By approving this close connection of two separate biblical commands Jesus gives love of neighbor (Lev 19:18) the same significance as love of God (Deut 6:5). Without love of neighbor, made concrete in the keeping of the commandments, genuine love for God is not possible.

The Fifteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Deuteronomy 30:10-14

Psalm 69:14+17, 30-31, 33-34, 36a+37 or Psalm 19:8, 9, 10, 11

Colossians 1:15-20

L uke 10:25-37  And behold, a lawyer stood up to put him to the test, saying, "Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?" (26) He said to him, "What is written in the law? How do you read?" (27) And he answered, "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength, and with all your mind; and your neighbor as yourself." (28) And he said to him, "You have answered right; do this, and you will live." (29) But he, desiring to justify himself, said to Jesus, "And who is my neighbor?" (30) Jesus replied, "A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and he fell among robbers, who stripped him and beat him, and departed, leaving him half dead. (31) Now by chance a priest was going down that road; and when he saw him he passed by on the other side. (32) So likewise a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. (33) But a Samaritan, as he journeyed, came to where he was; and when he saw him, he had compassion, (34) and went to him and bound up his wounds, pouring on oil and wine; then he set him on his own beast and brought him to an inn, and took care of him. (35) And the next day he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper, saying, `Take care of him; and whatever more you spend, I will repay you when I come back.' (36) Which of these three, do you think, proved neighbor to the man who fell among the robbers?" (37) He said, "The one who showed mercy on him." And Jesus said to him, "Go and do likewise."

Meditation

By Thomas Skeats O.P.

O lder manuals of moral theology are sometimes criticized for presenting the Christian moral life primarily in terms of obedience to a set of commandments or a code of prescriptions and prohibitions. A more traditional understanding of Christian morality, while not wanting to deny the value of laws or commandments for our moral development, sees this emphasis on obedience as only a preliminary, albeit necessary, stage on the Christian journey towards freedom. Love, rather than mere obedience to an external code, is at the heart of the Christian journey.

When Jesus is questioned by a lawyer about what must be done to inherit eternal life, he first directs the lawyer to what is written in the law while, at the same time, confirming that the whole of the law is contained in the double commandment to love God and to love neighbor. By approving this close connection of two separate biblical commands Jesus gives love of neighbor (Lev 19:18) the same significance as love of God (Deut 6:5). Without love of neighbor, made concrete in the keeping of the commandments, genuine love for God is not possible.

The story of the Good Samaritan, which Jesus recounts in response to a question about who counts as a neighbor, illustrates the contrast between two different conceptions of the moral life. The first is seen in the behavior of the priest and the Levite. When they come across the man left beaten by robbers they both pass by on the other side of the road, fearing that he might already be dead. Both the priest and the Levite wanted to be obedient to the Jewish law, in this case the purity law which restricted contact with a corpse. But out of fear of violating an obligation imposed by the law, sticking rigidly to the letter of the law, they failed to put into practice the heart of the law.

Their conduct can be contrasted with the behavior of the Samaritan traveler who, moved with pity at the sight of a fellow human being in need, acts with spontaneity and resourcefulness. Bandaging the wounds of the man left stripped and beaten at the side of the road and taking him to a nearby inn to see that he is cared for as long as necessary, this virtuous Samaritan shows a far greater level of maturity in the exercise of his moral freedom. At the same time he answers in his actions the question put to Jesus by the lawyer about who counts as a neighbor.

Jesus refuses to answer this question in terms of identifying boundaries which separate neighbor from non-neighbor, whether these boundaries are defined by faith, national identity or special election by God. Instead, the parable of the Good Samaritan, which only appears in the Gospel of Luke, is a concrete illustration of the universal dimension of God's plan of salvation and the extension of his grace to the whole world, a major theme for the evangelist Luke. Now my neighbor is the first person I encounter who constitutes a claim on my love. At the same time it is in the person in need that I encounter Jesus Christ who identifies himself, in particular, with the lowly and the suffering (Matthew 25:31-46).

In the act of loving our neighbor, we display the same love which God showed when in the person of Christ he came to the aid of a wounded and broken humanity. It is in our love for one another that we imitate and show our love for the God who is kind and full of compassion, slow to anger, abounding in love (Psalm 144).

Supplementary Reading

Don't Give Up On Your Tomorrows

‘For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future’ – Jeremiah 29:11  

No matter what may be happening today, God has good things in store for your future! It may not be easy to see now, but God has already lined up a new beginning, new friendships, and new opportunities for you. Maybe last year had some setbacks and difficulty, but don't make the mistake of expecting this year to be the same. It's time to get a new vision because it is a new day!

As believers, our attitude should be, "Even though the economy is down, I'm not worried. I know God is going before me, and He has promised He will make rivers in the desert." Or, "The medical report may not look good, but I have another report that says that God is restoring health unto me. I believe God has already released healing, health and victory in my future." Or, you may have a child who is not on the right course. In the natural it seems impossible. But our report should be, "I know God can do the impossible! My child will fulfill their destiny!" Be encouraged today and don't give up on your tomorrows because God has a good plan in store for you!

Father in heaven, thank You for giving me a hope and a future. Thank You for loving me. Thank You for choosing me. Thank You for delighting in me. I invite You to renew my heart and mind to the good plans you have for me. In Jesus Name. Amen.—Joel & Victoria Osteen

For archive of previous Daily Meditation postings, please visit http://his-ways-better-than-our-ways.blogspot.com/

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GOD BLESS US ALL!

O Theos Na Mas Evlogisi!
PRAY as if everything depended on HIM. ACT as if everything depended on YOU.