I can’t criticize or judge people until I walk in their shoes and experience all that they experience. In his goodness, God has allowed me to meet people who are lax in practicing their faith for one reason or another. I learned early on in my priesthood that telling people what they need to do isn’t enough. It just turns them off from the Church.
When I meet a married couple who wants to get married in the Church or have the child baptized, I get to know them first. I learn about them, and they learn about me. Then I listen as they share experiences of their life. And from those experiences, I point out how wise and healthy the teachings of the gospel and the Church can benefit their family life.
It is all the grace of God and wonderful to behold to watch the faith they received in baptism come to life. So, in today’s gospel, Jesus brought Peter’s faith to life. The Temple tax collectors asked Peter if Jesus paid the temple tax. Children of the King do not pay taxes. Only subjects do.
So as not to offend his questioner, Jesus told Peter to go fishing without bait. The first fish he caught would have a coin in its mouth to pay the temple tax for Jesus and Peter. Up to this point, Jesus did not have the trust of the collectors of the temple tax. Because Jesus respected their relationship and wanted to keep it growing, He paid the temple tax, working a little miracle.
Remember, people come first before anything else is created. We don’t want to win arguments and lose people. Perhaps you know someone who is not practicing their Catholic faith. Ask the Lord to give you opportunities to get to know them. When the trust builds between you and them, Jesus will start working all the Lord’s miracles, and you will catch more than fish.
July 12, 2025, Matthew 10:24-33 https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/071225.cfm Like the Master – like the Teacher Teachers and coaches have an innate quality of wanting to help others
July 11, 2025, Matthew 10:16-23 https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/071125.cfm Not everyone will welcome the Good News of Jesus. Yesterday, we celebrated the courage of the early missionaries as
July 10, 2025, Matthew 10:7-15 https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/071025.cfm You Are Sending Me? Really? Are we ever ready to bring Jesus to others? Our world teaches us to
July 9, 2025, Matthew 10:1-7 https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/070925.cfm Faith Is All About Relationships. Every day, I pray before the Blessed Sacrament for family members and friends
Monday 19th Week in Ordinary Time 2022
Fr. Rick’s Two Minute Homily for Monday 19th Week in Ordinary Time 08-07-2022
Monday 19th Week in Ordinary Time 2022
Matthew 17:22-27 https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/080822.cfm
“THAT WE MIGHT NOT OFFEND THEM.”
I can’t criticize or judge people until I walk in their shoes and experience all that they experience. In his goodness, God has allowed me to meet people who are lax in practicing their faith for one reason or another. I learned early on in my priesthood that telling people what they need to do isn’t enough. It just turns them off from the Church.
When I meet a married couple who wants to get married in the Church or have the child baptized, I get to know them first. I learn about them, and they learn about me. Then I listen as they share experiences of their life. And from those experiences, I point out how wise and healthy the teachings of the gospel and the Church can benefit their family life.
It is all the grace of God and wonderful to behold to watch the faith they received in baptism come to life. So, in today’s gospel, Jesus brought Peter’s faith to life. The Temple tax collectors asked Peter if Jesus paid the temple tax. Children of the King do not pay taxes. Only subjects do.
So as not to offend his questioner, Jesus told Peter to go fishing without bait. The first fish he caught would have a coin in its mouth to pay the temple tax for Jesus and Peter. Up to this point, Jesus did not have the trust of the collectors of the temple tax. Because Jesus respected their relationship and wanted to keep it growing, He paid the temple tax, working a little miracle.
Remember, people come first before anything else is created. We don’t want to win arguments and lose people. Perhaps you know someone who is not practicing their Catholic faith. Ask the Lord to give you opportunities to get to know them. When the trust builds between you and them, Jesus will start working all the Lord’s miracles, and you will catch more than fish.
IGNITE THE FIRE!
Father Rick Pilger, I.C.
pastor
or .
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