15 th SUNDAY OF THE YEAR 22

 15^TH SUNDAY, 10 JULY 2022: DEUT 30. 10-14; COL 1. 15-20; LUKE 10. 25-37: GOOD SAMARITAN

 

Thrust: Faith without charity!

Indicative: True faith can never be separated from concrete charity. To be truly faithful is to be concretely charitable. A faith without charity is dubious and spurious.

 

1.       In today’s gospel, we have the famous parable of the Good Samaritan. The parable dwells on the crucial question, “Who is my neighbour?” This is very crucial and relevant especially in our own times and in our society. There is a very narrow notion of a neighbour. The neighbourhood is demarcated by the boundaries and affinities like country, race, lineage, caste, region, language, culture, religion, rite, and occupation. Or, it is controlled by the concerns like profit, gratification, convenience, etc.

2.       Accordingly we find different kinds of neighbours: those who are totally indifferent and unconcerned toward others, being totally self-interested and self-serving. There are those who harm others for their gain. There are those who help others but with ulterior motives, expecting a return or good impression. There are those who are selectively and conveniently good, only to some or only in some matters or situations. And there are also some who are selflessly other-oriented. What kind of neighbours are we? 

3.       Today we are reminded and challenged to rise beyond our narrow demarcations. A neighbour is anyone in need, who is in difficulty. The neighbourhood is a matter of assistance and service to attend to the need. It is not a choice but a duty. It is not an option but an obligation. It is not a favour but a mandate. It is not a possibility but a priority.

4.       Always and everywhere, one should seek to be a good neighbour to the other. We should not look for good neighbours who can help us and fulfil our needs. Rather, we should strive to be good neighbours to others in need. Fraternity is our identity, sensitivity is our quality and charity is our priority – this in simple is the essence of being a good neighbour.

5.       The fault of the priest and the Levite in the gospel is that they failed in their primary identity of being brothers and sisters. They failed in the quality of being sensitive to the victim’s needs. They failed in giving priority to charity. They might even be a good priest and a good Levite. They might be doing well in their duty and profession. They might have their own reasons to avoid helping the victim and to go away in haste. But nothing of these can justify their failure in fraternity, sensitivity, and charity. On the other hand, the Good Samaritan had no botheration about his convenience or gain or schedule or work or time or money.

6.       Real charity demands not to “pass by on the other side” like the priest and the Levite, but to “see aside and turn around our attention by the roadside”, to “stop and create space” from one’s busy schedule, to “take the trouble and be humble to get down” from one’s riding on self and self-interests, to “take courage to go out of one’s way”, to “take time to move” to those in need, to “care the wounds of others”, to “accompany them in a process of healing and recovery of strength”.

7.       There is also a spiritual side to this story of Good Samaritan, along with the fraternal side. God is the Supreme Good Samaritan because He always keeps close to us in our needs and suffering. He is sensitive and benevolent to us always and everywhere, even without any merit or return on our part. He cares for our wounds inflicted by sin and the troubles of life. He cleans us, heals us and makes us sane again, with his own blood.

8.       This is the same mission of Christ of “reconciling all things and everyone to Himself through Christ” as the second reading affirms. So, whenever we become good Samaritans to others, we are only sharing in the very identity and mission of God. In the words of the first reading, it is to “turn to the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul”. It is to “have the word very near you… in your mouth and in your heart so that you can do it”.

 

Imperative: How many of us are Good Samaritans, genuinely and selflessly? How much are we aware of the boundless compassion of God, the supreme Good Samaritan? How much are we grateful and appreciative of numerous Good Samaritans?