Prayer for the Poor and Needy
Lord God, You came to give honour to the least, those forgotten, overlooked and misjudged. You came to give first place to the last, those left behind, misunderstood and undervalued. You came to give a warm welcome to the lost, those who are orphaned, abandoned and destitute. Help us to be your ears to listen to their cries. Help us to be your voice speaking out love and acceptance. Help us to be your feet walking beside those in need. Help us to be your hands to clothe, feed and shelter them. You came for the least, the lost and last of this world. Lord, hear our prayer. Amen.
There was a scholar of the law who stood up to test (Jesus) and said, “Teacher what must I do to inherit eternal life?” Jesus said to him, “What is written in the law? How do you read it?” He said in reply, “You shall love the Lord, your God, with all your heart, with all your being, with all your strength, and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself.” (Jesus) replied to him, “You have answered correctly; do this and you will live.” But because he wished to justify himself, we said to Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?” Jesus replied,
“A man fell victim to robbers as he went down from Jerusalem to Jericho. They stripped him and beat him and went off leaving him half dead. A priest happened to be going down that road, but when he saw him, he passed by on the opposite side. Likewise a Levite came to the place, and when he saw him, he passed by on the opposite side. Bur a Samaritan traveler who came upon him was moved with compassion at the sight. He approached the victim, poured oil and wine over his wounds and bandaged them. Then, he lifted him up on his own animal, took him to an inn and cared for him. The next day he took out two silver coins and gave them to the innkeeper with the instruction, ‘Take care of him. If you spend more than what I have given you, I shall repay you on my way back.’ Which of these three, in your opinion, was a neighbor to the robbers’ victim?” He answered, “The one who treated him with mercy.” Jesus said to him, “Go and do likewise.”
Luke 10:25-37
Jesus used stories (parables) to teach people. Back in his day, the people Jesus grew up with would have never called someone from Samaria good, for they mistrusted and disliked Samaritans. They would not have expected that a Samaritan would help a stranger. This parable teaches us not to judge someone by where they are from or by what we’ve heard about them. It teaches us about what it means to be a neighbor.
We take the name “Good Sam” because we judge no one; we welcome everyone as our neighbor, and we want to help them. The money we raise at our store funds our assistance ministries, so that people who are suffering may be treated with mercy.