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Dear Parishioners: Father Joe and I are most grateful for the warm welcome to Saint Robert's. We look forward to praying and working together. The parable of the Good Samaritan is a very familiar passage. Why was it that only the Samaritan stopped to render assistance? Why did the priest and Levite pass by the beaten man? What would we do in the same situation? Having ministered in the city of San Francisco for all twenty-six years of priesthood we encountered daily those who were homeless and poor. Experts told us never to give money. Faxes were sent by the Archdiocese warning us of scams that were taking place. When people came to the door looking for help, it was easy to have hardened hearts. When people approached us on the streets it was easy to walk by and pretend not to notice. I had the opportunity to meet and drive Mother Teresa when she was in town. She spoke of holding a dying man in her arms and seeing the face of Jesus in his face. It was much more difficult to ignore people who came asking for help. One of our workers from St. Vincent de Paul told me that he would much prefer to be scammed by one person than to miss someone who really was in need. To live the greatest commandments remains a challenge for each one of us. In our own midst there are people who are spiritually and emotionally in need. Let us resolve not to walk by, pretending not to see. Father Bruce |
