The Gospel is all about prayer. First there is the Our Father. Then Jesus says: “For everyone who asks, receives; and the one who seeks, finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened, How much more will the Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him?”
In today’s Gospel we have the familiar story of Martha and Mary. Martha shows great hospitality and does all the serving and finally goes to Jesus to ask him to tell her sister to help her, “Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me by myself to do the serving? Tell her to help me.” Jesus tells her that “Mary has chosen the better part and it will not be taken from her.” Mary had been sitting at Jesus’ feet listening to him speak. Hospitality and prayer are both needed.
In today’s Gospel, Jesus tells us the story of the good Samaritan. This is in answer to the question “And who is my neighbor?” Jesus tells us that we are all in this life together. Even enemies and strangers are our neighbors. The Samaritans and Jews were enemies, yet the several Jews passed by the beaten Jewish man and only the Samaritan stopped to help him. Jesus tells us “Go and do the likewise.”
Every year we plan our Parish Picnic as close to the Feast of St. Augustine as possible. Plan ahead and mark your calendar for Sunday, August 25, 2019 at the Berta Pavilion in St. Patrick’s Park from 12:30 – 6 PM.