October 9. The Rosen family had always made it a point to be self-sufficient and never ask for anything from anyone. Was it pride on their part?   The Da Silva family also had a family tradition never to lend anything to others.  “You don’t know when you’re going to get it back, so it’s better not to lend.”  That was their attitude.  When the two families met at the new parish synodal dialogue group meeting it was interesting to hear them share their particular points of view.

Reflect, share, act. Scripture:  Which of you who has a friend will go to him at midnight and say to him, “Friend, lend me three loaves, for a friend of mine has arrived on a journey and I have nothing to set before him.”  Luke 11:5-13.  Pope Francis:   The temptation to focus exclusively on justice made us forget that this is only the first, albeit necessary and indispensable step.  But the church needs to go beyond and strive for a higher and more important goal.  MV10.   JUBILEE.   Surely we need to “abound in hope” (cf. Rom 15:13), so that we may bear credible and attractive witness to the faith and love that dwell in our hearts; that our faith may be joyful and our charity enthusiastic; and that each of us may be able to offer a smile, a small gesture of friendship, a kind look, a ready ear, a good deed, in the knowledge that, in the Spirit of Jesus, these can become, for those who receive them, rich seeds of hope,    SNC 18, Act and Pray for the needs of families and our calling to become true missionary disciples.