Gospel: (Luke 10: 25-37) 

“And who is my neighbor?  Jesus replied: “There was a man going down from Jerusalem to Jericho who fell in with robbers.  They stripped him, beat him, and then went off leaving him half-dead.  A priest happened to be going down the same road; he saw him but continued on.  Likewise there was a Levite who came the same way; he saw him and went on.  But a Samaritan who was journeying along came on him and was moved to pity at the sight.  He approached him and dressed his wounds, pouring in oil and wine as a means to heal. He then hoisted him on his own beast and brought him to an inn, where he cared for him.  The next day he took out two silver pieces and gave them to the innkeeper with the request: “Look after him, and if there is any further expense I will repay you on my way back.”  Which of these three, in your opinion, was neighbor to the man who fell in with the robbers?”  The answer came, “The one who treated him with compassion.” Jesus said to him, “Then go and do the same.”  

Reflection: 

“The humanity of our days seems comparable to the traveler of whom the Gospel speaks…in our turn, weak Samaritans, worldly and people of little faith that we are, let us dare nonetheless to approach this great sick one.  Perhaps it will not be frightened of us. Let us try to probe its wounds and pour in oil, soothing its ear with words of consolation and peace; then, when its eyes are opened, we will place it in the hands of those whom God has constituted as the guardians and doctors of souls, who are also, in a way, our innkeepers in our pilgrimage here below, so as to give our errant and famished spirits the holy word for nourishment and the hope of a better world for a shield.” –Bl.Frederic Ozanam-  (Ramson,  Praying with Frederic, p. 82)  

Discussion: (Share your thoughts on the readings after a moment of silence) 

Frederic does not call Christians “good Samaritans,” as one would expect, but “weak Samaritans.”  How are you in your Conference, indeed weak human beings who attend to other weak human beings by acts of compassion?                                                                                                              

Closing Prayer: A Litany in Honor of Blessed Frederic Ozanam

Frederic Ozanam, defender of faith, pray for us.

Frederic Ozanam, promoter of hope, pray for us.

Frederic Ozanam, apostle of charity, pray for us.

Frederic Ozanam, exemplary husband and father, pray for us.

Frederic Ozanam, lover of poverty and the poor, pray for us.

Frederic Ozanam, advocate of the dignity of the human person, pray for us.

Frederic Ozanam, servant of the truth, pray for us.

Frederic Ozanam, model for Catholic teachers and professors, pray for us.

Frederic Ozanam, disciple of St. Vincent De Paul, pray for us.

Frederic Ozanam, faithful son of the Church, pray for us.

Frederic Ozanam, our intercessor at the throne of God, pray for us. Amen