Fr. Rick’s Two-Minute Homily for Friday, 23rd Week in Ordinary Time

September 12, 2025, Luke 6:49-42

https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/091225.cfm

Humility And Mercy

“When fully trained, every disciple will be like his teacher.” This is the grace of God, transforming us to embody the values rooted in the heart of Jesus. St. Claude de la Colombière showed us one of the most powerful paths to this transformation: “A humble person sees only their own faults.”

It is a sign of little virtue to notice the imperfections of others. We need Jesus to help us see only our own faults and to make excuses for the shortcomings that other people commit. 

As we go through our day, it’s often easier to blame others for their faults in our minds and hearts, and it’s straightforward to distance ourselves from them. We can feel so good about ourselves that we think we’re not like that person.  

We often project onto others what is most true about ourselves. That’s why we recognize and judge it quickly in others; it is a part of us. This is what Jesus meant when he spoke of ‘the splinter and the beam’. The splinter, a minor fault, will continue to grow in our eyes and become a beam, a larger fault, until we pray for the humility to see as Jesus sees and turn away from our sins.

If anyone had the right to accuse others of their faults, our Lord Jesus did on the cross. Although he was innocent, he willingly laid down his life for us while we were still sinners. His only cry from the cross was, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.”  

In His mercy, He always says when we sin: ‘Father, if they knew how much I love them, they would never sin.’ This means that God’s mercy, His loving forgiveness and compassion, is always available to us, even before His justice, which is His righteous judgment of our actions.

Gospel Challenge:
Blessed Rosmini taught us that justice is giving someone what is their due. Let us take up this challenge and act justly toward God, embracing His mercy for ourselves so we can be merciful to those who offend us. We can do this. All things are possible with God.

Love Your Neighbor!        

Father Rick Pilger, I.C.   

frrick@bscchurch.com