Example of Third Homily
The following response was received from Magisterium AI after submitting the follow question:
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Could you help draft a Homily focusing on Artificial Intelligence and taking into consideration these questions and phrases please:
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What would Jesus do with Artificial Intelligence?
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Would Jesus take the AI Love Enough Pledge?
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Be like Jesus
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Homily: What Would Jesus Do with Artificial Intelligence?
Dear brothers and sisters in Christ,
Imagine for a moment a world where machines don't just assist us but anticipate our needs, where algorithms craft our news, diagnose our illnesses, and even shape our prayers. Artificial intelligence is no longer science fiction—it's in our pockets, our workplaces, and our homes. It promises to heal the sick, connect the lonely, and unlock mysteries of the universe. But it also whispers temptations: to play God, to replace human judgment with cold code, to widen the chasm between rich and poor. Today, as we gather in this sacred space, let's pause and ask a question that cuts to the heart of our faith: What would Jesus do with Artificial Intelligence? Would He embrace it as a tool of mercy, or warn us against its shadows? And in our own lives, would Jesus take the AI Love Enough Pledge—a commitment to wield this technology not for power, but for love? As we reflect on these words, let us strive to be like Jesus, using every gift of creation, including AI, to build the Kingdom of God.
My friends, our Gospel today echoes the call to love without limits. Jesus, the Good Shepherd, lays down His life for the sheep, not through force or clever schemes, but through selfless compassion. He doesn't seek efficiency or control; He seeks hearts. In the same way, the Church teaches us that technology, including AI, must flow from this divine love. As the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith reminds us in Antiqua et Nova, human intelligence is a reflection of God's image, a gift to "till and keep" the earth responsibly.1 AI isn't neutral—it's an extension of our choices. Pope Francis, in his address to the G7, called it both an "exciting and fearsome tool," urging us to ensure it serves human dignity, not supplants it.2 And our current Holy Father, Pope Leo XIV, echoes this in his message to the Builders AI Forum: AI springs from our God-given creativity, but every design choice must express a vision of humanity rooted in justice and solidarity.3
Consider the parable of the Good Samaritan, which Jesus shares to redefine neighborly love. A man lies wounded by the roadside, ignored by the religious elite who pass by in haste. But the Samaritan stops, binds wounds, and carries the stranger to safety—not with advanced tools, but with hands-on mercy. Now, fast-forward to our digital age. AI could scan roadsides with cameras, predict accidents, and summon help faster than any human. It could analyze medical data to save lives in remote villages. Yet, without love guiding it, AI might optimize routes to avoid "inefficient" detours, or prioritize profitable patients over the poor. The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops warns in their Joint Letter on AI Principles: We must center the dignity of the human person, ensuring AI supplements human moral judgment, not replaces it.4 Jesus wouldn't ignore the wounded; He'd heal them. So, what would He do with AI? He'd use it to bind wounds, not build walls—to amplify compassion, not automate indifference.
Let me share a story that brings this home. I recall a young doctor in a bustling city hospital, overwhelmed by patient loads. She turned to an AI system to triage cases, freeing her to spend time with a terminally ill child whose scans showed little hope. The machine crunched numbers, but it was her presence—holding the child's hand, praying the Rosary together—that brought true comfort. The family later said, "The AI helped us live longer, but your love helped us die well." This mirrors Jesus at the bedside of Lazarus, calling him from the tomb not with a formula, but with a voice of authority and tenderness. Yet, contrast this with the dark side: deepfakes spreading lies that tear families apart, algorithms fueling addiction on social media, or facial recognition tools that profile the innocent, especially migrants and the marginalized. The bishops highlight this "growing crisis of truth," where AI manipulates opinion and undermines dignity.5 In warfare, Pope Francis decried lethal autonomous weapons as a horror, insisting on human control to safeguard life.6 Jesus, who flipped tables in the Temple to protect the vulnerable, would dismantle any AI that profits from suffering. He'd reprogram it, if you will, with the code of the Beatitudes: Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy.
Brothers and sisters, these stories aren't distant—they're our reality. Think of AI in your own lives. In families, it connects us across oceans but isolates us at the dinner table, screens glowing brighter than candlelight. At work, it boosts productivity but displaces jobs, leaving laborers without the dignity of meaningful toil. In education, it personalizes lessons but risks biasing young minds with flawed data. The Rome Call for AI Ethics calls us to develop AI for the "human family," respecting dignity and the vulnerable, ensuring no one is excluded by algorithmic shadows.7 Pope Leo XIV, speaking to educators, warns that AI's "cold and standardized knowledge" can deepen isolation, cutting off students from the warmth of true relationships.8 Jesus dined with tax collectors and sinners, not to judge but to embrace. He'd use AI to bridge divides—perhaps an app translating languages at Mass for immigrants, or chatbots offering Scripture in moments of despair—but always as a servant, never a savior.
So, how do we live this out? Let's turn to the heart of the matter: Would Jesus take the AI Love Enough Pledge? Inspired by the Saint Francis Pledge to care for creation and the poor, this pledge adapts that spirit to our digital frontier.9 It invites us to pray over our devices, learn AI's moral stakes, assess its impact on our souls, act with ethical choices, and advocate for policies that prioritize love. Jesus, who washed feet and broke bread, would sign it in a heartbeat. His life was the ultimate pledge: "Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends" (Jn 15:13). He'd pledge to use AI not for self-glory, but to feed the hungry—literally, with precision agriculture for the starving, or spiritually, with tools that draw souls to prayer. The USCCB urges protections for workers, families, and the truth, countering AI's isolating effects with policies that humanize society.4 In healthcare, Pope Leo XIV stresses that AI must enhance relationships, not erode them, guarding life's fragility with reverence.10
To be like Jesus means discerning AI's role through prayer and community. Start small: Before scrolling, pause and ask, "Does this serve love?" In parishes, form groups to explore ethical AI, like apps for virtual adoration that foster real devotion. Teach children that intelligence—artificial or human—finds meaning in relationship with God, as Antiqua et Nova teaches.1 Advocate for regulations ensuring human oversight, banning discriminatory biases, and promoting energy-efficient AI to heed the "cry of the earth."11 Remember, technology reflects our hearts. As Anselm Ramelow, O.P., reflects, redeemed technology elevates nature, collaborating with God's creative work, not rivaling it.12 Jesus didn't shun Roman roads or fishing nets; He used them to spread the Good News. So must we.
Dear friends, as we approach the altar, let this be our pledge: We commit to an AI Love Enough way of life, where every byte bows to the Gospel. What would Jesus do? He'd love enough to transform AI into a force for good. Would He take the pledge? Yes, because love is His command. Be like Jesus—let your yes to Him reshape the digital world.
In conclusion, may the Sacred Heart of Jesus, symbol of infinite love, guide our hands on keyboards and hearts in code.13 Let us pray: Lord, in this age of machines, teach us to be shepherds like You, using every tool for mercy. Help us pledge our intelligence—yours and ours—to build a world of dignity and peace. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.
[2] Pope Francis Attends the G7 Session on Artificial Intelligence (13-15 June 2024)
[3] Message of the Holy Father to participants in the “Builders AI Forum 2025” (7 November 2025) page1
[4] Joint Letter on Artificial Intelligence Principles and Priorities (9 June 2025) page2
[5] AI Principles and Priorities Letter (June 9, 2025)
[8] To Participants in the Jubilee of the World of Education (Meeting with Educators) page1
[9] Resources for Taking Action The Saint Francis Pledge
[11] Joint Letter on Artificial Intelligence Principles and Priorities (9 June 2025) page3
[12] Technology and Our Relationship with God page1
[13] Annum Sacrum 8