Monday of the Twenty-seventh Week in Ordinary Time
I think that I am like most people when I try to follow the rules and do what is the right thing. The readings today remind me that as a Christian, I am called beyond just following the law to a new way of thinking. As a disciple of Jesus, I am called to base my decisions and my actions on my compassion and care for others. The laws that we follow are from human design, but the truth we are called to live is from God.
Today’s gospel reading is the familiar story of the Good Samaritan. I have read this story many times, and have often seen the characters as “good” versus “bad”, but I think there is a deeper understanding of what Jesus is trying to share. Jesus begins the reading by reminding a scholar that “to love the Lord your God, with all your heart, with all your being and with all your strength, and your neighbor as yourself” Luke 10: 27 is how a person gains eternal life. In the parable that follows, the priest and Levite ignore the victim who lies wounded on the side of the road. As I reflected on the experience from the vantage of these two “religious” men, it made me consider that the decision to not help the injured person was what they believed was the right thing to do. Because of the laws of the Jewish faith, to help this person would go against what they were taught. They would be impure if they touched someone who was dead (or almost dead) unless that person was a family member. In making this decision to avoid helping the injured man, they believed they were showing their love and respect for God, by following the laws of their faith. The Samaritan man, however, is not confined to the rules and laws, but responds out of love and mercy to the victim. Jesus explains that it was the Samaritan who was in fact the true neighbor in the story. He challenges his listeners to “Go and do likewise.” Luke 10:37 Jesus is not implying that following the law is wrong or is not one way to give God our worship, but He challenges us to see beyond the rules to a truth that speaks about the importance of caring for others as an integral part of our relationship with God. The love of God and love of neighbor is so intimately connected that no matter what we are doing- both God and others are affected by our words and actions.
In the first reading today, St. Paul reminds us that the only true “gospel” is from Jesus. He explains that “the Gospel preached by me is not of human origin. For I did not receive it from a human being, nor was I taught it, but it came through a revelation of Jesus Christ.” (Gal: 1 12) The truths upon which our faith has been built are from God Himself. The call to mercy, compassion and love that Jesus preaches supersedes any manmade laws that we follow. The gospel that Jesus teaches and that St. Paul professes is one that invites all people to follow Jesus in living out their love of God by living their lives in love and service for others.
These readings have broadened my perspective on how I am called to live. I no longer think that the Levite and Priest were bad people, but they were unable to see beyond the rules to a deeper understanding of what it means to love God. I wonder myself, how many times I have acted in a certain way, believing that it was the right thing to do, but not looking past the rules themselves to see the human side of the situation where compassion and love should have been my motives. I am sure that there are many “victims” that I face in the course of my day. These readings remind me that I am called to be compassionate and kind even if it seems to go against the rules that society has put into place. Whether it is the illegal immigrant, the poor of our society, or even those we consider enemies-if we do not love them, we cannot love God. This is a radical way to live. It is only through the love of Christ and the power of the Holy Spirit that we can begin to live this gospel in our lives.
Father - You are God of all creation. May we love you with all our hearts, minds and souls. Help us to live the truths that Jesus taught us. May your Spirit enlighten us so we know your ways, and by Your grace may we always share your love and compassion with others. May our lives always praise you and give you glory. We pray this in Jesus’ name. AMEN
Marylynn Herchline