Luke 10: 25-37
The Word: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/071022.cfm
One never knows when or how God may or may not speak to
us. Just reflecting on my own experience
and those of many I’ve heard over the years, God’s communication with us seems
to come most often through times of quiet and public prayer such as in the
liturgy, in the reading of Scripture, through his own creation which inspires
us, the events of our lives, and the people we meet. It is rare that we have a mountain top
experience or some mystical revelation or a divine apparition or witness a
miraculous healing. While such events
certainly do happen in the mysterious ways of God, they remain rare and not
common. God is not here to entertain or “wow” us. He calls us to conversion of heart and life.
This Sunday’s scripture is a moment in revelation to
us. God reveals, uncovers for us, an
understanding of his mercy. Having seen
that we are called to extend the same. God’s commands are not unreachable or
impossible for us. As Moses tells the
people they are “. . . very near to you, already in your mouths and in your
hearts; you have only to carry them out.” The way of mercy to others is
illustrated beautifully in the well-known parable of the Good Samaritan we hear
in the Gospel.
In our present day we often become easily blind to the
needs of our neighbor. American culture is built upon making your own life,
being independent, not taking a hand out, and working hard. “Out of sight, out of mind” is an easy maxim
to live by these days. The presence of so many homeless along our highways, in
our parks, or just walking along the streets is a constant disturbance for us.
They disturb our conscience because we know that we can’t just walk on by:
“What can I do? Are they safe to be around? Do they want help? Should I give
them money?”
Our Gospel this Sunday on the unexpectedly merciful
Samaritan certainly reveals a stunning answer to the question, “Who is my
neighbor?” – the answer is simply “everyone in need is my neighbor,” particularly
those in need of compassion and mercy. Even those who I might even think are my
enemies or strangers are my neighbor.
But there is a greater question first that the parable
reveals: who is Jesus? In his story
telling to the crowds, Jesus deliberately designed them to get a reaction and
to make those who heard them look deeper than the story line alone. Often the main character in the story is Jesus
himself: the father in the Prodigal Son for example, the judge in the parable
of the persistent widow who accedes to the woman’s pleading and in this case, Jesus
is the Samaritan who responds to suffering with mercy, not judgment.
Jesus’ own insight into human nature as he told these
parables was life changing. For he came to offer humanity a way out; a place of
refuge; a good Samaritan who will care for us and truly be the savior of all.
We are the ones wounded and broken lying at the road because of our sin. We are the ones who need someone to save and
rescue and care for us and only Christ Jesus can do so. Jesus own pouring out of his blood upon the
cross and the sharing of his life in the Holy Eucharist, which is our present
day “oil and wine” of healing, makes this Samaritan and the image of Christ
himself.
Bishop Barron has a wonderful way of describing the Inn
of the parable as an image of the Church.
When the injured man was taken to the Inn by the Samaritan he found
protection, healing and mercy. The
Church in our sacramental life and in the compassion of members should be a
place of refuge for us in the forgiveness of sin, the food of the Eucharist,
the love we experience and the inspiration of our brothers and sisters in the
faith. In that sense it can be a taste of the kingdom living as an alternative
to the rough edges of politics, power, and greed we see so pervasive these
days. As Pope Francis reminded us a number of years ago the Church is a field
hospital where the wounded find comfort and support to live a new life.
So we need to never lose the real meaning of what we are
called to be and that is Jesus himself to welcome the stranger, feed the
hungry, give drink to the thirsty and good example to all around us. To behave
as Christ is the ultimate answer to the initial question posed to Jesus at the
beginning of the Gospel passage; the answer to how we love God and attain
heaven: "What must I do to inherit eternal life?"
So, it’s not so much that we try to change THE world but
that we can change our world and allow all who come to find in us Christ
himself – a place of refuge. The Eucharist is that living presence which
continues to take us out of isolation and into the community of his Body, the Church. The answer
is simple – As Jesus has reached out to us, we go and do likewise.
For we know it belongs to your
boundless glory, that you came to the aid of
mortal beings with your divinity
and even fashioned for us a
remedy out of mortality itself,
that the cause of our downfall
might become the means of our salvation
through Christ our Lord.
(Preface of Sundays in Ordinary time III)
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