this week’s homily, Fr Sam dives into the story of St Thomas and the human hunger for proof. In a world obsessed with photos and evidence, it is easy to fall into the trap of thinking faith should work the same way. But Jesus invites us to something far greater.Fr Sam shows how doubt is not the enemy of faith. It can be the soil where deep trust takes root. Drawing on his own experience of suffering and healing, he reflects on how the wounds we carry are not signs of defeat but places where Christ meets us most powerfully.This is a message for anyone who has ever wrestled with hard questions or carried hidden hurts. Jesus is not afraid of your doubts. He is already present in them, offering His peace and His presence.We do not need a photo to prove He is alive. We need the courage to reach out, encounter Him in the Word, the Eucharist, and the Sacrament of Confession, and discover that the Risen Christ is closer than we ever imagined.My Lord and my GodConnect with Fr Sam: https://www.frsamfrench.com
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  • Reason and the Resurrection | Easter Sunday | Year C
    What if the Resurrection isn’t just a matter of faith—but of fact?In this Easter Sunday homily, Fr Sam puts the Resurrection on trial—not to cast doubt, but to show that our faith in the risen Christ is grounded in history, reason, and truth. Like a courtroom drama, he presents three compelling exhibits: ancient testimony, radical transformation, and the unexpected witness of women.This isn’t just a celebration of Easter joy—it’s a challenge to think, to believe, and to respond.Drawing from saints, scientists, and Scripture, Fr Sam dismantles the myth that faith and reason are at odds. He shows how the empty tomb is not only believable, but life-changing. If Christ is risen, then his every word carries eternal weight. Including this one: “Come, follow me.”And that’s the invitation—offered to every heart this Easter. Come back to Confession. Receive the gift of the Eucharist. Say “yes” to the God who gave everything for you.Because if Jesus really rose from the dead… nothing can stay the same.Christ is risen. He is risen indeed. Alleluia.Connect with Fr Sam: ⁠https://www.frsamfrench.com
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About The Average Shepherd

A weekly homily podcast by Fr Sam French dedicated to breaking open and spreading the Word of God.
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