Weekly Bulletin 10rd July 2022

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Mon to Fri Mass @ 7pm. Sat -Vigil @ 6.30pm.    Sun 10.30am, 12noon & 4pm.  www.thegraan.com

Today is the Fifteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time: Today we hear in the Gospel the story of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:25-37). Pope Benedict wrote about this parable in his first encyclical letter dated 25/12/05 entitled “Deus Caritas Est”. “The parable of the Good Samaritan (cf. Lk 10:25-37) offers two particularly important clarifications. Until that time, the concept of “neighbour” was understood as referring essentially to one’s countrymen and to foreigners who had settled in the land of Israel; in other words, to the closely-knit community of a single country or people. This limit is now abolished. Anyone who needs me, and whom I can help, is my neighbour. The concept of “neighbour” is now universalised, yet it remains concrete. Despite being extended to all mankind, it is not reduced to a generic, abstract and undemanding expression of love, but calls for my own practical commitment here and now. The Church has the duty to interpret ever anew this relationship between near and far with regard to the actual daily life of her members” (Number 15).  Think about the poor injured man lying naked at the side of the road. The poor man is without signs of nationality or social status – both of which are indicated by clothing especially in 1^st century Judea. He is simply a person in need whose only claim is his need. Then we meet the other travellers – people of chance – some members of the religious establishment who would be expected to help an injured person. So the first big shock of the parable is that they pass by on the other side. But the major shock comes when it is a Samaritan that comes to his help. Centuries of pious reflection have dulled our sensibilities to the hatred that existed between the Jews and the Samaritans.  The Samaritans were despised, ostracised and hated by the Jews. The reason for this awful bigotry and bitterness is too long to go into here. Again Pope Benedict writes in his book on the reaction of the Good Samaritan on seeing the condition of the injured man “His heart is wrenched open. The Gospel uses the word that in Hebrew had originally referred to the mother’s womb and maternal care. Seeing this man in such a state is a blow that strikes him “viscerally” touching his soul. “He had compassion” – that is how we translate the text today, diminishing its original vitality. Stuck in his soul by the lightening flash of mercy, he himself now becomes a neighbour, heedless of any question or danger.” From: Jesus of Nazareth (Bloomsbury 2007 page 197). The ones who “passes by” the injured man are on the way to the Temple. To all intent the priest and Levite think the victim is dead and do not want to defile themselves. They are caught in a moral dilemma – to observe the Torah, which was their written law, on uncleanness or the Torah on love of neighbour. One Jewish scholar said that interpretation is nonsense they don’t help because they are afraid of being attacked themselves!  The Samaritan who is both an outsider and a layperson embodies the true interpretation of the law. This story summons us to solidarity with suffering men and women and tells us that such solidarity can come only when we acquire hearts of flesh and a compassionate vision. To fulfil the command to love God and neighbour, one must often become the Samaritan, the outsider taking a risk in a hostile world. The Gospel today ends with the words “Go and do likewise” (10:37). Live it! Believe it! Do it! Jesus is telling the lawyer who asked the question to follow in the footsteps of his enemy…..to let go of his smugness, to open his heart and transcend the boundaries of his limited view of “neighbour” and to act as a “neighbour” to anyone in need. Our present Pope Francis speaking on the theme of the Good Samaritan declared: “As I have frequently observed, if a choice has to be made between a bruised Church which goes out to the streets and a Church suffering from self-absorption, I certainly prefer the first.  Those “streets” are the world where people live and where they can be reached, both effectively and affectively”. (Message for Communication Sunday 2014)

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Feasts for the Week:  Monday: St. Benedict (480-547) Patron of Europe. Noted for his wise gentle Rule followed by the Benedictines & Cistercians. Friday: St. Bonaventure (1221-1274) Called the “Seraphic Doctor.” Bonaventure was the seventh Minister General of the Franciscans and held that position for 17 years. Known as the Second Founder of the Franciscans, A theologian of note especially on the experience of God and the centrality of Jesus Christ in the life of faith

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Thanks for the collection last week. It came to £1440. We are so grateful for your generosity and support of our mission here in the Graan. Thanks to our Ushers, Ministers of the Eucharist, and Readers and all who help in our weekend liturgies. Thank you to July’s Church Cleaning Group for their continued hard work.

Our Shop is open:  Monday to Friday  from 9.30am – 7pm and  Sunday  from 9.30am -5pm.

We have a range religious items, statues, pictures, medals, candles, rosary beads, etc.

Guild Mass Cards: Deceased, Mass Bouquets, Get Well, Wedding, Christening, Graduation, New Born, Special Occasion, etc.

Confessions & Duty: Sun & Mon – No Duty. Mass Mon (11^th July) @ 7pm: Arthur.       Monday to Friday Mass @ 7pm.

Duty: Tues 2pm – 5pm  –  Brian.    Wed – Victor.  Thurs – Charles   Fri –  Anthony.    Sat 5 – 6pm. Sat –  Anthony.