News from Good News Ministries:
- You Are Called to Love Without Limits
- New video! Strength & Spirit: Encouraging Young Men to Live for Christ
- Plus great links to great content!
You Are Called to Love Without Limits
The Gospel reading this past Sunday was the familiar story of The Good Samaritan. This parable teaches us a powerful lesson about loving others without limits.
Jesus shares this parable in response to a scholar of the law who poses a question: “What must I do to inherit eternal life?” (Luke 10:25). Jesus replies with a question of His own: “What is written in the law? How do you read it?” The scholar answers by quoting Deuteronomy 6:5: “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your being, with all your strength,” and adds, “and your neighbor as yourself.” Jesus affirms his answer, telling him that if he follows this commandment, he will live.
But the scholar presses further: “And who is my neighbor?” In response, Jesus tells the well-known parable of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:30-37). Why does He tell this story? To teach us that His love is unconditional, and that we are called to reflect that same love to others.
In our human weakness, we often look for loopholes, trying to do the minimum required to achieve a goal. Jesus, knowing the scholar’s heart, sees that he is seeking a reason to limit his responsibility—to serve only certain people. Through this parable, Jesus makes it clear: we are called to give our all for the Kingdom of God. To love God with our whole heart, soul, and strength means we cannot place conditions on the love we show to others.
Jesus sets the ultimate standard of love on the Cross, pouring out every drop of His precious blood for our salvation. He expects His disciples to follow that same path:
“Then he said to all, ‘If anyone wishes to come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it. What profit is there for one to gain the whole world yet lose or forfeit himself?’” (Luke 9:23- 25)
Doing the minimum for God while expecting the maximum from Him does not bring about His Kingdom on earth. We must cooperate with His grace and strive to love all His children authentically. Just as the Good Samaritan relied on the innkeeper to care for the wounded man, we cannot accomplish this mission alone.
One way Good News Ministries can help you love and serve God more radically is by assisting you—or your parish—in developing Small Christian Communities. Our resources help foster spiritually supportive groups that live by Gospel values and identify and care for those who have fallen victim to life’s wounds. Consider sharing these resources with your pastor to start, or reinvigorate, a small faith-sharing group in your parish!
Good News Prayer Room:
Use our collection of Catholic prayers designed with your needs in mind. They will give you hope and a stronger connection to God’s love and support. What do you need prayers for today?
Visit gnm.org/prayers.
Post your prayer requests @ gnm.org/post-a-prayer.
Good News WordBytes:
WANT MORE FAITH and HOPE in TROUBLED TIMES? WE’RE HERE for YOU! Choose from a variety of topics on our website of Catholic Faith-building articles. What do you need today?
Visit wordbytes.org.
We’ve Got a New Video for You!
Strength & Spirit: Encouraging Young Men to Live for Christ
On this episode of Footsteps to Heaven, Terry Modica talks with John Beaulieu, the founder of Romans 5:5, a ministry committed to “Renewing the Church – One Soul at a Time,” about what attracts young #GenZ men to the Catholic Church and how to encourage them in faith.
Explore our Catholic Video Library for Faith Growth
Give yourself a personal retreat day; watch videos from our library of faith-builders:
- Footsteps to Heaven
- Guest Spots
- Terry & Ralph’s Good News for Today
- Quick Faith-builders with Terry Modica
- God’s Amazing Word for Miracles
- God’s Radical Love for Marriage
- Come Holy Spirit!
- Praying with Power
- How to Pray in the Power of the Holy Spirit
- Go Deeper into Holy Mass
- Take, Eat, Drink: Understanding the Catholic Mass
- How to Turn Your Crosses Into Resurrections
- The Apostolate of the Laity in the Church Crisis
- Personal Testimonies
- Prayer Meditations
- Meditations without Words
God bless you!
Every morning, I lift up in prayer everyone who helps Good News Ministries in any way (donors, volunteers, prayer supporters, etc.) and all the prayer requests posted on our site. What can I cover in prayer for you? Post your prayer request.
How else can the team and I serve you today? Visit our homepage.
Thank you for reading this newsletter.
Your servant in Christ,
Bill Snyder, Media Director
Good News Ministries
gnm.org
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How to Win Victories in Spiritual Warfare
Knowing God’s Will and Doing it Well
Lessons from the Blessed Mother
Daily Prayers with the Saints