Keeping the Lenten Mission Alive in our Hearts - Part 3

Lenten Mission

This past Lent, Father Mark Thibodeaux, S.J. conducted a Parish Mission on the topics of “Cloister, Community, and Hospitality.” As a way for us to keep the mission’s message alive in our hearts, the handout for each session will be posted here on the blog. Today, “Session III: Hospitality” follows. Parishioners are encouraged to leisurely reflect on these handouts. Let the content inspire us to grow in the Lord Jesus.

Monsignor Robert Romero

Session III: Hospitality

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And behold, a lawyer stood up to put him to the test, saying, "Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?" He said to him, "What is written in the law? How do you read?" And he answered, "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength, and with all your mind; and your neighbor as yourself." And he said to him, "You have answered right; do this, and you will live." But he, desiring to justify himself, said to Jesus, "And who is my neighbor?"

Jesus replied, "A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and he fell among robbers, who stripped him and beat him, and departed, leaving him half dead. Now by chance a priest was going down that road; and when he saw him he passed by on the other side. So likewise a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side.

But a Samaritan, as he journeyed, came to where he was; and when he saw him, he had compassion, and went to him and bound up his wounds, pouring on oil and wine; then he set him on his own beast and brought him to an inn, and took care of him. And the next day he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper, saying, `Take care of him; and whatever more you spend, I will repay you when I come back.'

Which of these three, do you think, proved neighbor to the man who fell among the robbers?" He said, "The one who showed mercy on him." And Jesus said to him, "Go and do likewise."

Luke 10:25-37

For your reflection

Looking back on times that I have "helped" someone, do I recognize that I might have been responding to my own needs rather than to what the person actually wanted/needed? Speak with Jesus about this.

Can I recall a time when someone really listened to me as I told my story. How did that feel? Can i recall a time when I was that Keeper of the Stories for someone else What was that like? Speak with Jesus about this.

Do I answer and welcome Jesus into my home no matter what face he is wearing? Is there some person or type of person that is not welcome in my life? Is God calling me to open the door to this person at this time?

God's sign is that he makes himself small for us. This is how he reigns. He does not come with power and outward splendor. He does not want to overwhelm us with his strength. He takes away our fear of his greatness. He asks for our love: so he makes himself a child. He wants nothing other from us than our love, through which we spontaneously learn to enter into his feelings, his thoughts and his will. We learn to live with him and to practice with him that humility of renunciation that belongs to the very essence of love.

Pope Benedict XVI