Saturday, the Second Week in Advent, December 16, 2023

Fr. Rick’s Two-Minute Homily for Saturday, the Second Week in Advent,
December 16, 2023, Matthew 17:9a, 10-13
https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/121623.cfm

“We played the flute for you. We sang a dirge for you.”

Michael J Fox and Christopher Lloyd starred in Back to the Future. Michael was accidentally sent back 30 years in the movie, and he almost prevented his future parents from falling in love. It was quite a comedy.

We don’t have to go back to the future to be with Jesus. Nor do we have to wait for a future event when God saves us from ourselves. It is difficult for people in our Lord’s time to see a human being embody salvation in Jesus of Nazareth.

I thought that it isn’t any easier for us to see Jesus in the people who disrupt our lives, who will cause us pain and suffering. Sometimes it is even difficult to see the presence of Jesus past our sins.

But he is there, waiting for us to cry out for mercy: waiting for us to say I’m sorry for anyone I hurt, waiting for us to reach out to him in people we have written on off. Forgiveness of ourselves and others is as difficult to accept today as it was for the people of our Lord’s time.

Gospel Challenge:
Taste and see how sweet and precious the Lord’s mercy is in His words to the priest in Confession, “I absolve you from all your sins, in the name of the Father and the Son of the Holy Spirit. Amen

Jesus is the one who takes away the sins of the world, NOW. We don’t have to wait for the future to be at peace.

Confession: Monday – Friday this week 6 to 7 pm.

Love Your Neighbor
Please join me in praying for all baptized Catholics to be faithful to Jesus in the Holy Mass every weekend. Hail Mary, full of grace…

Mother Mary, “I am yours now and forever. Through you and with you, I always want to belong completely to Jesus.” The Surrender Novena – InHeartland. https://inheartland.com/pages/the-surrender-novena

Peace be with you.

Fr. Rick Pilger, IC
www.bscchurch.com

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