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,
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