First Reading: Deuteronomy 30:10-14
Reflection:
Moses was the leader of the Israelites at the time of the Exodus. He received the law from God on Mt. Sinai and communicated it to the Israelites. This Sunday’s first reading records a time later in his life when he would not be with them much longer. The Israelites soon afterward chose Joshua as Moses’ successor to lead them into the Promised Land. Moses was reminding them not to forget the laws of God. At many times, they had been rebellious and had not listened to the word of God. Moses challenged them to “keep his commandments and statutes” and return to the Lord “with all your heart and all your soul.” Those last words will be echoed in the gospel reading with the recounting of the greatest commandment (“Love the Lord, your God, with all your heart…”). In fact, the best way for us to love God is by obeying his commandments. And how can we know his commandments? The Scriptures are an essential source, but also the Church, which the second reading tells us is the “body” of Christ, who is the “head” of the Church. By following the teachings of the Church, we can follow God “with all [our] heart and all [our] soul.” And these teachings and commandments are not far off and unattainable. By the grace of God, we can know and obey his commandments. We have everything we need to follow God. We “have only to carry [them] out.”
Second Reading: Colossians 1:15-20
Reflection:
This beautiful passage about the identity of Christ from St. Paul’s letter to the Colossians likely pre-dates the letter itself. Most scholars believe this was an early Christian hymn that Paul was quoting here. Thus, it may have already been familiar to Christians in Colossae and may have been used in the liturgy. Paul uses these words to defend Jesus’ identity and confront false teachers who were spreading lies about Christ and the Church in the city of Colossae. Paul affirmed through this hymn that Jesus himself is the Creator—“For in him were created all things…” Jesus is not a creature, who had a beginning. That is because Jesus is the Second Person of the Holy Trinity. He is fully God. Although He took on flesh and became man at a certain point in time, He existed from all eternity before then (i.e. “He is before all things”). God became man “to reconcile all things.” Sin has caused a broken relationship between the creation and the Creator. Jesus, who is the Creator, became man in order to fix the relationship. It is through the Church, which is the “body” of Christ, who is the “head,” that we can experience the reconciliation and peace Jesus offers us “by the blood of his cross.”
Gospel Reading: Luke 10:25-37
Reflection:
This Sunday, we hear the story of the Good Samaritan in its original context. Jesus told the story in response to a question from a scholar of the law. This scholar, in fact, was trying to test Jesus. Still, the question, “What must I do to inherit eternal life?” is the most important question for us all. Here we have the chance to hear Jesus’ answer. In typical fashion, Jesus responded with a question. The scholar of the law answered correctly in quoting from Deuteronomy 6 (“Love the Lord, your God, with all your heart…) and from Leviticus 19 (“Love your neighbor as yourself”). In fact, Jesus himself taught that these were the greatest and second greatest commandments in the law (see Matthew 22:35-40). Through faith and the grace of God, we ought to strive to love God with everything and love our neighbor as ourself. This is our path to heaven. The follow-up question, “And who is my neighbor?” launched Jesus into the story of the Good Samaritan. In that story, we learn that even our greatest enemies are our neighbors. Jews and Samaritans were enemies to the point that they would not associate with one another. The priest and Levite avoided the half-dead man in order to maintain their ritual purity. According to the Jewish law, by touching the man they would have become unclean and had to wait for a period of time before being able to worship in the Temple again. Thus, they “passed by on the opposite side.” They were more concerned with themselves than with the dying man. The Samaritan, on the other hand, pushed aside his own needs to care for this man. He loved the stranger who was his enemy and was willing to do whatever it would take to save him.
Application:
We are invited and challenged by Jesus to emulate the radical love and mercy exemplified by the Good Samaritan. We can look to the Good Samaritan as a model and, then, “Go and do likewise.” How have you shown this type of selfless love to others? Who do you find to be most difficult to love? What is God calling you to do to express love to them (even if they are your enemy)?
