15^th Sunday in Ordinary Time-C

 

I Reading: Deuteronomy 30:10-14: The Word is very near to you for your observance.

II Reading: Colossians 1:15-20: All things were created through Christ and for him.

Gospel: Luke 10:25-37: Who is my neighbour?

The Parable of the Good Samaritan:

The Two Supreme Questions of Life, Lk 10:25-37

What is true religion? In today’s readings explain, there wonderful teachers, Moses, Paul and Jesus provide the answer to this question; let us examine them. Everyone can be saved as Moses said to the Israelites: “Obey God’s commands and you will live.” (Deut. 30:16)

The mistake of the Christians of Colossae was that they believed in the evil spirits being Christians as pagans than believing in the good spirit of Jesus Christ. Epaphras being a good Christian came and said to Paul when he was in prison in Rom about the bad news and false teachings led by false teachers. Hence Paul wrote immediately and said to his Christians; he is above everyone and everything; be united with Christ and you have nothing to fear about the evil spirits. Christ reconciled us with God through his death; so he is the head of the Church, a Body of which we, Christians are the members. Christ is our beginning and the end and our goal on earth and in heaven.

A parable about two “religious people” (a priest and a Levite) who had not grasped what religion was about, and a “Samaritan” (known as a pagan) who was despised and dejected by Jews in the society, through love and compassion for the wounded man (Jew) and helped him in the time of real need without any discrimination, came closest to God.

How many of us help and support the poor, sick, downtrodden, needy and oppressed or rejected ones in our societies like the Samaritan man to inherit eternal life?

There are two supreme questions of life, questions that could revolutionize the world if men would ask them and then heed their answers.

1. A lawyer (an expert in the law) tempted Jesus (v.25)

2. Question 1: How do we inherit eternal life? (v.25-28)

a. First, the law has the answer

b. Second, love God supremely

c. Third, love your neighbour as yourself

d. Fourth, obey and you shall live

3. Question 2: Who is my neighbour? (v.29-37)

a. The traveller: was foolish and irresponsible

  1) Travelled alone

  2) Was robbed

  3) Was assaulted and left half-dead

b. The priest: placed work above people

  1) Saw the injured traveller

  2) Rushed by him

c. The Levite: placed safety before compassion

  1) Saw him

  2) Stopped and looked

d. The Samaritan: placed compassion before prejudice and opinion

  1) Gave his heart: compassion

  2) Sacrificed his work, time, energy, goods and money

  3) The Lord’s compassion: go and do likewise

Thought: The Samaritan being a gentile and outcaste saved the Jew in need. According to Jews only relatives and dear ones were their neighbours, not the Samaritans who were known as despised and outcaste people in their eyes.

Let us help people in need without any reservations.

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