15^th Sunday in ordinary time

11^th July 2010

Deuteronomy 30:10-14  Col 1: 15-20 Ps 69 or 19 Luke 10:25-37.

1. Introduction: Little Children are very honest. However that honesty can be very hurtful . The children in the class stared at the little girl from Kenya who was adopted by the Murphy’s from Ireland.  One of the 7 year olds said to her, “I look like my mother, but you do not look like your mother.” Ah, replied the adopted one. You were born from your mother’s stomach. I was born in my mother’s heart!

2. The HEART is central to all our readings today, even the responsorial psalms. For our response we have been given two choices: Psalm 69 or  Psalm 19.

• Seek God in your need and let your heart revive
• The precepts of the Lord are right and give joy to the heart.

Deuteronomy is a book on the Laws that the People of Israel observed. In this reading, Moses says that although they have laws written on tablets of stone, the core and the centre of those laws are written in the Human Heart. Hence there is no need of a book, or tablets of stone, nor a teacher or guide to instruct us.

 These laws of the heart guide us awake or asleep. We have all experienced this in our lives especially when we are tempted to do something wrong.

• We take money, or clothes or books that is not ours – We know we should not
• We get into a relationship with another, and we know that it is not life giving, but rather unhealthy - We know we should stop.
• We suffer from high cholesterol or diabetes or alcoholism – and eat and drink certain foods. : We know we should not.

As Moses would say, in these cases, we do not need a book or a law or a teacher to tell us. It is right there in our heart.

PART TWO

3. In our second reading, Paul speaks of Christ being the head of the body, but Paul could very well have said that Christ was, Christ is the Heart of the Body, which is the Church. The head gives direction, but the heart gives life. It is the same Christ that bring us to one of the two best known parables in the Gospel: The good Samaritan and the Prodigal Son. Both of these are found in the Gospel of Luke. They are so famous that they have become a part of secular literature.

4. The message of the Good Samaritan Parable is the same as the first reading: “We must love one another.” However this is easier said than done. In Rap music, the singers tell us it is not enough to Talk the talk, but we must also Walk the walk – namely we have to put our love into deeds and acts.

 All of us without exception would definitely “Love our Neighbour” provided he would come on a weekend. Let us get on with our normal lives – Monday to Friday – from Nine to Five. Then we will have enough of time for the business of “Loving one another”. But loving always comes at an inconvenient time.

 The traveller from Jerusalem to Jericho seemed to be robbed and beaten at an inconvenient time. The Priest and the Levite were possibly on their way to worship. If they were to attend to the bleeding traveller, they would touch blood. This act would make them “unclean” and would prevent them from going to worship. The laws of man were going to take a precedence over the Laws of God.

5. God comes into our lives always at an inconvenient time.

• Just when we are on our way to work
• Just when we are caring for a sick father/mother/child
• Just when we have no money, or in debt ourselves.
• Just when we are in a bad mood and do not want to meet anyone.

The Good Samaritan in our gospel, did not just go the extra mile –he went the extra two miles

• He bandaged the bleeding wounds. The Law of God came first for him
• He took the wounded man to an inn. He did not point him in the direction of the hospital
• He paid for the services – up front. He did not look for an OHIP card or fill up forms.
• He promised to come back and pay extra – he left his credit card number.

God knocks at the door of our Heart – not at the door of what is Logically or politically correct. Are we prepared to open for the Lord – or are we going to say to him. Do not bother me on a Monday a Tuesday… etc I will meet you at Church on Sunday.