Fr. Rick’s Two-Minute Homily for Friday 14th Week in Ordinary Time  

 July 11, 2025, Matthew 10:16-23 

https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/071125.cfm

Not everyone will welcome the Good News of Jesus.  

Yesterday, we celebrated the courage of the early missionaries as they embarked on their mission. They learned to depend on God for everything and were blessed with the generosity of their hosts’ hospitality. 

Today, Jesus prepared those first missionaries of the Church for the possibility that not everyone would be as welcoming. “No servant is greater than their master.” Jesus let them know people would reject Jesus, so they, too, may experience rejection. 

He said that even their families and friends would persecute them as they did Jesus in his hometown of Nazareth. Remember, they wanted to lead him to the brow of the hill and throw him over the cliff?  

Just as their Lord did, they might face trials before judges and even be put to death for their faith. These persecutions continue in families, businesses, and schools, but we stand united in our faith, despite the divisions it may cause. 

I know people who were engaged to be married and left their future spouse because they would not consent to baptism for their children. Private businesses have gone to the Supreme Court because their consciences would not allow them to offer birth control to their employees through the Affordable Health Care Act. The list goes on and on. 

Gospel Challenge: 

Our ultimate goal is to do right in the sight of God, even if it means losing our business, family, or sometimes our lives. Let us pray for the thousands of refugees who have lost everything due to persecution for their faith. May we be guided by the grace of the martyrs and find courage in the Holy Spirit.

Love Your Neighbor!

Father Rick Pilger, IC 
www.pastor@bscchurch.com