Enkindle in Them the Fire of Your Love: 15th Sunday in Ordinary Time (C) - July 11, 2010

Liturgical readings

Deuteronomy 30:10-34c
Psalm 69
Colossians 1:15-20
Luke 10:25-37

"What must I do to inherit everlasting life?"

The parable of the Good Samaritan. This was Jesus' response to a lawyer's question: "what must I do to inherit eternal life"? Jesus used the parable of the Good Samaritan to teach His listeners how they are to apply love for God, others and themselves in actual deeds. Jesus teaches that Christian faith involves being kind and generous even with people who are not of the same class or race as we are. During biblical times, Jews were not in accord with Samaritans because they intermarried with Gentiles. Thus, the Jews looked down upon Samaritans. Jesus however used the parable of the Good Samaritan to show that kindness, mercy and generosity can also come from those who are outside the social circle of Jewish culture.

Bible scholar Karris examines this parable of the Good Samaritan, and comments that Jesus' message can also mean: "Don't search for those who are neighbors, but for those who act like a neighbor". And this means those who are compassionate and merciful. Karris also adds that Jesus may be indirectly warning His fellow Jews that they can lose their membership in God's covenant community if they don't act with compassion and mercy like the Good Samaritan.

It is easy for us to be kind and generous with those who we feel comfortable with. We speak and relate only with those who are of like mind and heart as we are. Jesus, however calls us to go beyond our immediate social circle. He calls us to be like the Good Samaritan: to humble ourselves, and care also for those who look down upon us, but may have been unfortunately victimized by the evils of the present age. If we do this in His name, we shall inherit His promise of eternal life.

Points for reflection: Where do we see ourselves in this gospel-parable? Is our life-situation at present like the victimized Jew? Or is our attitude similar to those passersby who just ignored the one victimized? How have we been 'Good Samaritans' lately - outside the social circle of family, friends, and co-workers?

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