Jesus did much of his teaching through stories. But some of his stories don’t have an ending. We’d like to know more about how it all turned out. What happened next? Sometimes we’re left in the dark, and the reason is that we are being challenged to write the final part of the story ourselves.

Today’s gospel contains the classic story of the Good Samaritan. It ends with Jesus’ words to the scholar of the law: “go and do likewise.” But did he do it? We aren’t told. This lawyer doesn’t appear to have been a sincere seeker after truth. The gospel says he was out to test Jesus. When Jesus affirmed that the love of God and the love of neighbor were the way to eternal life, the lawyer pressed him because he wanted to justify himself. In other words he wanted Jesus to agree with what he already believed. So he asked him, “who is my neighbor?”

The story Jesus told about the man who was attacked by robbers on the Jericho Road surely must have upset our lawyer. The “bad guys” in Jesus’ account were the pillars of the Jewish society: the priest and the Levite (who knew the law forwards and backwards.) These two crossed the street to avoid coming in contact with the stricken man, possibly becoming unclean by touching him, but even more likely becoming involved in a messy situation involving a crime, a victim, and the expense and bother of taking care of this poor soul. They had things to do, places to go and people to see. They didn’t want to get involved. The “good guy,” the one who stopped and attended to the stricken man, was a Samaritan, a hated minority in the Jewish world. When Jesus asked the lawyer who was neighbor to the injured man, the lawyer couldn’t bring himself to even say the word “Samaritan.” Grudgingly he admitted that “the one” who showed mercy was the true neighbor. But it pained him to say it, and it isn’t clear that he opened his mind and heart to the point that Jesus was making. Go and do likewise, Jesus said. But did he?

As often happens, the ending of the story is left open for us. Can we see beyond the categories of “good guys” and “bad guys” the world holds up to us? Can we show mercy to all our neighbors, even the ones who make us uncomfortable?        -Fr. Peter

BASEBALL TICKETS AVAILABLE

We have complimentary tickets to the Baltimore Orioles – Tampa Bay Rays game on Tuesday, July 20 at 7:05 pm. First preference will be given to children and youth in the distribution of tickets. Transportation will be provided on the church bus and private cars. Please call the church office to reserve your tickets.

FRANCISCAN YOUTH CONFERENCE
Eight youth and two adult chaperones from St. Wenceslaus and St. Ann are attending a high school youth conference this weekend at the Franciscan University of Steubenville, Ohio. Let us support our young people with our prayers – and ask the Lord to bless the chaperones with an extra measure of patience!

WOMEN’S RETREAT SCHOLARSHIP

The Office of African-American Catholic Ministries is offering two all-expense-paid scholarships to young women to attend the National Gathering of Black Catholic Women in Charlotte, NC August 13-15. Tomorrow is the deadline for applying for these scholarships. Applications and retreat brochures are available in the back of the church.

OBLATE SISTERS HOMECOMING

The Oblate Sisters of Providence are celebrating Alumni Homecoming on Sunday, August 1 for anyone who has been taught in schools, institutions or programs staffed by the Sisters. The location is Our Lady of Mount Providence Convent, 701 Gun Road. Liturgy will begin at 12:00 noon, with dinner to follow.  Door prizes, presentations and entertainment will be featured. Dinner tickets are $10.

ST. WENCESLAUS PICNIC
Our annual Labor Day picnic will be held on Monday, September 6 at Rocky Point Park on Chesapeake Bay. Mark your calendars and invite your friends.

MASS TIMES FOR TRAVELERS
Traveling this summer? You can find the church location and Mass times for any destination at http://www.masstimes.org/ or by calling 1-410-676-6000.

GATHERING

The annual gathering of our TOR Franciscan Province begins tomorrow in Loretto, PA. The Province of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus numbers about 140 men working in 16 American dioceses and a couple of foreign countries. During the week we will be addressing some items of community business, celebrating the anniversaries of vows and ordination for seven of our members and witnessing the final profession of vows of Brother Zyg who served as a volunteer leader in our youth ministry at St. Wenceslaus in 2006-07. On Wednesday evening we will observe the 100th anniversary of our Province with a Mass and dinner. The first TOR Franciscans serving in the United States came to Pennsylvania from Ireland in 1847 and became a Province of the Order in 1910.

CRAB FEAST TICKETS

Our annual Crab Feast for the benefit of our outreach ministry is less than two weeks away. Please order tickets this week so that we may give an accurate count to the caterer. Tickets are available in the church office and the outreach center at $50 each or $450 for a table of ten. The Crab Feast will be held at Columbus Gardens Saturday, July 24, for 1:00 to 5:00 pm. The day will feature unlimited food and drink, music and dance, and a variety of games. Please use the flyers in the back of the church to help us promote this important fund raising event.

GIFT OF FLOWERS
Flowers in front of the altar today are given in loving memory of Norleen Edwards from her family.

SEMINARY REUNION
Alumni, faculty, staff and friends of the former Redemptorist Seminary at Northeast, PA are holding a reunion July 30 to August 2. Interested persons may check the website at http://www.smsreunion2010.com/ or call Jack Breslin at 914-632-9805.

JULY CALENDAR…
July 12 – 30. Summer Bible Camp, sponsored by the Missionaries of Charity, Monday through Friday in the lyceum.

July 20 Monthly luncheon meeting of the Survivors, 12:00 noon in the rectory parlor.

July 20. Baseball outing. Leaving St. Wenceslaus for Camden Yards at 6:00 pm.

July 21. Monthly meeting of the St. Wenceslaus Prayer Group. 7:00 pm in the rectory parlor.

July 24. Crab Feast, 1:00 – 5:00 pm at Columbus Gardens.

AND FINALLY…