Fr. Rick’s One Minute Homily 12-04-2021

 Matthew 9:27-35; 10:1; 5a, 6-8

ONE SHEEP AT A TIME. THAT’S ALL I CAN CARRY

Some days I wonder, ‘How in the world am I going to get through all of that needs to be done. Where do I start? And someone walks into the office who needs to see a priest. God bless them for coming. I can see a mother looking at the wash waiting to be done, and she considers all the other things that need her attention. Then the baby cries. 

Our lives are so busy, and we have those moments when we are overwhelmed. That’s when I answer that first email, one email at a time; one phone call at a time. That’s when the mother looks at the pile of dirty clothes and picks up one shirt, and she throws it in the washing machine. Amazing! We have the energy and motivation to do one email, one dirty shirt at a time. As for the whole lot, forget it. I can’t do it, and I walk away.

Jesus looked at the whole crowd of people and had compassion for them. He knew their pain, and it was his pain too. With one Body, Jesus couldn’t reach out to all of them. So, He sent His disciples to the lost sheep of Israel (Church). Jesus gave them his authority to reach them. His authority is a willingness to serve others. 

You and I have to pray every day for His authority, a willingness to befriend a lost sheep of the Church. Who comes to mind immediately? That is the person you pray for every day. “Pray for the Lord of the harvest to send laborers to His harvest.” You are that laborer. Pray, and then go! One sheep at a time.

Ignite the Fire

Fr. Rick Pilger, IC 

 www.bscchurch.com