Category: Faith & Life

There are four main characters in today’s Gospel parable: the victim of robbers, the priest, the Levite and the Samaritan. The priest (Hebrew Kohanim) is a direct male-line descendant of Aaron, brother of Moses, who was appointed as the first high priest. The Kohanim were the only ones who could perform sacrificial rituals in the Temple, offer incense and maintain the Menorah (the seven-branched golden lampstand inside the Tabernacle and later, in the Temple). Because of their special functions, they wore distinctive garments and avoided contact with dead bodies which would render them impure.  Levites were male descendants of Levi, one of the twelve sons of Jacob (whom God renamed Israel). The Levites were not Kohanim but were given tasks to assist in the Temple in various supporting roles. For example, they served as musicians, gatekeepers, and temple officials. Even if they were not Kohanim, the Levites were also considered “holy” and set apart for God’s service. 

Sister Maria Rosa Viloria, a member of the Congregation of Our Lady of Charity of the Good Shepherd, shared her inspiring journey to religious life in a recent interview, reflecting on the profound experiences that led her to dedicate her life to serving others. Her story, marked by personal loss, family support, and a deep trust in God, offers a powerful testament to the calling of a Good Shepherd Sister.

Today is in our hands but not fully: today is made up of many moments. Only this moment is in our hands. From the perspective of Christian faith, of spiritual/moral life, what is the meaning of “the moment”? When she was very young, St. Therese of the Child Jesus was worried about the future. After she became a Carmelite nun, she focused her life on the present moment: “I just keep concentrating on the present moment. I forget the past, and preserve myself from worries about the future… Let us see each instant as if there were no other. An instant is a treasure.”