BOSTON — The Archdiocese of Boston’s Catholic Lawyers’ Guild and the Guild of St. Luke for healthcare workers came together for the combined celebration of the Red Mass and the White Mass at the Cathedral of the Holy Cross, Oct. 26. The Mass was followed by a luncheon and a keynote speech from U.S. Ambassador to the Holy See Kenneth Hackett.
Cardinal Seán P. O’Malley celebrated the Mass for the two communities.
In his homily, the cardinal offered a somewhat novel take on the Parable of the Good Samaritan in the Gospel of Luke.
Rather than point to the parable as an example of how to treat a neighbor in need, he spoke instead about the lawyer who questioned Jesus Christ and prompted the parable.
“When the lawyer asked Jesus what was the most important of the 613 commandments of the Torah, he was doing us all a favor. We need to feel and to believe that love of God and love of neighbor is what is the most important, and that only God will save our planet from grinding poverty and violence,” Cardinal O’Malley said.
He spoke of the important role those in the legal and healthcare professions play in the dialogue the Church has with the world, as it encourages justice for the poor, the marginalized, and the unborn.
“You, my friends in the legal profession and the healthcare world, are uniquely placed to enter into this dialogue. It will help us down a path to a better world and a civilization of love,” he said.
