- Which milieux of Good Samaritan work have you been most active in: organizations, individual, or family? How do you know God has called you to this ministry?
- Recalling what this document says about the teaching of Jesus in Matthew 25 (separating the sheep from the goats), how does doing good for those who suffer affect your salvation? Why is this not a contradiction of the doctrine of being saved by grace? Note: being “saved by grace” means we are saved by accepting in faith what Jesus did for us on the Cross, rather than by earning our way into heaven through good works.
- Name one thing you learned from this document that is most helpful, most life-changing, or most significant.
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March 20th, 2006 at 3:45 pm
1. I have felt called to be a Good Samaritan in many different ways. Sometimes it has been as simple as shoveling snow for an elderly neighbor or taking communion to the homebound. I am an Elizabeth minister in our Church. We pray for those who are expecting and we are there to help those who have had miscarriages or experienced the death of a child. I felt called to this since I understand the suffering in the loss of a child. I volunteer once a week at Birthright where we can give hope to single mothers. Again I understand how hard it is for single mothers since I am divorced and raised 3 sons. Between the Elizabeth Ministry and Birthright I became involved with the baby who was brain damaged. I tried to help this mother who was suffering because of her son. I am a catechist for 8th grade and I hope that I can plant a seed with my life experience that will help these students grow.
2. We are saved by grace when we are united to the Body of Christ but we are separated from Christ when we reject him. We reject him when we fail to help those who are suffering and we share in his suffering when we have compassion for others.
3. It has helped me to see suffering in a whole new light and I think it will help me to help others who are blaming God for their suffering. I talked to a friend yesterday who was upset with God because of two of her friends who are suffering. One is a mutual friend who lost everything in a fire but the family was safe. Our Church will have the opportunity as the Body of Christ to be Good Samaritans to this family. This family will have shared in the suffering of Christ and will be able to help those who start over after losing everything. I have a friend who has been fighting cancer for years but always has a smile and never complains. I saw her today and told her how much I admire her and I see Christ in the way she has joined her suffering to Christ. I can see how having compassion is sharing in the Passion of Christ. Today I told her that she is an example of Christ and his suffering.
December 4th, 2007 at 12:47 am
1. I like Gramsy answer to #1, we’re called daily to be a Good Samaritan. There is a special vocation that I do feel called to, as well, and that is the vocation in teaching couples about natural family planning. By teaching couples about their fertility and how to appreciate it, I believe it gives them opportunities to grow more intimately closer to one another and to God. Also, it helps to reveal themselves as God created them to be. In other words, they have the opportunity to grow more fully the persons whom God created them to be. How do I know that I’m called to this? That is a good question. There are so many hurdles, one wonders if it is truly a calling or merely stubbornness on my part. The teaching of natural family planning is so counter-culture, and my gifts and talents are limited. But I continue onward.
2. In the vocation of teaching about natural family planning, it is a good work to do for others because there is so much suffering in our world because of sexual sins–divorce, pornography, domestic abuse, children born out of wedlock, STDs, abortion, etc. This Samaritan work is born in response to Christ’s love for us on the Cross. It is natural to respond in love because of His Love for us.
3. I again like Gramsy answer to this. I learned how suffering can be redemptive.
July 15th, 2008 at 3:29 am
1. One area I have been a good Samaritan is that I sponsor children overseas with World Vision. With my sponsorship, I provide basic food and education for the children. I wish I could sponsor more poor children.
2. Doing good for others who suffer bring eternal rewards for me. I do not do good works only for rewards, but as serving love for others and first to God.
3. The main thing I learned is to have courage when suffering. In heaven all suffering will cease which brings me hope. The more I can suffer for Christ on this earth the better. The more I can crucify and mortify my flesh, the better (Galations 2:20).
September 22nd, 2008 at 9:35 am
1. This past summer I was pulled in many directions by God. At the time I didn’t realize that I was carrying out the commandment of “Love your neighbor”.
My role of the Good Samaritan was played out by serving two of my close neighbors. On one side was my niece who suffers with Parkinson’s disease and on the other was my neighbor whose daughter is an alcoholic/drug abuser.
As difficult as it was, I found myself relentlessly giving support to both of these people. Since I enjoy art, I invited my niece to join me at art classes and then to return to my home where we would paint together. During this time, my niece forgot about her illness and peacefully worked on her paintings. I gained from these occasions, because I felt the tranquility that came over us. I never thought about this as the work of a Good Samaritan, I simply did it because it brought my niece such pleasure.
My neighbor’s daughter was being treated in a rehab center for alcoholics. She left the facility and my friend had no idea where she was. The anxiety and fear that my neighbor faced was incredible. I went to her and attempted to calm her by listening and praying. Eventually her missing daughter was found and I rejoiced with my friend.
I played the role of the Good Samaritan all summer and am still carrying out the same role. I know now how you felt Terry, when you described your friend who was an alcoholic. Unfortunately, I do not foresee a happy ending in this case. I have told my friend that she has done “enough”, but she continues to rescue her daughter each time she falls down.
I saw my role as a Good Samaritan here, because I could not abandon my friend when she needed me most. I helped her carry her cross when she grew weak by giving her a shoulder to cry on.
2. a. In reading Matthew 25:40, Jesus explained the importance of doing good as the reason for salvation or damnation. “Truly I say to you as you did it to one of the least of these, my brethren, you did it to me”.
Helping others unites us totally to Christ. I did not realize that the Good Samaritan in me was going to affect my salvation. I now realize this is the way Jesus wants us to live – by loving others and helping others who suffer.
b. This approach to life is not a contradiction of the doctrine of being saved by Grace because the two are connected. Our faith fills us with Grace and Grace is what enables us to care for others at times when it is difficult for us to give.
There is a connection between suffering and love. The world of human love opened up because Jesus gave up his comfort in Heaven and suffered and died for us.
3. There are actually two very significant statements in this document that were most helpful to me.
· “Suffering is present in the world in order to release love – in order to give birth to works of love toward neighbors, in order to transform the whole of human civilization into a civilization of love”.
· “Loving or not loving, caring or not caring, helping others who suffer or not helping them takes us to heaven or leads us away”.
I totally agree with Gramsy’s answer. This class has also helped me to view suffering in an entirely new light. I now understand that our suffering brings us closer to God and to salvation. I look at suffering very differently now. I also admit that in the past I was not always open to the suffering of others, but I now will attempt to bring this message to those who are suffering in hope that they will stop blaming God.
December 4th, 2008 at 10:17 am
1. My favorite ministry is bringing the Eucharist to the sick and homebound. I feel that I am bringing them relief from their suffering and a deeper comfort than any human can offer. It is a ministry of great privilege for me. This ministry creates a very strong bond between the suffering person and myself. I come to understand how much they are suffering because they begin to share their deepest thoughts and concerns with me. In many cases they become very open about their impending death in a way that they cannot share with their family members.
It is such a joy to walk into the room and see their face light up because I have brought Jesus to them. I am always humbled at how they become attached to me, knowing full well that it is not because of my sparkling personality, but because I am now their link to Jesus in the Eucharist. When they pass away it also humbling to know that I was the last to bring Jesus to them in this life, before they saw Him face to face in the next. This ministry has also deepened my understanding of the Communion of Saints as I know they pray for me from eternity.
I know that I have been called to this work because when I have the Euchrist in the pyx in my hand I feel that I could walk through fire to bring it to someone who is suffering.
2. When one claims to have a deep love for God, but can ignore the sufferings of those around him, that to me is an empty faith. If I truly try to understand how much God loves me and how much Jesus suffered on the cross for me, how can I not be moved by the sufferings of others around me? I have been saved by God’s grace but I must do my part - to me that is to be tuned in to those He puts in my path. I must offer relief from any kind of suffering because of love of God, not for what I can get out of it. I have found great meaning in the words of Pope John Paul II when he said so many times that we must recognize the dignity of every human person from conception to a natural death. This is how I try to relate to all people I meet.
In my faith sharing groups I also try to point out to people that when we are suffering, we must accept the offer of help or comfort from other people, as that is God ministering to us. Most people I meet at church groups are doers, I like to remind them we must be receivers as well. If we do not accept the comfort and kindness of others when we are in need we are rejecting God.
3. The idea that will stay with me the most is that evil and suffering are here in our world because WE allow it, not because God allows it. I feel that I will have a better response the next time someone says, “How could God let this happen”?
Thank you for offering these classes.
October 2nd, 2009 at 7:13 am
1. I am called daily to be a Good Samaritan to carry out the commandment “Love Your Neighbour”. As a Christian, I am bound to answer the question “Who is my neighbour?”. As a Sunday School teacher in my church and a Small Christian Coordinator, I do all I can to lead the flock Christ has given me to know the way towards the Kingdom of God and to see that their In the Son of God increases as the Holy Spirit guides me. I know that God has called me to this service because everytime I go for service to others I get some encouragement and some supernatural power that opens up my mind and increases my understanding of the Scripture I share with the faithfuls.
2.To answer this question, I am guided by the Letter from Saint James chapter 2 verse17 thatfaith without action is dead. The Bible tells us that we can be saved by grace when we are united to the Body of Christ and separated from Christ when we reject him by failing to help those in need (Suffer) c/w Mt25:40 when Jesus tells the righteous ” I tell you, whenever you did this for one of the least important, of these members of my family, you did it for me “. Failing to help tose in need, or in pain or those suffering leads to committinng a serious sin of ommission. For our Salvation to be complete, let us be united with Christ following his teachingsand actions and surely we shall inherit the kingdom of God.
3. I learned that Evangelization does not mean always verbalizing the messages of the Gospel but living it out. and that the Good News is alive in any workthat helps relieve the suffering of others. The Letter from Saint James 2:15 &16 says “Suppose amidst us there are brothers and sisters who need clothes and don’t have enough to eat. What good is there in saying to them, “God bless you,! Keep warm and eat well!’ I learned that charitable activities (social work) that we do in our Small Christian Communities are part of Evangelization.
May 28th, 2010 at 11:39 pm
1 God has given me a gift of remembering stories, and little incidents and so my Samartian gift is that of encouragements. It may be a little word to someone on the street or at church, or a work collegue. I keep praciting it because the more you use it the more you get. I see the relief and a the light come into peoples eyes which is very rewarding.
2 Sheep differ from goats in that a sheep will following the shepherd or the bellwether sheep [one that sets an example ] Goats will roam and do as they please. Goats tails are up - hence their butts are exposed - sheep have their tails down [covered by grace and using the sacrament of confession!] Accepting Jesus on the cross brings about a willingness to follow, and to be led by his example - acceptance leads to love in action
3 This course has given me peace. To know that God is good and uses suffering for good. To know that he calls us to compassion - to be a part of the solution - not the problem. To choose to live for others and not for ourselves. I am praying more, and seeking the guidance of the Holy Spirit more in living my daily life.
What can I do for this person - show me what they need? How can I feed them Lord? and I am learning to wait for him to answer instead of filling in the silence myself.
Thank you for offering this course. God bless you!