Daily
Thoughts:
In our Gospel today we hear the beautiful and perhaps threatening parable of
the Good Samaritan. A scholar of the law asks Jesus a question, it is asked to
begin a discussion rather than a request for information. Jesus, answers the
question with a question. The man knows the Law well and responds correctly.
According to the Book of Leviticus, 19, 18, loving neighbor is a sacred
responsibility of the faithful Jewish person. So to extend the discussion and
perhaps get the upper hand, the scholar asks the obvious question and Jesus
takes it out of the scholar’s hand and lays it on his heart.
A Samaritan
becomes the central focus of the story by placing himself in the vulnerable
position of not being anybody’s neighbor. The beaten man sets up the tension.
The two religious figures, who do not tend to the man, heighten the gesture of
the disliked Samaritan. Jesus is telling
this story to move from the Law to the Good News. The good news of the parable
has several aspects.
Perhaps
the two who pass by on the “opposite side” have their religious reasons. Their
being faithful to their understanding of the laws of physical purity are
righteous in their eyes. The good news that Jesus expresses in the parable is
that “unlawful” love of the injured is the new and complete righteousness.
Keeping our eyes and hearts open to those in need is more blessed than keeping
our eyes on law.
The
Samaritan is moved with compassion flowing from his head and heart. Jesus is
the compassionate stranger to our fallen, robbed-of-innocence humanity. Jesus
is on “our side” and takes us to the “inn” of his embrace after tending to our
wounds through the Sacraments. “Oil” and “wine” are the healing “bandages” of Jesus’
touch.
The good
news is that we are relieved from our wondering what exactly are we to do when
healed and sent back on our journeys. We are to “Go and do likewise.” Selfishness
in its various forms of protection, personal image, and indulgence, are very
close to our minds and hearts. This interior law is not so far away or high
above us. We do not need anybody to teach us how to be greedy, egocentric, or
lazy.
There are
two forms of “good news”. One is the selfishly good news that each of us can
walk on the “opposite” side of the other “good news” which we keep hearing and
making the center of our lives. The selfless law of Jesus is warming to the
heart when we hear it, but the other “good news” of our ignoring selves, still
remains in effect.
So once again,
the Gospel puts us in tension. We ask also “who is our neighbor,” we ask whom
we should care for and whom can we pass by. We would say that our neighbor is
the one who will appreciate our gestures of generosity. Our neighbors are those
whom we know. Our neighbors are those who are similar to us; think the way we
do, act in accordance with our values. This is natural and warming to the heart
and mind.
Jesus’
teaching is his whole life of including, embracing, and saving us in our being
stripped, beaten by the ways of the world within and around us. He has brought
us from our own being half-dead back to full life. Jesus keeps teaching us to
share, to extend his compassion, and work to heal.
In doing
this, Jesus lives through our stoppings. As St. Teresa of Avila put it, “Christ
has no body now on earth but yours.” But ours!
Have a
blessed Sunday everyone!
Daily
Prayer:
Christ has no body but ours, no hands, no feet on earth but ours, ours are the
eyes with which he looks compassion on this world, ours are the feet with which
he walks to do good, ours are the hands, with which he blesses all the world.
Ours are
the hands, ours are the feet, ours are the eyes, we are his body. Christ has no
body now but ours, no hands, no feet on earth but ours, ours are the eyes with
which he looks compassion on this world. Christ has no body now on earth but
ours. (Adapted from a prayer by St.
Teresa of Avila)
A Runner’s
Thoughts: “As
marathoners, we may or may not become someone else physically. At least not in
such a dramatic manner. But our role is a challenging one, and it certainly
changes us. Finish a marathon and you emerge tougher, stronger, more tenacious.
Also, oddly, a bit more humble.” (Mark Remy) So to in the spiritual life…
Daily
Blessing:
Sunday greetings and blessings to all. I hope your Sunday has gotten off to a
good start. In a few minutes I will head out to celebrate mass at St. John and
St. Mary’s Parish in Chappaqua, New York. It looks to be another beautiful day
here in Pelham I hope it is the same by you!
My prayer
of blessing today is that you will be blessed with the spirit of faith to help
you on this journey of life. May you be blessed with the spirit of hope to get
you through the rough times. May you be blessed with the spirit of love to
remind you in whose image and likeness you are created in, how special you are
and that you are never alone. As you journey through this Sunday may you know
that God is with you always and will never leave you to face your struggles
alone! Happy Sunday everyone and remember to give God a little time today!
Peace in Christ’s Passion…Fr. Paul
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