I Know It's Hard, But...

October 8, 2018

Good morning, friends. Today's gospel is one of those that we know in our sleep, The Good Samaritan. My reflection is going to be pretty brief as I am already a bit late in waking up today. Here's what God placed on my heart..."Who is my neighbor?" Jesus tells the story of someone that fell victim to thievery, violence, hate, oppression, abuse,  injustice, (insert any or all circumstances that would leave one destitute, alone, hurt, neglected, or forgotten). Not only was that someone victim to any or all of the above, then they had to endure supposedly good upstanding people turning a blind eye to their desperation, ignoring their pain, avoiding the problem, and simply not caring. Raise your hand if you think similar situations exist today...Next thought...a Samaritan (insert any negative modern-day label we might have for someone that is considered acceptable to think badly of...I am tempted to insert my own labels and I'd rather not go there, but I definitely want you to go there...start with current events!) came upon the victim and was moved with compassion. This Samaritan (insert negative label) showed mercy and attended to this person's every need with generosity, tenderness, and selflessness. When Jesus asks the audience who was the neighbor, they said "the one who treated him with mercy." "Love your neighbor AS yourself." "The one who treated him with mercy." Give mercy AS you would like to receive it. There's that significant two-letter word: AS. Our neighbors are the ones that challenge us to be merciful. Why? To remind us of the mercy that each one of us desperately needs. We will only receive that which we give and give generously. 

I know it's hard, but we can do it if we have Jesus at the center of our lives. I know it's hard, but we can do it if we soak in His grace daily. I know it's hard, but we can do it if we keep our eyes fixed on Him. I know it's hard, but we can do it if we remember that they (insert negative label) need mercy as much as we do. I know it's hard, but we can do it if we trust in the Lord. I know it's hard, but we can do it if we remember those times when we fell victim to circumstances that left us in great pain, abandonment, loneliness, desperation  or neglected. We need to be known as "The Good Samaritan (insert negative label)". For me it might be "The Good Know It All", "The Good Control Freak", "The Good Holier Than Thou", "The Good Super Sinner", etc. All I know is that what defines "The Good Samaritan" is his compassion, mercy, and generosity. I'd also like to be defined by these virtues. Have a blessed day and it is well with my soul. 

P.S. I'm going on vacation tomorrow and I really do plan on writing gospel reflections, but we will see what the Holy Spirit has to say. Peace. 

Reading 1 GAL 1:6-12

Brothers and sisters:
I am amazed that you are so quickly forsaking
the one who called you by the grace of Christ
for a different gospel (not that there is another).
But there are some who are disturbing you
and wish to pervert the Gospel of Christ.
But even if we or an angel from heaven
should preach to you a gospel 
other than the one that we preached to you,
let that one be accursed!
As we have said before, and now I say again,
if anyone preaches to you a gospel
other than the one that you received,
let that one be accursed!

Am I now currying favor with human beings or God?
Or am I seeking to please people?
If I were still trying to please people,
I would not be a slave of Christ.

Now I want you to know, brothers and sisters,
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.

Responsorial Psalm PS 111:1B-2, 7-8, 9 AND 10C

R. (5) The Lord will remember his covenant for ever.
or: 
R. Alleluia.
I will give thanks to the LORD with all my heart
in the company and assembly of the just.
Great are the works of the LORD,
exquisite in all their delights.
R. The Lord will remember his covenant for ever.
or: 
R. Alleluia.
The works of his hands are faithful and just;
sure are all his precepts,
Reliable forever and ever,
wrought in truth and equity.
R. The Lord will remember his covenant for ever.
or: 
R. Alleluia.
He has sent deliverance to his people;
he has ratified his covenant forever;
holy and awesome is his name.
His praise endures forever.
R. The Lord will remember his covenant for ever.
or: 
R. Alleluia.

Alleluia JN 13:34

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
I give you a new commandment:
love one another as I have loved you.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel LK 10:25-37

There was a scholar of the law who stood up to test Jesus and said,
"Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?"
Jesus said to him, "What is written in the law?
How do you read it?"
He said in reply,
"You shall love the Lord, your God,
with all your heart,
with all your being,
with all your strength,
and with all your mind,
and your neighbor as yourself."
He replied to him, "You have answered correctly;
do this and you will live."

But because he wished to justify himself, he said to Jesus, 
"And who is my neighbor?"
Jesus replied, 
"A man fell victim to robbers
as he went down from Jerusalem to Jericho.
They stripped and beat him and went off leaving him half-dead.
A priest happened to be going down that road,
but when he saw him, he passed by on the opposite side.
Likewise a Levite came to the place,
and when he saw him, he passed by on the opposite side.
But a Samaritan traveler who came upon him
was moved with compassion at the sight.
He approached the victim,
poured oil and wine over his wounds and bandaged them.
Then he lifted him up on his own animal,
took him to an inn, and cared for him.
The next day he took out two silver coins
and gave them to the innkeeper with the instruction,
'Take care of him.
If you spend more than what I have given you,
I shall repay you on my way back.'
Which of these three, in your opinion,
was neighbor to the robbers' victim?"
He answered, "The one who treated him with mercy."
Jesus said to him, "Go and do likewise."