Week of October 4-10

Examples. Whether we were born with them or our social situations afforded us interactions with specific people, we all have access to examples of how to live our lives.

Think about a couple people who have really made an impression on you and influenced your life. These individuals may know or not know how instrumental they have been in shaping your decisions. From good or bad, we all have learned how to do things because people have done so before us.

Jesus tells a parable only found in Luke’s Gospel about the Good Samaritan. The man does three things that Jesus acknowledges is a good example of how to live and interact with one another: the Samaritan acknowledges the person, embraces him and blesses him.

Luke 10:25-37

www.usccb.org/nab/bible/luke/luke10.htm#v25

Let his behavior be our example. We are invited to recognize people in our every day lives. Amidst the hecticness of the things we have to get to, perhaps we are called to be moved by compassion by someone else’s misfortune. Then with oils and other things we have, we are called to care for one another in a very intimate way. And finally, our blessing may come in the form of offering a proper referral and following up on the care extended.

With so much conversation about healthcare reform, let us, as people of faith, lead the conversation by example: let us recognize our neighbors and their needs, embrace those who need care by sharing what we have in an intimate way, and bless communities with continued gifts and resources of people and monies to live in the fullness of life.

We pray for the courage to be an example to others in the imitation of Christ.