15th Sunday: "Go and do likewise"

 

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"Who is my neighbor?"

Luke 10: 25 - 37

https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/071325.cfm

A Special Prayer for Texas Flood Victims

God of Mercy and Shelter,
In this time of devastation and loss, we lift up our hearts to You.
Be close to all who suffer from the flooding in our communities.
Embrace those who mourn,
shelter the displaced,
strengthen the weary,
and inspire all of us to offer loving assistance to those in need.
Through the intercession of Our Lady of Guadalupe and St. Anthony of Padua,
may our Archdiocese of San Antonio be a beacon of hope and solidarity.
We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.

I distinctly remember a good number of years ago, a brother priest, older than myself at that time, had quite a reputation for picking up hitchhikers.  A rather “crusty” older guy, often seen smoking but with a good heart.

His tendency to always pick up a hitch hiker along the road, caused worry among many.  Worry for his safety and his reputation depending on who the hitchhiker was. Although we priests tried to caution him, he saw this as a personal ministry.

While hitchhiking seems to be a rare thing these days back in the 1980’s and 90’s it seemed that it was not at all unusual to see such men, thumb extended, standing by the entrance to a freeway or country road waiting for a car to stop and pick them up to take them to another destination.

Well, despite any worries it seemed, Fr. Bob always stopped, invited the hiker into his car and took them on their way. 

With seemingly no regard for his personal safety or even reputation, he would if asked share stories about what he learned from the hitchhiker.  I never recall hearing that he felt he was in danger or that his invited rider threatened him. His response was usually some form of: “I’m just trying to help this poor guy.” 

Overall, this priestly good Samaritan must have planted many seeds of gratitude in the hearts of his brief companions.  We should all be good Samaritans without question towards those in need.  Nevertheless, in such a situation, I think I would think twice about doing the same as Fr. Bob but there is an important lesson here about compassion.

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 handout, and working hard.  “Out of sight, out of mind” is an easy maxim to live by these days. Should I or shouldn’t I give some money to the person with the sign at the stop light?

Our Gospel this Sunday certainly reveals a stunning answer by Jesus to the question, “Who is my neighbor?” The answer is simply “everyone is my neighbor,” particularly those in need of compassion and mercy. Those I might even think are my enemies or strangers are my neighbor.  If that person, for example, the one you find most uncomfortable or who has caused you some pain or frustration in your life was truly in need, would you help them or would you find at least mild revenge thinking they deserved what they got? Can I be a place of refuge to those in need and not care about the personal cost?

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 them and that would be himself. 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 as only Christ Jesus can do so.  So rather than seeing myself in the role of the giver I might reverse positions and become the one who receives. God comes to offer us the grace of his mercy as the man who was beaten by the robbers. He will surprise us as the man was surprised by the Samaritan's help. He will come unexpectedly and he will come with healing compassion: our sacraments particularly Reconciliation, Anointing of the sick, and the Holy Eucharist.

Jesus’ 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 an image of Christ himself.

     So too the parable provides an image of the Church as the inn which should be a place of refuge for us or in the words of the late Pope Francis, a “field hospital.” 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 we find healing and a new way of 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 be a 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: "What must I do to inherit eternal life?"

In many ways the Church supports profound works of charity and compassion in order to be good Samaritans.  It’s not so much, then, 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 community – His Body.

 

Let us “go and do likewise.”