Father Rick’s Two Minute Homily for Friday, 3rd Week in Lent

March 28, 2025, Mark 12:28-34

https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/032825.cfm

Don’t ask any more questions.

Think back to a time when your heart was ready to burst. You couldn’t take anymore. It could be an experience on 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 different challenge that pushes you past your limit. It happened in the gospel we just heard/read. 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 another direction He wants us to grow into.

Gospel Challenge:

Could Jesus challenge me to love God and my neighbor by sacrificing personal time I give up for more time with Him and my family/friends? I may need to assess the amount of time I could volunteer in a parish ministry or worthy cause. 

If I am at the point I 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.  He will be with you, guiding and supporting you every step of the way.

Love Your Neighbor:

Peace be with you.

Fr. Rick Pilger, I.C.

 pastor@bscchurch.com