EXPLORE THE SUNDAY GOSPEL
The Greatest Commandment & The Parable of the Good Samaritan
There was a scholar of the law who stood up to test Jesus and said,
"Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?"
Jesus said to him, "What is written in the law?
How do you read it?"
He said in reply,
"You shall love the Lord, your God,
with all your heart,
with all your being,
with all your strength,
and with all your mind,
and your neighbor as yourself."
He replied to him, "You have answered correctly;
do this and you will live."
But because he wished to justify himself, he said to Jesus,
"And who is my neighbor?"
Jesus replied,
"A man fell victim to robbers
as he went down from Jerusalem to Jericho.
They stripped and beat him and went off leaving him half-dead.
A priest happened to be going down that road,
but when he saw him, he passed by on the opposite side.
Likewise a Levite came to the place,
and when he saw him, he passed by on the opposite side.
But a Samaritan traveler who came upon him
was moved with compassion at the sight.
He approached the victim,
poured oil and wine over his wounds and bandaged them.
Then he lifted him up on his own animal,
took him to an inn, and cared for him.
The next day he took out two silver coins
and gave them to the innkeeper with the instruction,
'Take care of him.
If you spend more than what I have given you,
I shall repay you on my way back.'
Which of these three, in your opinion,
was neighbor to the robbers' victim?"
He answered, "The one who treated him with mercy."
Jesus said to him, "Go and do likewise."
MEET OUR EXTENDED FAMILY
Blessed Carlos Manuel Cecilio Rodríquez Santiago (Feast Day July 13)
November 22, 1918-July 13, 1963
Carlos was born in Caguas, Puerto Rico. He suffered from a condition called ulcerative colitis, which made him unable to complete school. Still, Carlos was an avid reader, and studied the liturgy closely. He even published two magazines, called Liturgy and Christian Culture. Carlos worked tirelessly to promote the renewal of the liturgy and restore lost liturgical customs.
He was a strong advocate for restoring the Easter Vigil to a nighttime celebration, and in 1951, Pope Pius XII updated the Easter Vigil liturgy and moved it to the evening. One of Carlos' favorite sayings about the Easter Vigil was Vivimos para esa noche, meaning "We live for this night." This is the line engraved on his tomb, located in the Cathedral of Caguas. Blessed Carlos is the first Puerto Rican, the first Caribbean-born, and first layperson in U.S. history to be beatified.
TAKE TIME TO CHAT
Which is harder . . . to love God with everything you have or to love your neighbor as yourself?
In today's Gospel story, Jesus teaches us that everyone is our neighbor, which means that we should love everyone. Are there any people in your life who are hard to love?
Share a time when someone helped you in a time of need. In what way was God present at that moment?
"We live for this night" was a favorite saying about the Easter Vigil for Blessed Carlos Manuel Cecilio Rodríquez Santiago. What do you think that phrase means?
FAMILY FUN
Hiking
The Good Samaritan was on a journey when he stopped to help his neighbor; go on your own hiking journey today.
Find a local park or hiking trail to explore a path. Be sure to stretch, stay hydrated, and follow posted safety guidelines. Take time to appreciate the beauty of God's creation and be friendly to the people you meet along the way.
RECIPE OF THE WEEK
Oil and Wine Steak Marinade
In today's Gospel, oil and wine were used to heal the man who was hurt by the robbers. Those two ingredients can also make your steaks taste delicious!
1 ½ cups cooking oil
¾ cup soy sauce
2 Tbsp Worcestershire sauce
1 Tbsp fresh ground pepper
2 Tbsp salt
1 cup dry red wine
1 tsp dried parsley
(optional) 2 Tbsp dry mustard
(optional) 1/3 cup fresh lemon juice
In a quart-size Mason jar, combine all ingredients. Cover and shake vigorously. Pour over steaks and let them marinade for 2 hours or more. Cook steaks as preferred. Any leftover marinade can be frozen for future use.
FAMILY PRAYER
Act of Love
This simple prayer will help you be obedient to God's command to love our neighbor. Consider naming your neighbors and any intentions on their behalf.
O Lord God, we love you above all things and we love our neighbor for your sake because you are the highest, infinite and perfect good, worthy of all our love. We pray especially for [insert names and intentions here]. In this love we intend to live and die. Amen.
LITURGY LINK
Jesus tells us to "Go and do likewise" in today's Gospel. At the end of Mass, the priest or deacon says something similar.
What does he say?
FAMILY CHALLENGE
Do something special for a neighbor this week. Here are some ideas: yard work, grocery shopping, cooking a meal, a friendly visit, etc.
