-
News
-
October 9Looking for a way to be involved with St. Francis? Want a leadership role in the parish? Ready to make new friends? St. Francis Needs You! - Take a look at current vacant parish roles- click here...Read More
-
-
Dear Friends in Christ,
The opposite of love is not hate. It's apathy: ignoring a need, not caring, and doing nothing when there is something we can do to relieve the suffering. In this Sunday's Gospel reading, Jesus gives us the Parable of the Good Samaritan to explain that if we love God with our whole heart, our whole being, our whole strength, and our whole mind, we naturally care about other people, even those who are strangers, even those whom we're "not supposed to" like, and even when it costs us something personally.
Many of the problems that exist in our world today are allowed to continue because too many of us Christians – we who through Christ have the power to change the world – do not care enough to sacrifice our time and personal agendas to get involved. Much of the suffering that's endured in our families and workplaces and parishes would be stopped or relieved if we loved God enough to care about others enough to risk the cost of intervening.
How much do you love God? The answer lies in how much you're willing to sacrifice because of your love for others, which is the definition of love that Jesus taught with this parable and with his life.
None of us love God perfectly yet. Purgatory will be our time of painfully regretting our lack of love, while eagerly growing in love to enter into the fullness of God’s love in heaven. Until then, we have daily opportunities to purify our lives less painfully. Daily we're given tests to improve how well we love others.
Daily ask the Holy Spirit, your teacher, your empowerer, your source of holiness, to help you become more like Christ. Ask the Holy Spirit to help you love all others as Christ loves them.
By doing this spiritual exercise consistently, you will receive a new joy and an enlivening passion in dealing with others. You will feel greater love for God and you will experience his love for you much more intimately.
Questions for Personal Reflection:
Whom do you pass by and ignore when you see them in pain? Is there anyone you've recently walked away from because you didn't want to give up something (your time, pride, prejudice, feeling of inadequacy, resentment or unforgiveness)? Take it to the Sacrament of Confession to receive God's grace and help in loving others more fully.
Questions for Family & Community Faith Sharing:
Name a "Good Samaritan" you know or have read about. What did this person give up to serve others? How do such people find the ability to love so well? Apply this to a situation you've witnessed where apathy has contributed to someone's suffering. How could love make a difference?
Sincerely yours in Christ,
Rev. Augustine Nguyen -
Fr. Augustine
-
frnguyenstfrancisweston.orgPastor
-