It amazes me that Almighty God has chosen to reveal Himself and the work of his salvation through ordinary people. Jesus is the fullness of that revelation and the One in whom we are called and gifted to follow. How humbling for the Lord to make himself known to others through all the different ways we love each other, care for each other, and sacrifice ourselves for the good of others.
It must be sad for Jesus when someone like the Pharisees offers prayers, worship, and do all the right things without heart and love for Him and others. Jesus uses examples to illustrate how much He wants to make our hearts like His Sacred Heart. The first one He uses is a doorway to bring home the point that God intends to live with his people.
A door is an entryway to someone’s home. It’s where they go to be themselves, let their hair down, or take off their shoes. Formalities are left outside.
Unfortunately, the leaders of Jesus’ time never welcomed anyone into God’s home because they closed the door of their hearts to God himself. They replaced beautiful affection and warmth of God’s love with hundreds of do’s and don’ts we call the Law. We do this with attitudes – laws we create in our mind that everyone must obey or watch out. But we can get past being superficial with God and with each other.
One of the quickest ways to welcome God into our hearts so he can make his home with us is through his mercy. When we are not afraid to be honest about our sinfulness and confess it humbly to the Lord, our hearts will be more compassionate when we encounter the sin of another.
Gospel Challenge:
Whoever we are with at any given moment, may they find it easier to be near God because we are not afraid to draw close to them? Who will that be today?
November 17, 2024, Matthew 13:24-32 https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/111724.cfm https://www.dosp.org/courageouslyliving/ Bishop Parkes Call to Conversion This past Sunday I was honored to administer the Sacrament of Confirmation to
November 16, 2024, Luke 18:1-8 https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/111624.cfm Does God have a cell phone? Cell phones are so convenient. We can do so many things with these
November 15, 2024, Luke 17:26-37 https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/111524.cfm Do Your Shopping Early? Can you imagine walking into a grocery store on the day a hurricane hits?
November 11, 2024, Luke 17:20-25 https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/111424.cfm No Greater Love. I remember a movie about Mother Teresa of Calcutta, No Greater Love. Many times, she brought tears to
Monday 21st Week in Ordinary Time August 28 2023
Fr. Rick’s Two Minute Homily for Monday 21st Week in Ordinary Time
August 28, 2023, Matthew 23:13-22
https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/082823.cfm
Compassionate Hearts Full Of Mercy.
It amazes me that Almighty God has chosen to reveal Himself and the work of his salvation through ordinary people. Jesus is the fullness of that revelation and the One in whom we are called and gifted to follow. How humbling for the Lord to make himself known to others through all the different ways we love each other, care for each other, and sacrifice ourselves for the good of others.
It must be sad for Jesus when someone like the Pharisees offers prayers, worship, and do all the right things without heart and love for Him and others. Jesus uses examples to illustrate how much He wants to make our hearts like His Sacred Heart. The first one He uses is a doorway to bring home the point that God intends to live with his people.
A door is an entryway to someone’s home. It’s where they go to be themselves, let their hair down, or take off their shoes. Formalities are left outside.
Unfortunately, the leaders of Jesus’ time never welcomed anyone into God’s home because they closed the door of their hearts to God himself. They replaced beautiful affection and warmth of God’s love with hundreds of do’s and don’ts we call the Law. We do this with attitudes – laws we create in our mind that everyone must obey or watch out. But we can get past being superficial with God and with each other.
One of the quickest ways to welcome God into our hearts so he can make his home with us is through his mercy. When we are not afraid to be honest about our sinfulness and confess it humbly to the Lord, our hearts will be more compassionate when we encounter the sin of another.
Gospel Challenge:
Whoever we are with at any given moment, may they find it easier to be near God because we are not afraid to draw close to them? Who will that be today?
IGNITE THE FIRE
Fr. Rick Pilger, IC
www.bscchurch.com
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