HELPING A STRANGER

helping a stranger

 

“The second most important commandment is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.” – Mark 12:31

 

Thud!

I heard a loud sound and noticed that the vehicle beside our car jolted. I saw how shocked the lady driver was when the taxi bumped into her car!

The traffic light turned green so I asked my wife to take the steering wheel and park it across the intersection while I help out the lady. When I noticed that the taxi’s passenger door on the other side was unlocked, I went there to open it and tried to talk to the driver. His non-reaction to me and to what was happening showed that he was intoxicated with some form of drug. It was then that I decided to look for a policeman to attend to the situation. Luckily, I found one just a few meters away from where we were situated.

When the policeman started to interrogate the driver, I asked the lady if she was OK and if she needed any other assistance. She just thanked me and told me that she could already handle it.

Helping a friend always gives us a sense of joy. Helping a stranger gives us tons of happiness. Alvin Fabella (alvinfabella@yahoo.com)

 

REFLECTION:

Whatever your situation is right now, find time to do a random act of kindness today.

 

Lord, may I see You through the persons in need that I will encounter today.

A CALL TO Heroism

 

The celebration of the 2000th Birth Millennium of Saint Paul from June 2008 until June 2009 blessed me with a unique and particular grace: the experience of going to places that I have never imagined I would travel to. In these places, I conducted for various interest groups conferences about St. Paul, his life and his mission. One place I was privileged to visit was Basilan where Christians compose around 25 percent of the local population. There I interacted with a very hospitable group: the bishop, his relatively young and very committed group of diocesan priests, the lay ministers (who are referred to as “kaabags”), and other volunteer lay church workers. We gathered for talks and reflections at the Bishop Querexeta Pastoral Center.

Entering the compound of the pastoral center, one is greeted by a very interesting memorial to peace: a rusting bullet-ridden owner-type jeep where a group of volunteer catechists died when they were ambushed one early February morning en route to an “Alay Kapwa” Lenten Recollection in Isabela,  Basilan. The monument could not but invite me to some solemn moments of prayer and recollection. I realize that this is the extreme application of the  seemingly trite Gospel passage we have today!

Jesus says: “Love God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, with all your strength.” The martyred volunteer lay catechists of Basilan followed this command not only in spirit, but to the letter with their heroic labors amidst various risks. Then, Jesus continues: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” Again, this is what the whole church of Basilan — clergy and lay — are doing amidst the conflicts and tensions. They are there to continue to witness to the power of a Gospel of peace and love, a Gospel that could never be silenced by bullets and other forms of violence.

The Christian commandment of love sounds simple, yet living it out may lead us to a life of heroism and martyrdom. Fr. Domie Guzman, SSP

 

Reflection Question:

Recall an instance when your effort to faithfully live a Gospel value meant real hard sacrifice. Are you prepared to experience many more moments like what you underwent?

 

Let me live out the life of a Christian, Lord, not only when it is easy but also when it is difficult.

 

St. Alphege, pray for us.