November 6, 2024, Luke 14: 25-33
https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/110624.cfm
Wow! What a Huge Step for Us but a Small Step for Jesus.
Anything can lose its meaning when we hear it so often. Love your neighbor is one such saying. It can quickly lose its impact on us.
We cannot help but notice how Pope Francis repeatedly reminds us to love, particularly that neighbor no one notices. Let us be the ones who notice. God, in his wonderful providence, puts such people with no names or faces in our path every day like H put Lazarus in the path of the rich man, Dives.
So, we must notice the person first. It is one thing to notice and do acts of charity for another, feeding them, clothing them, etc., but are such people our neighbors? Do I love them as I love myself?
No, this kind of love takes time and requires a determined effort on our part to listen to that person to the point that they are no longer “no-name.” Something in us changes when we know their name, recognize their face, and hear their voice which strike a beat in our hearts.
Do you see what Jesus is getting at when he says to hate our family? It is not the hate that is filled with anger. He is telling us that our work is far from done once we meet our family’s responsibilities.
We must go out onto the highways and byways and befriend those strangers we did not recognize because we were not looking. Walking with them through the difficulties of their lives changes them from strangers to neighbors.
Then, I am beginning to love my neighbor as myself, even a little bit. And it is incredible that once we befriend a stranger, it is much easier to love them. Getting to love them is exciting. What is most difficult is making the first step out of myself and into their world.
Gospel Challenge:
As Jesus tells us in the Gospel today, this requires calculation. We must consider our responsibilities to our family, personal needs, and the stranger whose faces we do not recognize.
Love Your Neighbor!
Father Rick Pilger, I C.
pastor@bscchurch.com
Father Rick’s two-minute Homily for Wednesday, 31st Week in Ordinary Time
November 6, 2024, Luke 14: 25-33
https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/110624.cfm
Wow! What a Huge Step for Us but a Small Step for Jesus.
Anything can lose its meaning when we hear it so often. Love your neighbor is one such saying. It can quickly lose its impact on us.
We cannot help but notice how Pope Francis repeatedly reminds us to love, particularly that neighbor no one notices. Let us be the ones who notice. God, in his wonderful providence, puts such people with no names or faces in our path every day like H put Lazarus in the path of the rich man, Dives.
So, we must notice the person first. It is one thing to notice and do acts of charity for another, feeding them, clothing them, etc., but are such people our neighbors? Do I love them as I love myself?
No, this kind of love takes time and requires a determined effort on our part to listen to that person to the point that they are no longer “no-name.” Something in us changes when we know their name, recognize their face, and hear their voice which strike a beat in our hearts.
Do you see what Jesus is getting at when he says to hate our family? It is not the hate that is filled with anger. He is telling us that our work is far from done once we meet our family’s responsibilities.
We must go out onto the highways and byways and befriend those strangers we did not recognize because we were not looking. Walking with them through the difficulties of their lives changes them from strangers to neighbors.
Then, I am beginning to love my neighbor as myself, even a little bit. And it is incredible that once we befriend a stranger, it is much easier to love them. Getting to love them is exciting. What is most difficult is making the first step out of myself and into their world.
Gospel Challenge:
As Jesus tells us in the Gospel today, this requires calculation. We must consider our responsibilities to our family, personal needs, and the stranger whose faces we do not recognize.
Love Your Neighbor!
Father Rick Pilger, I C.
pastor@bscchurch.com
Share:
More Posts
Fr. Rick’s Two-Minute Reflection for Feast of St. Luke, Evangelist, October 18, 2025,
Luke 10:1-9 https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/101825.cfm What can go wrong will go wrong, so it seems. Have you ever had days when everything goes smoothly? A day like
Fr. Rick’s Gospel Reflection for Friday, 28th Week in Ordinary Time
October 17 2025, 2025, Luke 11:47-54 https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/101725.cfm The pressure of our culture Jesus assures us in John’s Gospel, “You will face trials in this world.
Fr. Rick’s Gospel Reflection for Thursday, 28th Week in Ordinary Time
October 16, 2025, Luke 11:47-54 https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/101625.cfm The most humbling thing we can discover is … Who could count how many times the scribes, Pharisees, and
Fr. Rick’s Two-Minute Reflection for Wednesday, 28th Week in Ordinary Time
October 15, 2025, Luke 11:42-46 https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/101624.cfm One little decision can determine our destiny. “Woe to you, Pharisees!” Intoxicated drivers can cause significant harm to themselves
Categories
Send Us A Message