In our May issue I told the story about us finding $1,660 hidden in a toolbox that had been donated over a year before. If you remember, we then gave sixteen $100 dollar bills to participants of a novena to Saint Joan of Arc last April, with the instructions that: 1) they could not use it for themselves, 2) they needed to give it to someone in need, 3) if possible, we would like to hear their story of how it went.

Well, after two and a half months we finally heard back from two of the gifters. One gave the money to a country that had experienced massive flooding and they also added one hundred dollars of her own money to the cause.

The second response came by way of a voice mail. Here is the message.

“Hi, I wanted to just leave a message for Walter. I received an envelope from a very nice gentleman today. I had just been praying earlier in the morning that I needed some guidance and some help. And what came along, him. He said you were the one that blessed me with this wonderful gift. I can’t thank you enough. Couldn’t have come at a better time in my life. I truly needed it. Can’t thank you more. Well, best of wishes to you all. Really, really appreciate it. God bless you. Thank you. Goodbye. Thank you. Bye-bye.”

And this, my friends, is the message that we have been preaching for these forty-five years. Take the risk and find someone in need and help them in any way you can, be it physically, monetarily, just walking with them, being still and listening to their story, or quietly praying for them.

“But wait! Didn’t you say you gave sixteen gifts out? What happened to the rest?” In Luke 17:11:16 we of faith find a response to this question.

“11 Now on his way to Jerusalem, Jesus traveled along the border between Samaria and Galilee. 12 As he was going into a village, ten men who had leprosy[a] met him. They stood at a distance 13 and called out in a loud voice, “Jesus, Master, have pity on us!” 14 When he saw them, he said, “Go, show yourselves to the priests.” And as they went, they were cleansed. 15 One of them, when he saw he was healed, came back, praising God in a loud voice. 16 He threw himself at Jesus’ feet and thanked him—and he was a Samaritan.” You see, being an Urban Missionary of Our Lady of Hope means living in the words of Jesus daily. It is as simple as that.