Think Outside the Box

15th Sunday in Ordinary Time
 10 July 2016    

First reading
Deuteronomy 30:10-14

Moses said to the people: ‘Obey the voice of the Lord your God, keeping those commandments and laws of his that are written in the Book of this Law, and you shall return to the Lord your God with all your heart and soul.

  ‘For this Law that I enjoin on you today is not beyond your strength or beyond your reach. It is not in heaven, so that you need to wonder, “Who will go up to heaven for us and bring it down to us, so that we may hear it and keep it?” Nor is it beyond the seas, so that you need to wonder, “Who will cross the seas for us and bring it back to us, so that we may hear it and keep it?” No, the Word is very near to you, it is in your mouth and in your heart for your observance.’

 

Responsorial Psalm
Psalm 68:14,17,30-31,33-34,36-37

Second reading
Colossians 1:15-20

Christ Jesus is the image of the unseen God

and the first-born of all creation,

for in him were created

all things in heaven and on earth:

everything visible and everything invisible,

Thrones, Dominations, Sovereignties, Powers –

all things were created through him and for him.

Before anything was created, he existed,

and he holds all things in unity.

Now the Church is his body,

he is its head.

As he is the Beginning,

he was first to be born from the dead,

so that he should be first in every way;

because God wanted all perfection

to be found in him

and all things to be reconciled through him and for him,

everything in heaven and everything on earth,

when he made peace

by his death on the cross.

Gospel	Luke 10:25-37

There was a lawyer who, to disconcert Jesus, stood up and said to him, ‘Master, what must I do to inherit eternal life?’ He said to him, ‘What is written in the Law? What do you read there?’ He replied, ‘You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength, and with all your mind, and your neighbour as yourself.’ ‘You have answered right,’ said Jesus ‘do this and life is yours.’

  But the man was anxious to justify himself and said to Jesus, ‘And who is my neighbour?’ Jesus replied, ‘A man was once on his way down from Jerusalem to Jericho and fell into the hands of brigands; they took all he had, beat him and then made off, leaving him half dead. Now a priest happened to be travelling down the same road, but when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side. In the same way a Levite who came to the place saw him, and passed by on the other side. But a Samaritan traveller who came upon him was moved with compassion when he saw him. He went up and bandaged his wounds, pouring oil and wine on them. He then lifted him on to his own mount, carried him to the inn and looked after him. Next day, he took out two denarii and handed them to the innkeeper. “Look after him,” he said “and on my way back I will make good any extra expense you have.” Which of these three, do you think, proved himself a neighbour to the man who fell into the brigands‘ hands?’ ‘The one who took pity on him’ he replied. Jesus said to him, ‘Go, and do the same yourself.’

  Reflection
By Arthur B. Reyes

In today’s Gospel, we hear again the parable of Good Samaritan. Of the many parables of Jesus, none is more popular than this story. In fact, the phrase "Good Samaritan" has its own meaning in the dictionary. In the Thesaurus, it is defined as a person who gratuitously gives help or sympathy to those in distress.

It's an old, famous story but its lesson is just as telling today as it was when it was first told. It also presents to us another way through which God is with us. He is with us in the poor, in the just, in the marginalized, sick and weak.

But the parable is more than helping people in need. It is also about excuses and self-justification. Most of us are guilty of pretending to be “blind and deaf” to the needy. And we are very good too in justifying our faults and shortcomings. For many of us, we think that service to those in need is the duty and responsibility of the Church and the government alone. We blame, complain, finger-point, and accuse others instead of using our own capabilities to contribute.

We are all invited to “think outside the box”. That is, to do the unconventional, the uncommon. Jesus wants us to reach out regardless of our social standing, religion, ideology, race, and class. The test of genuine help is when it is given unconditionally, beyond our means and comfort zones. And to show compassion is to suffer with the wounded and the suffering, to share their pain and agony. Anyone who stops beside the suffering of another person, whatever form it may take, is a Good Samaritan.

Who is the neighbor to the robbers’ victim, Jesus asked the man. The man replied that man who treated him with mercy. Jesus then said to the man: “Go and do the same to others.”

Prayer

Lord, please open our eyes. Please let us see those around us that are in need of our compassion. Compel us to listen to them, to hear their needs. Open our hearts so You can stay and guide us in our lives. Help us to love You and others without condition. Amen.