A GOOD SAMARITAN- Plato, Prayer, and Caritas!

Pastor’s Column

SS Medford

15^thSunday in Ordinary Time

July 14, 2019

"Love the Lord with 'all you got' and your neighbor…"

This weekend we hear of one of the most famous parables (stories) that Jesus uses to teach us charity. No, not giving some of our hard-earned money away.  Rather, Caritas, the highest form of love.  Caritas is charity (love) from the depths of our hearts and built primarily on trust in God.

The Good Samaritanhelps the wounded man, despite the hardship that it cost him- delay, loss of wealth, and public disdain.  We must be bold to live the Gospel, and model ourselves after Christ:  Selflessness, inter-dependence and possessing an outward view for the common good.   We teach these values exceptionally well at our Catholic Schools. 

A friend of mine is a priest out in Wichita, Kansas.  Catholic education is free.  FREE! It came about because a priest in the early 1970s constructed a way in his parish to guarantee free Catholic education to all parishioners through tithing. Amazing!!!  To this day, all Catholic education is free, for thousands of students from pre-K through High School in the entire Diocese!

A miracle? Perhaps.  Better yet reasonable prudence half a century ago and the commitment and trust of the people.  Permit me to discuss these relevant truths or good habits over the next few weeks. Primarily we must understand prudence, for this is the first of the virtues.

Prudence is one of the four Cardinal Virtuesor habits of the good life that were developed about two and a half millennia ago through the Academy in Athens.  Imagine, 2500 years ago and 500 years before Jesus Christ.  They were given to us primarily through the work of Plato the great Greek Philosopher in his book Republic:

Prudence

Temperance

Justice

Fortitude

Cardinal means "hinge," literally everything hinges upon our application of these ethical truths.  Prudence simply says, "think before you act," or watch where you are walking (Proverbs 20:7)

Simple right!  Yet it can be so complicated if we allow it.  We must be prudent to build upon the virtues. When we grow upon the virtues or good habits for good life, then we become good.  Once we are good, then we can become holy.  Holiness leads to sainthood.  Together let us become Saints on earth and in Heaven!!!

Yours in Christ,

Father Suglia

N.B.  We have our own Catholic Regional School in Patchogue, Holy Angels.  My initial goal is twofold: to spend at least 2.5 full days there every month and to find a way to send any interested students (families) in enrolling despite any financial hardship.