Fr. Rick’s Two-Minute Homily for the 17th Sunday of the Year B
July 28, 2024, John 6:1-15
https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/072824.cfm
So Much For So Little
Imagine sitting in the Rays game on an average night with about 18 to 20,000 in attendance. That’s about the size of the crowd Jesus fed, or maybe even bigger, counting the women and children in today’s gospel. Look around that stadium, and you get a sense of what it is like to feed those people five loaves and two fish.
You can feel for poor Philip, who points out very nervously that a year’s salary wouldn’t even give each of them a morsel. Yet, in the Lord’s hands, their meager resources satisfy every hungry person with plenty to spare.
In preparing this homily, a lady I anointed came to mind. She was dying of emphysema and was under hospice care. I felt so helpless when I saw how much she’s changed since my last visit with her.
Her speech was very labored as she gasped for breath with every sentence. I could see the anxiety and stress in her eyes. So, without delay, I heard her confession and gave her the Last Anointing of the Church.
When I finished the prayers, she looked up at me with eyes that enveloped me in her peace and said, I’m ready now. I am so much better. God can take me whenever he is ready for me.
My few loaves of prayers and two fish of holy oil seemed so tiny, like nothing up against such suffering. But in the Lord’s hands, she experienced a miracle of God’s grace, bringing relief to her soul and easing the agony of her emphysema. I saw her smile when I waved goodbye.
The sweet lady reminds me of today’s gospel: so many times we are Philip, holding on to this basket of five loaves and two fish and saying, “How can this be of any good against such odds?”
Jesus asks us to hand over our little so he can work wonders. He can’t do anything with it while we still hold on to it and keep it ourselves. Which loaves and fish is God asking us to entrust to his care right now? What do we have so little of that we are afraid to give it to God?
Maybe it’s time Jesus needs to be with us, or perhaps we need to be someone else. Maybe it’s a talent we can share with others who need us. Someone may need our mercy, or we may need to apologize for something we did. We know people who need an invitation to come to Mass.
God will turn our poor words into seeds of grace if only we place them in His hands.
In so many ways, people starve without our bread and fish.
Gospel Challenge:
As Jesus performs the miracle of the Eucharist in this Mass, let’s renew our confidence in Him and hand over whatever loaves and fish he needs.
One thing is sure: if we do, we won’t regret it.
Love Your Neighbor!
Peace be with you.
Fr. Rick Pilger, IC
pastor
17th Sunday of the Year B July 28, 2024
Fr. Rick’s Two-Minute Homily for the 17th Sunday of the Year B
July 28, 2024, John 6:1-15
https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/072824.cfm
So Much For So Little
Imagine sitting in the Rays game on an average night with about 18 to 20,000 in attendance. That’s about the size of the crowd Jesus fed, or maybe even bigger, counting the women and children in today’s gospel. Look around that stadium, and you get a sense of what it is like to feed those people five loaves and two fish.
You can feel for poor Philip, who points out very nervously that a year’s salary wouldn’t even give each of them a morsel. Yet, in the Lord’s hands, their meager resources satisfy every hungry person with plenty to spare.
In preparing this homily, a lady I anointed came to mind. She was dying of emphysema and was under hospice care. I felt so helpless when I saw how much she’s changed since my last visit with her.
Her speech was very labored as she gasped for breath with every sentence. I could see the anxiety and stress in her eyes. So, without delay, I heard her confession and gave her the Last Anointing of the Church.
When I finished the prayers, she looked up at me with eyes that enveloped me in her peace and said, I’m ready now. I am so much better. God can take me whenever he is ready for me.
My few loaves of prayers and two fish of holy oil seemed so tiny, like nothing up against such suffering. But in the Lord’s hands, she experienced a miracle of God’s grace, bringing relief to her soul and easing the agony of her emphysema. I saw her smile when I waved goodbye.
The sweet lady reminds me of today’s gospel: so many times we are Philip, holding on to this basket of five loaves and two fish and saying, “How can this be of any good against such odds?”
Jesus asks us to hand over our little so he can work wonders. He can’t do anything with it while we still hold on to it and keep it ourselves. Which loaves and fish is God asking us to entrust to his care right now? What do we have so little of that we are afraid to give it to God?
Maybe it’s time Jesus needs to be with us, or perhaps we need to be someone else. Maybe it’s a talent we can share with others who need us. Someone may need our mercy, or we may need to apologize for something we did. We know people who need an invitation to come to Mass.
God will turn our poor words into seeds of grace if only we place them in His hands.
In so many ways, people starve without our bread and fish.
Gospel Challenge:
As Jesus performs the miracle of the Eucharist in this Mass, let’s renew our confidence in Him and hand over whatever loaves and fish he needs.
One thing is sure: if we do, we won’t regret it.
Love Your Neighbor!
Peace be with you.
Fr. Rick Pilger, IC
pastor
Share:
More Posts
Father Rick’s Two Minute Homily for Wednesday, 6th Week in Easter
May 13, 2026, John 16:12-15 https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/051326.cfm What is God Saying To Me Today? There are many ways to pray. The Holy Mass is the Source
Father Rick’s Two Minute Homily for Tuesday, 6th Week in Easter
May 12, 2026, John 16:5-11 https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/051226.cfm “Grief Has Filled Your Hearts.” Sometimes out of the blue, we bring to mind a moment when we lost
Father Rick’s Two Minute Homily for Monday, 6th Week in Easter
May 11, 2026, John 15:26-16:4ahttps://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/051126.cfm No More Waiting Anyone who has undergone a shoulder or knee replacement understands that it doesn’toccur instantly. Often, doctors explore
Father Rick’s Two Minute Homily for 6th Sunday in Easter A
Mother’s Day May 5, 2026, John 15:12-17 https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/050826.cfm Choosing to Love Every Wednesday, our Holy Father, Pope Leo, has a general audience in Rome. Recently,
Categories
Send Us A Message