Why the Gospel Was Never Meant to Make You Successful

You weren’t called to win — you were called to witness, suffer, and follow.

This homily confronts one of the most pervasive lies in modern Christianity: the belief that following Jesus will lead to worldly success, comfort, or favor. But the Gospel was never about achievement — it was about deliverance. Christ came not to elevate a nation, not to establish dominance, and certainly not to guarantee prosperity. He came to crush the power of sin, destroy the fear of death, and free the human soul from slavery to the devil.

Drawing from the historical context of Israel’s longing for a political messiah, Father Moses exposes how we, like them, still misunderstand the Kingdom of God. We want power. Christ offers crucifixion. We want increase. He gives us transformation. We want the world. He calls us to forsake it.

The Beatitudes are not a path to blessing as the world defines it — they are a profile of the crucified Christian life. Poverty of spirit. Mourning. Meekness. Persecution. This is the path Christ walked. This is the life He promised.

If your faith has become a tool for personal success, this homily will disrupt you. If you’ve asked why your life isn’t easier, more blessed, or more rewarding — this is your answer. The Gospel was never meant to make you successful. It was meant to make you His.