Friday 14th Week in Ordinary Time July 12, 2024

Fr. Rick’s Two-Minute Homily for Friday 14th Week in Ordinary Time
July 12, 2024, Matthew 10:16-23
https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/071224.cfm

Not everyone will welcome the Good News of Jesus.

Yesterday, we saw how Jesus sent his disciples on a mission. They soon learned that they could depend on God for everything. They experienced that dependence on the generous hospitality of their hosts.

So today, Jesus prepared those first missionaries of the Church for the possibility that not all people would be as welcoming. “No servant is greater than their master.” Jesus let them know that people rejected 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?

And like their Lord, they might experience trials before judges and even be put to death because they refuse to take part in pagan sacrifices. Today, these persecutions continue in families, businesses, and schools. Families are divided over religion.

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:
The bottom line is to do right before God. Do nothing to lose HIs honor even if we lose our business, family, or sometimes our life. Let us pray for thousands of refugees who have lost everything through the persecution of ISIS and other political factions. May the grace of so many martyrs be ours.

Love Your Neighbor!

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