Good Samaritans

If you type the phrase “Good Samaritan” into Dictionary.com, you will find the definition: “a person who gratuitously gives help or sympathy to those in distress.” Jesus’ parable of the Good Samaritan is so famous that it has found its way into the dictionary! Jesus tells this parable in answer to the question, “Who is my neighbor?” All of us are called to be neighbors to one another, helping those who need help and receiving help from others as well.

Most of us can recall times when someone has helped us. There are many good people in this world, and sometimes a person we have never met will appear at just the right time to give us the assistance we need. Hopefully we can also recall times when we have been the person giving help; opportunities to do good for others are all around us.And beyond the assistance we give to people whom we encounter in daily life, we can give the assistance of our prayers to anyone we want to help—whether they are in this world or the next. I know that I have been helped a lot by the prayers of many good people here at St. Edward the Confessor and San Felipe de Jesús; thank you for this! Your prayers are a great help to me. I promise my prayers for you as well.

As we hear the parable of the Good Samaritan during Mass this weekend, let’s give thanks for the Good Samaritans in our lives, and let’s do our best to be Good Samaritans to others. In particular, let’s pray for everyone who needs our prayers.We have the ability to do so much good; let’s never settle for less!

Gratefully yours,

Independence Day

This Monday our country celebrates the anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence.The last sentence of that document, right before the signatures of our Founding Fathers, contains an important phrase: “with firm reliance on the protection of Divine Providence.”

“With firm reliance on the protection of Divine Providence”: Someone could say, “That doesn’t sound like a Declaration of independence; it sounds like a declaration of dependence.” And they would be right. Our Founding Fathers declared their independence from an oppressive foreign power, but they also declared their dependence on God.

This teaches us an important principle that is almost never stated: freedom and independence are not the same thing. Freedom requires dependence on the only one who can make us free. This is true politically and socially; it is also true (and especially important) morally. The only way we can be free from sin (the most oppressive and tyrannical force that exists) is to be completely dependent on the one who frees us from sin; that is, of course, Our Lord.

May the Lord bless our nation on this weekend, and may we always show our “firm reliance on the protection of Divine Providence.”

Gratefully yours,

Vacation Time

There is a time and place for everything (see Ecclesiastes 3:1); and summer is often a time for vacations. It is so important to get away and have a change from our usual routine.In the gospels Jesus even tells his Apostles at a very busy time, “Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.” (Mk. 6:31) I don’t know if I am going to manage any vacation this summer, although I am good about getting rest on my day off. I certainly hope you will be able to find time to travel and enjoy rest and recreation.

Of course, we all know that we should never take a vacation from our relationship with the Lord and his Church. In practical terms, this means remembering to pray every day (life is so much better with prayer!) and to participate in Mass on Saturday evening or Sunday. Among the many ways to find Mass near you is the website www.masstimes.org; on this site all you have to do is enter your city and state or your zip code, and information about nearby Masses is yours.

Some of you know that on June 15 I had cataract surgery on my right eye.It was a good and successful surgery, and I am now seeing through my right eye with a level of clarity and detail I have never experienced in my life. God has really placed us in a beautiful world! If possible, during your vacation find opportunities to enjoy the beauty of creation. Thanks to my surgery, this beauty seems more wonderful than ever to me. How blessed we are!

Another recent event was the 38th anniversary of my priestly ordination on June 25th. When I was ordained, I had no idea that one day I would be sent to the beautiful parish of St. Edward the Confessor and San Felipe de Jesús. I thank God for this daily, and I pray for you daily. Please pray for me and for all priests.

Gratefully yours,