You may know that I belong to the Institute of Charity, a religious order. We are in many countries, including Tanzania and Kenya in East Africa. We established ourselves there 72 years ago. We run schools, parishes, health centers, and a formation house. Our good priests, sisters, and brothers from Ireland didn’t move in and open shop, deciding what they needed. No.
We moved in and lived for a few years among the people in the same type of quarters they lived. We learned their language and got to know what they needed and wanted. We helped them build an infrastructure. We listened and got to know them through our actions. The fruit behind all our activity was a love that accepted them where they were and a willingness to let them grow at their own pace.
We might think that the next step was evangelization, sharing the Gospel with them. But the Gospel was preached with the first shovel of dirt that was dug and every shovel that followed.
“Love one another as I have loved you,” said Jesus. The first thing Jesus did was not preach a sermon on the side of a mountain. He was conceived, born, and lived as a human being among us for 30 years before He opened His mouth and said, “The Kingdom of God is among you.” He got to know us, and we got to know Him.
February 5, 2025, Mark 6:1-6 https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/020525.cfm Faith’s Struggles. It’s important to remember that we’re not alone in our struggles. Many who are serious about their
February 4, 2025, Mark 5:21-43 https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/020425.cfm Never Give UP. The more challenging life gets, the better we get, or do we? I had two operations
February 3, 2025, Mark 5:1-20 https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/020325.cfm Alone and Helpless. People handle pain in different ways. Some have acute pain that never goes away, and
February 2, 2025, Luke 2:22-32 https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/020225.cfm Faith’s Struggles. Tom Brady, an NFL quarterback, took his time to make an important decision. The big question before
Father Rick’s Three Minute Homily for 5th Sunday in Easter 2022 – 05-1-2022
https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/051522.cfm
ACTIONS FIRST – SERVE, LISTEN, THEN SPEAK.
You may know that I belong to the Institute of Charity, a religious order. We are in many countries, including Tanzania and Kenya in East Africa. We established ourselves there 72 years ago. We run schools, parishes, health centers, and a formation house. Our good priests, sisters, and brothers from Ireland didn’t move in and open shop, deciding what they needed. No.
We moved in and lived for a few years among the people in the same type of quarters they lived. We learned their language and got to know what they needed and wanted. We helped them build an infrastructure. We listened and got to know them through our actions. The fruit behind all our activity was a love that accepted them where they were and a willingness to let them grow at their own pace.
We might think that the next step was evangelization, sharing the Gospel with them. But the Gospel was preached with the first shovel of dirt that was dug and every shovel that followed.
“Love one another as I have loved you,” said Jesus. The first thing Jesus did was not preach a sermon on the side of a mountain. He was conceived, born, and lived as a human being among us for 30 years before He opened His mouth and said, “The Kingdom of God is among you.” He got to know us, and we got to know Him.
Who will you get to know, and how will you do it?
IGNITE THE FIRE!
Fr. Rick Pilger, IC
www.bscchurch.com
Share:
More Posts
Father Rick’s Two-Minute Homily for Wednesday, 4th Week in Ordinary Time
February 5, 2025, Mark 6:1-6 https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/020525.cfm Faith’s Struggles. It’s important to remember that we’re not alone in our struggles. Many who are serious about their
Father Rick’s Two Minute Homily for Tuesday, 4th Week in Ordinary Time
February 4, 2025, Mark 5:21-43 https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/020425.cfm Never Give UP. The more challenging life gets, the better we get, or do we? I had two operations
Fr. Rick’s Two Minute Homily for Monday, 4th Week in Ordinary Time
February 3, 2025, Mark 5:1-20 https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/020325.cfm Alone and Helpless. People handle pain in different ways. Some have acute pain that never goes away, and
Father Rick’s Two-Minute Homily for Presentation of the Lord
February 2, 2025, Luke 2:22-32 https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/020225.cfm Faith’s Struggles. Tom Brady, an NFL quarterback, took his time to make an important decision. The big question before
Categories
Send Us A Message