Fr. Rick’s Two-Minute Homily for Saturday, 26th Week of the Year

October 4, 2025, Luke 10:17-24.

https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/100425.cfm

Cries from Deep Within.

You can see Jesus taking it all in, listening to story after story. The disciples can’t get their reports out quickly enough, / recounting what happened on their missionary journey: / the healings in Jesus’ Name, driving Satan out of people’s lives. The joy swelling in Jesus’ heart was growing so rapidly and intensely that His heart burst into prayer.

“Thank you, Father, that these little ones, these children know you as I know you. You are becoming their Father, too”. The word Jesus used was not children, but “napios.”

It’s a term that describes a ‘babe in its mother’s arms.’ Sure, they are grown men in the world, but they are babes in the Kingdom of Heaven, which has nothing to do with maturity or immaturity. It is a heart attitude that allows our thoughts and desires to surrender to Jesus.

Think of a baby crying out when it’s hungry. It can’t understand the pain in their stomach. It can only cry out from deep within, “Take away the pain.” St. Paul uses that image when he says the Holy Spirit groans in us in ways we cannot express in words. It’s a powerful sound deep in our hearts that reaches our Father’s ears in heaven.

Instinctively, it knows it will receive a response. It’s the moment Jesus reveals His Father to us through the love of the Holy Spirit.

We can know the Father of Jesus in our hearts. Just as the infant instinctively knows the food is coming, even when such an event is beyond its comprehension, we can hear the word of Jesus so clearly.

Gospel Challenge!
And it doesn’t happen just once. It’s this “cry” of the Holy Spirit deep within us whenever we are so helpless, so poor in spirit that the Father can’t help pouring out in our laps the treasures of heaven in abundance. Do you need to cry from the depths of your soul?

Love Your Neighbor!

Father Rick Pilger, IC
frrick@bscchurch.com