Gospel Reflections for July 14 2019
…and who is my neighbor?
Jesus presents two foundations of our faith in today’s Gospel: “Love God …and love your neighbor as yourself.” But then an antagonistic lawyer quickly challenges Him, “…and who is my neighbor?”
So Jesus tells a story…
When Jesus tells a story to teach a lesson, there is always a slight “twist” to it. Our Lord wants to get people’s attention to make His lesson more memorable. This happens today in the parable of a person from a nearby tribe of Samaritans that all Jews considered heretics and so would never even associate with them.
In today’s Gospel parable, a man has been injured by robbers and left lying on the side of the road. Several Jewish leaders pass by and yet do nothing to help. The injured man had major wounds that were clearly visible so they should have noticed but did not. Finally, A Samaritan (of all people!) offers heroic aid and at great personal expense too. He becomes the hero of the story. That a Samaritan is the hero is the “twist” in the story.
But what is the real and deeper “twist” is that Jesus chose to tell a parable in the first place!
The lawyer was clearly angry and wanted to attack Our Lord with a public challenge. Yet, amazingly, Jesus does not respond in kind. That was unexpected.
Perhaps Jesus recognized that this lawyer was also a wounded person. After all, not all wounds are physically visible. Some are deep inside your soul. Often people’s hurtful actions towards others arise from hurts already felt deep inside themselves. Perhaps the lawyer feels threatened by Jesus, and feels jealousy, despair, or maybe even panic. Maybe the lawyer thinks the best defense is a good offense, and so he attacks Jesus.
Rather than attack back, Jesus amazingly shows respect for his intelligence and position. Rather than simply give a speech, Our Lord chooses to engage the lawyer’s mind by telling a story, and then invites him to freely respond.
Jesus cares for the lawyer in the same personal and caring way the Samaritan cared for the injured man by the side of the road.
This means that Our Lord always considers you “His neighbor” and will notice your wounds as deep as they are, and provide just the right kind of personal healing just for you. All you need to do is let Him do so.
God Bless!
Fr. Dave
Thank you for your insightful unwrapping of this Gospel. As I have heard you say, compassion is what differentiates humans in creation.
Yes, compassion and courage made us human, for millions of years!
will this Gospel help catch fish or lobster or maybe abalone? By the way I liked it so much I used it for my sermon at todays service
I remember well the abalone hunt! Glad you liked the ideas and even used for your services.
Fr. Dave. I live with my mom as a caregiver
My nephew also lives here He is a very toxic person. Pray for me that I can reach out to him
Just have the courage to say God bless you when we pass by each other
He does frighten me
Pray for me and my nephew, Casey
Please be assured of my prayers. I hope there are others nearby that can offer more practical help to you as well.
I like your thought that Jesus considers us His “neighbor”
No matter who we are He hears our call and like the Good Samaritan He comes
to help us.
Sometimes we think that our “neighbor” are only the people who agree with us,
but like Jesus we include our enemies and those who hate us as well.
Well said!
I like the way Jesus picked the one not liked at all. I know there r those I struggle with, but I would like to think I would reach out to them in a time of need . Putting down ones pride can be easy if we let the Lord take over. By the way, the Priest who just left St. PZeter Claiver (can`t remember his name.) who just got transfered to another parish has done a great teaching on adoration. You might want to think about using him for the University next year. Just a thought.
Thanks for the tip!
Dear Father Dave,
Lessons for living, to be sure. The good Samaritan helped a poor injured man on the side of the road. The malicious attorney verbally attacked Jesus, and Jesus showed kindness. I see the similarities, but I see differences, too. In the first case, kindness prevailed between two human beings There was a great need, and it was met.
In the second instance, it was Jesus, fully human and fully God, who engaged in dialogue with an agnostic. As humans, we hope to strive toward the nobility of forgiveness and to “take it on the chin” as Jesus did, but I think most of us have more success as the Good Samaritan because we are not Jesus. Yes, most of us learn to forgive those who hurt us, and we learn to forgive ourselves, too.
But, and please tell me if I’ve misunderstood, if the core of our faith is viciously attacked, or our democracy, or a loved one, or even ourselves, a well-placed response is a normal human reaction. We have to stand up for our beliefs, or the bullies in the world will take over.
As always, thank you for taking the time to share your reflections.
God bless you.
Sincerely,
Kathleen A.
Yes, of course, we must always stand strong in defense of our faith, and certainly in defense of our self or anyone anyone else who is unfairly attacked. That is where compassion for innocent victims and the courage to do something about it comes in.
Fr. Dave
I couldn’t help but see the images of the immigrants & immigrant children being held in cages. Where are the “Good Samaritans” for them?
I think the Good Samaritans are the much beleaguered US border guards who have faced a sudden and massive and overwhelming human tsunami of people rushing the border. The US Border Guards are trying to meet the immigrant’s needs with facilities that were designed for much smaller numbers. Rather than placing blame, I would like to see all of our government leaders peacefully come together to provide a comprehensive system of orderly entry, and the funding to help make that happen. I have written about this before. See my article on Immigration at my website at daveheney.com.
Father Dave, you are so right. The border guards are doing the best they can with limited resources. The situation is dire and sad.
Let us pray for them, and for those they serve.
Father Dave, Loved your beautiful interpretation!!! Compassion is a beautiful gift we give to others and to ourselves!! We need each one of us to live this beautiful gift!! Jesus lived this gift by giving us Himself in death for us so that we might have new life !!!! Beautiful life, beautiful Faith!! jesus was the ultimate beauty of compassion!!! If we did one compassionate gift for someone daily we could change the world!!! It begins with us!!! Each in our own special way!!! Loveeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee it!!! Have a beautiful evening filled with joy and love!!!
Loveeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee, franca and Dick
Thank you!
Thank you. I can use this deep sense of compassion every single day. Jesus’s kindness is always present.
We can all use this compassion more. I am glad you liked the article.