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 and worship and does 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 dwell with his people, to be close to them.
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 the beautiful affection and warmth of God’s love with hundreds of dos and don’ts we call the Law.
We do this with attitudes – laws we create in our minds that everyone must obey or watch out. But we can get past being superficial with God and with each other.
One of the most powerful ways to invite God into our hearts, so he can make his home with us, is through his mercy. When we courageously acknowledge our sinfulness and humbly confess it to the Lord, our hearts will be transformed, becoming more compassionate when we encounter the sin of another. This is the hope and the promise of God’s mercy.
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. This could mean offering a kind word, a helping hand, or simply listening with an open heart. Who will that be today?
March 9, 2026, Luke 4:24-30 https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/030926.cfm Homecoming. When I returned home from my studies in England, my family warmly greeted me at the airport terminal.
March 7, 2026, Luke 15:1-3, 11-32 https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/030726.cfm Home at Last. How heart-wrenching it is to stray from our Father’s loving embrace. Like the younger son
March 6, 2026, Matthew 21:33-43, 45-46 https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/030626.cfm Someone is Missing. Mother Teresa recounts a story about a young drug addict she and her sisters met
March 20, 2025, Luke 16:19-31 https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/030526.cfm One Small Step. One Giant Leap. On July 20, 1969, Neil Armstrong became the first person to walk on
Fr. Rick’s Two Minute Homily for Monday 21st Week in Ordinary Time
August 25, 2025, Matthew 23:13-22
https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/082525.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 and worship and does 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 dwell with his people, to be close to them.
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 the beautiful affection and warmth of God’s love with hundreds of dos and don’ts we call the Law.
We do this with attitudes – laws we create in our minds that everyone must obey or watch out. But we can get past being superficial with God and with each other.
One of the most powerful ways to invite God into our hearts, so he can make his home with us, is through his mercy. When we courageously acknowledge our sinfulness and humbly confess it to the Lord, our hearts will be transformed, becoming more compassionate when we encounter the sin of another. This is the hope and the promise of God’s mercy.
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. This could mean offering a kind word, a helping hand, or simply listening with an open heart. Who will that be today?
Love Your Neighbor!
Fr. Rick Pilger, IC
www.bscchurch.com
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