Friday, 17th Week in Ordinary Time August 4, 2023

Fr. Rick’s Two Minute Homily for Friday, 17th Week in Ordinary Time

August 4, 2023, Matthew 13: 54-58

https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/080423.cfm

How do we know Jesus?

When soldiers or sports stars come home in small-town America, they roll out the red carpet. You can hear the band and see the stage where they will introduce their heroes.

So why not do the same thing for Jesus or a prophet? Jesus came out of the waters of his baptism by John, a different man. The private life he lived in Nazareth was behind him.

Baptism made Jesus a man for others. He couldn’t help but meet the needs of others. It was in his DNA. Because he is God, he had no limitations in meeting those needs. We call those miracles, but truly they are acts of compassion.

So why did the people of Nazareth reject someone from their town? Jesus was just too familiar with the people of His hometown. They knew him as Jesus the Carpenter but not Jesus the Messiah, who worked miracles. They could only see what they wanted to see and nothing more. Jesus was the son of a carpenter and nothing more.

Today, consider Jesus revealing himself to us in a new or different way. Have we heard something repeatedly in the Scriptures or our spiritual reading? Let’s not make the same mistake and have preconceived ideas about Jesus based on how we knew him in the past.

Gospel Challenge:

We can avoid this danger by joining St. Faustina and placing all our trust in Jesus. My friends, do not be afraid to take a second look at Jesus!

Peace everyone.

IGNITE THE FIRE!

Fr. Rick Pilger, IC

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