My mother spends a good part of her life in the kitchen.  It is the room of the house you would most probably find her, and certainly when there is a big family gathering.  My mom has a statue of St. Martha in the kitchen.  I would love to see this same situation happen in her home.  To this day, she takes Martha’s side, totally sympathizing with her.  She is not happy with how Jesus handled things.

  The Parable of the Good Samaritan provides an example of incredible charity and kindness in helping one’s neighbor in need.  This kindness is recognized first in Jesus, who came to save man.  St. Gregory of Nyssa is an early Church Father who explained this parable of the Good Samaritan as an allegory of man’s salvation, centered on Jesus and Adam.  

  A few days ago, on Friday, June 11th, we celebrated the Solemnity of the Sacred Heart.  Devotion to the Sacred Heart is almost as popular and universal as the Rosary.  In our parish, the two statues located in the sanctuary are the Sacred Heart and Blessed Virgin Mary.  In the narthex, we have a statue of St. Margaret Mary Alacoque (d. 1690), whose visions popularized the devotion.  Around our diocese, many towns have a church dedicated to the Sacred Heart: Corpus Christi, Sinton, Odem, Mathis, Falfurrias, Alice, Three Rivers, Rockport. 

  In Revelation is a vision of the Church as the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven as Christ’s Bride.  Marriage is the Sacrament that expresses this spousal love of Christ for his Church.  Jesus consecrates human love, transforming it into Christian love, by which he wants his followers to be known.