Good Samaritan

July 10^th, 2016 Sunday Homily –Fr.Francis Chirackal CMI

( Dt.30:10-14, Col.1:15-20 Lk.10:25-37)

For Readings:

http://www.usccb.org/nab/071016.shtml

On July 6^th, 2013 there was a tragic plane crash in San Francisco Airport. 305 of 307were saved. Along with the sad news of plane crash, the media wrote of a lady crewmember, who rescued the passengers from the beginning to the end even without considering her own safety or injury. There was also a police officer, who entered the burning plane to rescue the trapped passengers even without a safety mask or necessary requirements for his own safety. This shows how the selfless love expresses itself in concern for others and service, and lives the spirit of the ‘Good Samaritan’. The Good Samaritan, who Jesus presents in the parable, transcends beyond all barriers of selfishness and enmity and lives the real love, forgiveness and service. That is why this parable is greatly appreciated by the people of all time and all faiths including the atheists. This is the love Jesus shows as a requirement for attaining the Kingdom of God. Love of neighbor is the sign of love of God.

The first reading from the Book of Deuteronomy reminds us that we all need to keep the God of love always before our minds. God gives us His commandments in the Holy Scriptures and also has written them in our hearts so that we may obey them and inherit eternal life with God. St.Paul in the second reading reminds us that, we are not to look for the purpose of our life here on this earth, but a future life in which we would share in the eternal heavenly life. Just as Christ Jesus is the “visible image of the invisible God,” our neighbors are the visible image of the invisible Christ, living in our midst in this world.

The question the Scribe asked Jesus was a very important one as the Kingdom of heaven is the goal of our meaningful earthly life. Many times, simply the words alone will not give the understanding of its inner meaning and spirit unless we make it a life experience. Just reading the Bible alone may not enable us to get into the spirit of the Word of God. We need to prayerfully reflect on it so that Holy Spirit will inspire our mind and heart to understand it with His gifts and put it into practice. When Jesus used the word ‘neighbor’ it was not a geographical area based relationship, but a heart to heart relationship, a relationship of children of God in a wider circle.

Seeking the right knowledge from God is not enough. As Jesus says, we need to ‘do it’ in our lives. It is not enough to make others to follow the commandments with our rhetorical speeches and skilled guidance. In the parable Jesus presents three different people such as a priest, a Levite and a Samaritan representing different categories of people in the society. The response of these three towards the robbed, attacked and left helpless man is different from what we usually think of or expect, and even it goes contrary. The first two thought inwardly of their own comfort while the third one forgot of himself and thought outwardly of the other who was in need. In him the love and service was spontaneous and broke the customary barriers. Jesus was not confined to the boundaries when it came to love and service. He tells us to do the same if we want to attain the Kingdom of God.

The parable of Good Samaritan invites us to examine our relationship with other people, especially people who are in need. In our real life, whom do we imitate, the priest and the Levite or the Samaritan who stopped and helped his enemy in all possible ways. Sometimes, some people may find it easier to help others while keeping blind to the needs of their own family members who are badly in need of their help. It may be own spouse, parents, children, siblings or relatives. But to make our love and service really meaningful and heavenly, our charity should begin in our own family. There may not be many people to see it or praise our good works, rather our loving God, who rewards for our silent and veiled services to His beloved child in need, will be seeing it. Therefore, we can be a good Samaritan wherever we are, irrespective of our age, status, ability or role. Let us ‘do’ as Jesus says and bring peace to our lives and joy to others. This Year of Mercy specially invites us to live a life of love and mercy in action. We have a good living example in our Holy Father Pope Francis and many others who lives the spirit of god Samaritan. Let us be good Samaritans. God Bless you.