Isn’t it a beautiful time of year? It makes us think of and remember Easter, not only this year, but all the Easters past when Christ made the supreme sacrifice when he died for our sins. In comparison any sacrifice we make for him is minute. According to the dictionary, Spring is a period of new beginning. It is a time of hope after a long, long winter. A time for us to share our many blessings through our generous financial support of the HOPE Appeal.
The Bishop asks that we be reminded once a year about the HOPE Appeal and the dynamic potential it has to help us care for our neighbor. Remember when you did something special how it made you feel really good inside? Would you consider doing without something for yourself to help your neighbor? In the Acts of the Apostles we read “Remember the word of the Lord Jesus that he himself said, It is more blessed to give than receive.” In Matthew, Chapter 25, Jesus says, “I tell you whenever you did this for one of the least important of these brothers of mine, you did it for me.” A teacher of the law came up and tried to trap Jesus. “Teacher,” he asked, “What must I do to receive eternal life?” Jesus said, “What do the scriptures say? How do you interpret them?” The man answered, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your strength, and with all your mind, and love your neighbor as you love yourself.” “You are right,” Jesus replied; “Do this and you will live.” But the teacher of the law wanted to justify himself, so he asked Jesus, “Who is my neighbor?”
Jesus went on to explain about a man who was attacked by robbers and left in the road nearly dead. Both a priest and a Levite walked by him and offered no help. When the Samaritan came by he treated his wounds and took the man to an inn, paying them to take care of him.
Jesus concluded, “In your opinion, which one of these three acted like a neighbor toward the man attacked by the robbers?” The teacher of the law answered, “The one who was kind to him.” Jesus replied, “You go then and do the same.”
Dawn Odinek
