Greetings on this the Monday of the Twenty-seventh Week in Ordinary Time
Readings: Galatians 1:6-12; Psalm 111:1b-2, 7-8, 9, 10c; Luke 10:25-37
Summary
I am amazed that you are so quickly forsaking the one who called you by [the] grace [of Christ] for a different gospel (not that there is another). But there are some who are disturbing you and wish to pervert the gospel of Christ. [Jesus said] I give you a new commandment: love one another as I have loved you. (Gal 1:6-7; Jn 13:34).
The scholar of the law needed to take a journey: from the head to the heart, to the hands.
The Parable of the Good Samaritan
- Know the Goal: Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?
- Understand The Law: What is written in the law? How do you read it?
- Application of the Law: And who is my neighbor?
- Analysis: Which of these three, in your opinion, was neighbor to the robbers’ victim?
Reflection
My teacher-superintendent friend educator, I think, will enjoy this reflection.
The Gospel portion today is a classic application of Bloom’s taxonomy of learning.
Bloom’s taxonomy (see diagram) or go to: https://uwaterloo.ca/centre-for-teaching-excellence/catalogs/tip-sheets/blooms-taxonomy
Jesus takes us through the first four of the Cognitive hierarchy.
The Church offers an opening to the last two.
- Evaluate – How do you understand Jesus’ rationale in presenting the story of the Good Samaritan?
- Create – How can you create the goodness of the Samaritan within yourself?
He answered, “The one who treated him with mercy.”
Jesus said to him, “Go and do likewise.”
Personal Reflection
So how do I become a good Samaritan?
The first answer is the strongest (opinion): Gratitude. Let us not forsake gratitude.
Let’s let the psalmist frame our gratitude and help us on the path of eternal life.
Bloom’s Affective domain has:
- Receiving – listen.
- Responding – to God and each other.
- Valuing – exposes, changes or adds new values to your value system.
- Organization – integrating change or reinforcing the value already present.
- Characterization – how do we ‘good’ together?
But expanding these are for another day.
I will give thanks to the LORD with all my heart
in the company and assembly of the just.
Great are the works of the LORD,
exquisite in all their delights.
The works of his hands are faithful and just;
sure are all his precepts,
Reliable forever and ever,
wrought in truth and equity.
He has sent deliverance to his people;
he has ratified his covenant forever;
holy and awesome is his name.
His praise endures forever.
Finally,
The lawyer begins by asking for information sufficient to inherit eternal life. Jesus educates him until information becomes mercy—and then sends him out to practice what he has learned.
Reference using today’s gospel portion: https://deacongerrypalermo.blog/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/samaritan-all.pdf
Sacred Readings full text: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/100526.cfm
Peace be with you,
Deacon Gerry