Question of the Week - 30th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year A
A few Saturdays ago, our local grocery store delivered a large grocery order to our condo building. On our way to run Saturday errands, my husband and I walked past several grocery bags outside our building. We thought a neighbor unloaded his car and then took a minute to park the car before carrying the food into his home. But sadly, when we returned home about four hours later, the food was still sitting there. No one in our building had ordered it.
Another neighbor and I called the grocer, explained the situation, and asked what we should do. He said, “Keep the food.” My husband and I did not need the food. Our elderly neighbor was able to use a few things. I then set the remaining ten or so bags under our mailboxes with a sign that read, “Please take what you can use.” Within ten minutes, all of the food was gone.
We have several new neighbors in the building, some with young children. The quickness with which the food was taken made me wonder if one or more of our new neighbors is struggling in these pandemic days. It made me mindful that now, more than ever, we need to find practical ways to love our neighbor.
So, I’m beginning new efforts in small ways. For the neighbor who daily wipes down our building’s mailboxes and front door handles, I’m leaving a highly-coveted tub of disinfecting wipes. For the neighbor who quilts, I’m leaving a fun bag stuffed with fall-themed fabric pieces. And as fall holidays near, I’m planning on baking some muffins and loaves of bread to leave out at our mailboxes with a sign that says, “Treat yourself today.”
We may be socially distanced and cautious about interacting with too many people outside of family and close friends while waiting on a vaccine before venturing out. However, the call of today’s Gospel still applies: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself” (see Matthew 22:40).
Mary Sellars Malloy has over forty years’ experience as a Catholic educator and lay minister. She is a frequent workshop presenter on prayer, liturgy, spirituality, the Sacraments, and the RCIA. Also, Mary leads retreats and parish missions throughout the country. Her goal is to encourage Catholics of all ages to appreciate and to live their Catholic faith.