Greetings on this the Fifteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Readings: Deuteronomy 30:10-14; Psalm 19:8, 9, 10, 11; Colossians 1:15-20; Luke 10:25-37
Video of this Homily
https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1BLKp8kpbK/
This homily was given at the 10:30 AM Mass for Good Samaritan Sunday.
It is a different homily from the 4:00 PM because:
- Some stories are not appropriate for the 10:30 AM Mass.
- I went so long we had to order in food.
Summary
But because he wished to justify himself, he said to Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?” (MT 10:29).
Last week the gospel portion was about Jesus sending out the 72 in pairs (2 by 2) to bring to people Peace and Joy. The fact is we act better in groups than alone. It’s the same Jesus. It’s the same Good News. Yet, here is the simple example: You’re in the car, it’s late at night, and you are at that one Red Light that goes on forever! What do you do? You Wait? Or do you go anyway (or at least consider ‘blowing the light’)?
This week our gospel portion gives us that singular situation in more impactful terms. The ‘who’ of ‘me’. Who is my neighbor? Who and mine.
If I were to be absolutely candid I am going to guess that about 50% of what I say in life is no better than the scholar of the law in our gospel portion today. OK, maybe that percentage is too high (I sure hope it is too high!!). But you get the point. How much of our time do we justify ourselves? And isn’t this justification usually the ‘ringing bell of guilt‘ that, well maybe, I am not justified and if I throw up a bunch of word salad I can escape the truth and my burning conscience.
So if the Book of Deuteronomy is true, the command? Is it so near then how is it we keep it so far from us?
Grasping the Divine Will
For this command which I am giving you today is not too wondrous or remote for you…it is something very near to you, in your mouth and in your heart, to do it (Duet 30:11,14). [It is] More desirable than gold, than a hoard of purest gold, Sweeter also than honey or drippings from the comb. By them your servant is warned; obeying them brings much reward (PS 19:11-12).
So if it so near how is it we keep it so far from us?
“You shall love the Lord, your God,
with all your heart,
with all your being,
with all your strength,
and with all your mind,
and your neighbor as yourself.”
Luke 10:27
It is simple really. What is the source of our strength?
How do we navigate life – by our own power alone? My heart for me, my strength for me, my mind and being for me.
Our Source of Strength
He [Jesus] is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For in him all the fullness was pleased to dwell, and through him to reconcile all things for him (Col 1:15, 19-20). Your words, Lord, are Spirit and life; you have the words of everlasting life, making peace by the blood of his cross (Cf. John 6:63c, 68c).
Reflection
We can beat up (rhetorically) the priest and deacon that failed to treat the injured man on the side of the road in our parable today. But, unfortunately, that is just word salad. Everyone has a bad day. Everyone is weak in courage and fortitude at one point or another or at one hour of any particular day.
The fact is there are many such cases each and every day of our lives: A man fell victim to robbers as he went down from Jerusalem to Jericho. They stripped and beat him and went off leaving him half-dead (LK 10:30). So what am I to do? If my answer is to justify myself then I remind you of two examples.
In POKER they call it the TELL. The tell is when a player reveals his hidden thoughts by action and expression. The TELL tells us what you are thinking.
In music and the young say… Whoomp! (There It Is) – in a subculture context (irony, sarcastic). Gemini says: Pointing out a recurring mistake: If someone constantly makes the same error, “whoops, there it is” can be used to highlight the habitual nature of their mistakes.
The Questions
- Who is my neighbor? A victim, stripped and beaten. A stranger.
- What am I to do? Proper use of Time (stop and do), Talent (care for wounds) and Treasure (two coins).
- Where? Wherever you are.
- When am I to do it? When presented to you and come back to it.
- Why? You know why. You shall…
The Answer
He approached the victim, poured oil and wine over his wounds and bandaged them. Then he lifted him up on his own animal, took him to an inn, and cared for him. The next day he took out two silver coins and gave them to the innkeeper with the instruction, ‘Take care of him. If you spend more than what I have given you, I shall repay you on my way back.’ (MT 10:33-35).
You need go no further than the Oil, Wine and Bandage.
- The Oil of Compassion – your God, has anointed you with the oil of gladness (PS 45:8).
- The Wine of Gladness – wine to gladden their hearts, oil to make their faces shine, and bread to sustain the human heart (PS 104:15).
- The Bandage – that is – the hope of the future- Healing the brokenhearted, and binding up their wounds (PS 147:3).
Near and Merciful
Then we can say, Which of these three, in your opinion, was neighbor to the robbers’ victim?” He answered, “The one who treated him with mercy.” Jesus said to him, “Go and do likewise.” (LK 10:36-37).
Self Justification is a waste of time and an afront to holiness. So when encountering your Traveler and you want to self-justify…. just say… Whoops, there it is!
Sacred Readings
Full text: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/071325.cfm
Peace be with you,
Deacon Gerry