News - July 2022 RSS Feed

One of the most challenging points of conversion for those seeking a deeper relationship with the Lord has to do with how we handle material wealth. Today’s Gospel could not be clearer. Jesus points out that the rich man in today’s Gospel is a fool for thinking he can control the rest of his life through wealth.

Welcome to Father Richard O’Nyamwaro, S.J., director of the Mission Office for the Apostles of Jesus Missionaries. They were founded in 1968 by two Comboni Missionaries in Uganda for the purpose of the Evangelization of Africa and other parts of the world. Father Richard will speak at all the Masses this weekend about the needs for his religious community, the Apostles of Jesus.

This weekend, parishes throughout the Archdiocese of New Orleans and in the United States will take up the 138th annual National Black and Indian Mission Collection. The support of this collection helps build the Church in African American, Native American, and Alaska Native communities from coast to coast. The Archdiocese of New Orleans does receive grants from this collection.

We come today to listen to God’s Word and celebrate the Eucharist. Gathered in this place, we look around and see our neighbors. Many of them are people much like us. The neighbor in today’s Gospel—the Good Samaritan—is not. Samaritans were seen as outcasts by the Jewish people who frequented the road from Jerusalem to Jericho. It was this foreigner, this outsider, this stranger, who is the true neighbor to the Jewish victim. As we hear Jesus tell us this parable, may it expand our understanding of “neighbor” as it moves our hearts to reach out to those not like us.

In our mission as disciples of the Lord Jesus, He instructs us to say two things every time to everyone, regardless of how we think they will respond and whether or not they welcome us and the Gospel we bear, First, we say, “Peace to this household.” Even before we know whom we are speaking to or what their reaction will be, we bless them with peace by our words and our deeds. The Gospel will never be heard by force but by peace. Second, whether or not we are welcomed, we proclaim through out words, attitudes, and actions that “the kingdom of God is at hand.” The invitation of God’s reign is given without judgment—freely to all. Our mission is not to change people’s minds but to be Christ’s presence of peace— visible signs of God’s reign in our world.