Father Rick’s Two Minute Homily for the 31st Sunday in Ordinary Time

October 3, 2024, Mark 12:28-34

https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/110324.cfm

Don’t ask any more questions.

Think back to a time when your heart was ready to burst. You couldn’t take it anymore. It could be an experience of a retreat or a tender moment with someone you love, like a child. Your heart is so complete that you are crying out, “Stop! Enough! I get this often when I visit the children in our school.

However, there is a challenge that makes you push past your limit. It happened in today’s gospel. A scribe asked Jesus the greatest commandment and got two: love of God with everything you have and love your neighbor as yourself.

A neighbor could be anyone, including opponents and enemies. It could include people experiencing poverty we pass by. It could be someone telling us the truth about ourselves, and we don’t want to hear it. Anything that ruffles our feathers can be a challenge from Jesus to let go of something we treasure for what He wants us to grow into.

Gospel Challenge:

Could Jesus challenge us to love God and our neighbor by sacrificing time and giving up more time with Him and our family/friends? We may need to assess the amount of time we could volunteer in a parish ministry or worthy cause.

If we are at the point where we don’t want to hear anymore, listen carefully. Jesus is speaking. Don’t be like the crowd: “No one dared to ask Him any more questions.” Discover where Jesus is leading you. You won’t be alone.

Love Your Neighbor:

Fr. Rick Pilger, I.C.

pastor@bscchurch.com