Bandaging the wounds of our brothers and sisters

I was deeply touched at Mass today by the homily given by a visiting priest, a member of the Society of African Missions.  http://www.smafathers.org/  The Gospel reading told us about the man, who when journeying from Jerusalem to Jericho, was attacked by robbers and left to die along the road. (see http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/071413.cfm)  A teacher of the Law, after reciting the two great commandments for Jesus:  “Love the Lord your God with your whole heart, with your whole soul and with all your strength and your neighbor as yourself,” asked Jesus:   “Who is my neighbor?”

Jesus then told the story of the Good Samaritan who, unlike the priest and the Levite who passed by, stopped to care for the injured man, bathed his wounds and took him to an Inn and paid the innkeeper to care of him.  Father Gustavo, the missionary who works with the people in Liberia, connected the Gospel with the work he does with the poor and homeless and with his need for financial assistance for his people.  He reminded us that we are very much called to be Good Samaritans, to stop and bathe the wounds of our brothers and sisters in Africa, and with our donations help the missionaries to care for them.

Father Robert Barron, in a meditation on the Gospel printed in The Magnificat leaflet for this month, compares the Good Samaritan to Jesus who stops and takes care of our wounds and our needs.  He paid the price of our salvation, not with coins but with his life. 

Money is tight for a lot of people these days.  As a Sister I do not have funds of my own.  But Father asked for our prayers as well.  In gratitude to Jesus for paying for our redemption, let us see if we have a few extra dollars to give to our brothers and sisters in need in places of our own choosing.  Our African brothers and sisters are suffering terribly.  Chances are we are not.  Can we help?