Sermon Thoughts – 15th Sunday in Ordinary Time – C (Lk 10, 25-37)
Once, as I was in a Parish, a mother came to me. She complained about her child who was very mischievous. I was asked to pray for him and bless him. During our talk I realized, that the boy’s problem was something complex. He learned many of his habits from his parents. Still they wanted their child a better one. The parents, refused their faults at first, and then began to admit them slowly. My advice was to correct them, at first.
Just like these parents, we are all having utopian ideas. How many research works are there in the book shelves of several libraries resting in dust? How many theories are there in our world, suggesting tricks and tips for universal peace and humanity? Still we cannot manage that. Our words are not corresponding to our actions in many cases. We have plenty of theories. Our world is severely in need of action.
The Gospel passage of this Sunday concentrates mainly on the need of “corresponding action”. The question of the scholar to Jesus contains “what I must do…” And the reply of Jesus contains twice “do”; “do this, do likewise”. There are enough guidelines already given. Act like that.
Surely we are all in action; may be more than any other time-period. But most of the time we act according to our tastes; our will. Our actions are lacking the Divine will. We pray daily, in ‘our father’, “your will be done”! But most of the time, we submit our need to God and compel God to enact according to our needs. God must accept our will as his Will. Otherwise, we will discard our faith; we will criticize him…
The Priest and the Levite had so many rituals and laws regarding cleanliness. Touching blood or dead body will make them unclean. The Samaritan traveller had some advantages, comparing to the Priest and Levite. He too had his rituals and laws as other two. But he was in a way free to handle, I suppose.
Jesus is teaching to get in this freedom. He expresses it in other time “Sabbath is for people, people are not for Sabbath”. The meaning is same: law must help humanity. It must not restrict us from good works. “Love Lord your God, with whole heart” the exhortation of Mose to Israel is only complete when it is expressed; when it comes in to action. How can I express my love to God; not only in offerings and prayers but also through human dealings.
In the time of Jesus, the road from Jerusalem to Jericho was notorious for its danger and difficulty, and was known as the “Way of Blood” because “of the blood which is often shed there by robbers”. The places “Jerusalem” and “Jericho” are having another meaning too. Jerusalem represents Divinity, while Jericho represents, World. The man being attacked travelled in this route. We can also interpret; this man had a Wrong direction. He travelled from the divinity to the worldliness…
We may be able to see many people, who have lost their orientation in their life; who are internally injured. We are called to act in that situation. Our call is to help them. Jesus is the Good Samaritan. He is our guide, reference and example in our actions. He talked less and did much more. His life and actions must inspire us. Let us find out a connection with in our words and works. Amen.
–
Fr Thomas Kalathil
Once, as I was in a Parish, a mother came to me. She complained about her child who was very mischievous. I was asked to pray for him and bless him. During our talk I realized, that the boy’s problem was something complex. He learned many of his habits from his parents. Still they wanted their child a better one. The parents, refused their faults at first, and then began to admit them slowly. My advice was to correct them, at first.
Just like these parents, we are all having utopian ideas. How many research works are there in the book shelves of several libraries resting in dust? How many theories are there in our world, suggesting tricks and tips for universal peace and humanity? Still we cannot manage that. Our words are not corresponding to our actions in many cases. We have plenty of theories. Our world is severely in need of action.
The Gospel passage of this Sunday concentrates mainly on the need of “corresponding action”. The question of the scholar to Jesus contains “what I must do…” And the reply of Jesus contains twice “do”; “do this, do likewise”. There are enough guidelines already given. Act like that.
Surely we are all in action; may be more than any other time-period. But most of the time we act according to our tastes; our will. Our actions are lacking the Divine will. We pray daily, in ‘our father’, “your will be done”! But most of the time, we submit our need to God and compel God to enact according to our needs. God must accept our will as his Will. Otherwise, we will discard our faith; we will criticize him…
The Priest and the Levite had so many rituals and laws regarding cleanliness. Touching blood or dead body will make them unclean. The Samaritan traveller had some advantages, comparing to the Priest and Levite. He too had his rituals and laws as other two. But he was in a way free to handle, I suppose.
Jesus is teaching to get in this freedom. He expresses it in other time “Sabbath is for people, people are not for Sabbath”. The meaning is same: law must help humanity. It must not restrict us from good works. “Love Lord your God, with whole heart” the exhortation of Mose to Israel is only complete when it is expressed; when it comes in to action. How can I express my love to God; not only in offerings and prayers but also through human dealings.
In the time of Jesus, the road from Jerusalem to Jericho was notorious for its danger and difficulty, and was known as the “Way of Blood” because “of the blood which is often shed there by robbers”. The places “Jerusalem” and “Jericho” are having another meaning too. Jerusalem represents Divinity, while Jericho represents, World. The man being attacked travelled in this route. We can also interpret; this man had a Wrong direction. He travelled from the divinity to the worldliness…
We may be able to see many people, who have lost their orientation in their life; who are internally injured. We are called to act in that situation. Our call is to help them. Jesus is the Good Samaritan. He is our guide, reference and example in our actions. He talked less and did much more. His life and actions must inspire us. Let us find out a connection with in our words and works. Amen.
–
Fr Thomas Kalathil
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