Memorial of Our Lady of the Rosary
Lectionary: 461
Lectionary: 461
This is the word of the LORD that came to Jonah, son of Amittai:
"Set out for the great city of Nineveh, and preach against it;
their wickedness has come up before me."
But Jonah made ready to flee to Tarshish away from the LORD.
He went down to Joppa, found a ship going to Tarshish,
paid the fare, and went aboard to journey with them to Tarshish,
away from the LORD.
The LORD, however, hurled a violent wind upon the sea,
and in the furious tempest that arose
the ship was on the point of breaking up.
Then the mariners became frightened and each one cried to his god.
To lighten the ship for themselves, they threw its cargo into the sea.
Meanwhile, Jonah had gone down into the hold of the ship,
and lay there fast asleep.
The captain came to him and said, "What are you doing asleep?
Rise up, call upon your God!
Perhaps God will be mindful of us so that we may not perish."
Then they said to one another, "Come, let us cast lots
to find out on whose account we have met with this misfortune."
So they cast lots, and thus singled out Jonah.
"Tell us," they said, "what is your business?
Where do you come from?
What is your country, and to what people do you belong?"
Jonah answered them, "I am a Hebrew,
I worship the LORD, the God of heaven,
who made the sea and the dry land."
Now the men were seized with great fear and said to him,
"How could you do such a thing!–
They knew that he was fleeing from the LORD,
because he had told them.–
They asked, "What shall we do with you,
that the sea may quiet down for us?"
For the sea was growing more and more turbulent.
Jonah said to them, "Pick me up and throw me into the sea,
that it may quiet down for you;
since I know it is because of me
that this violent storm has come upon you."
Still the men rowed hard to regain the land, but they could not,
for the sea grew ever more turbulent.
Then they cried to the LORD: "We beseech you, O LORD,
let us not perish for taking this man's life;
do not charge us with shedding innocent blood,
for you, LORD, have done as you saw fit."
Then they took Jonah and threw him into the sea,
and the sea's raging abated.
Struck with great fear of the LORD,
the men offered sacrifice and made vows to him.
But the LORD sent a large fish, that swallowed Jonah;
and Jonah remained in the belly of the fish
three days and three nights.
From the belly of the fish Jonah prayed
to the LORD, his God.
Then the LORD commanded the fish to spew Jonah upon the shore.
"Set out for the great city of Nineveh, and preach against it;
their wickedness has come up before me."
But Jonah made ready to flee to Tarshish away from the LORD.
He went down to Joppa, found a ship going to Tarshish,
paid the fare, and went aboard to journey with them to Tarshish,
away from the LORD.
The LORD, however, hurled a violent wind upon the sea,
and in the furious tempest that arose
the ship was on the point of breaking up.
Then the mariners became frightened and each one cried to his god.
To lighten the ship for themselves, they threw its cargo into the sea.
Meanwhile, Jonah had gone down into the hold of the ship,
and lay there fast asleep.
The captain came to him and said, "What are you doing asleep?
Rise up, call upon your God!
Perhaps God will be mindful of us so that we may not perish."
Then they said to one another, "Come, let us cast lots
to find out on whose account we have met with this misfortune."
So they cast lots, and thus singled out Jonah.
"Tell us," they said, "what is your business?
Where do you come from?
What is your country, and to what people do you belong?"
Jonah answered them, "I am a Hebrew,
I worship the LORD, the God of heaven,
who made the sea and the dry land."
Now the men were seized with great fear and said to him,
"How could you do such a thing!–
They knew that he was fleeing from the LORD,
because he had told them.–
They asked, "What shall we do with you,
that the sea may quiet down for us?"
For the sea was growing more and more turbulent.
Jonah said to them, "Pick me up and throw me into the sea,
that it may quiet down for you;
since I know it is because of me
that this violent storm has come upon you."
Still the men rowed hard to regain the land, but they could not,
for the sea grew ever more turbulent.
Then they cried to the LORD: "We beseech you, O LORD,
let us not perish for taking this man's life;
do not charge us with shedding innocent blood,
for you, LORD, have done as you saw fit."
Then they took Jonah and threw him into the sea,
and the sea's raging abated.
Struck with great fear of the LORD,
the men offered sacrifice and made vows to him.
But the LORD sent a large fish, that swallowed Jonah;
and Jonah remained in the belly of the fish
three days and three nights.
From the belly of the fish Jonah prayed
to the LORD, his God.
Then the LORD commanded the fish to spew Jonah upon the shore.
Responsorial
PsalmJONAH 2:3, 4, 5, 8
R. You
will rescue my life from the pit, O Lord.
Out of my distress I called to the LORD,
and he answered me;
From the midst of the nether world I cried for help,
and you heard my voice.
R. You will rescue my life from the pit, O Lord.
For you cast me into the deep, into the heart of the sea,
and the flood enveloped me;
All your breakers and your billows
passed over me.
R. You will rescue my life from the pit, O Lord.
Then I said, "I am banished from your sight!
yet would I again look upon your holy temple."
R. You will rescue my life from the pit, O Lord.
When my soul fainted within me,
I remembered the LORD;
My prayer reached you
in your holy temple.
R. You will rescue my life from the pit, O Lord.
Out of my distress I called to the LORD,
and he answered me;
From the midst of the nether world I cried for help,
and you heard my voice.
R. You will rescue my life from the pit, O Lord.
For you cast me into the deep, into the heart of the sea,
and the flood enveloped me;
All your breakers and your billows
passed over me.
R. You will rescue my life from the pit, O Lord.
Then I said, "I am banished from your sight!
yet would I again look upon your holy temple."
R. You will rescue my life from the pit, O Lord.
When my soul fainted within me,
I remembered the LORD;
My prayer reached you
in your holy temple.
R. You will rescue my life from the pit, O Lord.
AlleluiaJN 13:34
R. Alleluia,
alleluia.
I give you a new commandment:
love one another as I have loved you.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
I give you a new commandment:
love one another as I have loved you.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
GospelLK 10:25-37
There was a scholar of the law who stood up to test Jesus and said,
"Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?"
Jesus said to him, "What is written in the law?
How do you read it?"
He said in reply,
"You shall love the Lord, your God,
with all your heart,
with all your being,
with all your strength,
and with all your mind,
and your neighbor as yourself."
He replied to him, "You have answered correctly;
do this and you will live."
But because he wished to justify himself, he said to Jesus,
"And who is my neighbor?"
Jesus replied,
"A man fell victim to robbers
as he went down from Jerusalem to Jericho.
They stripped and beat him and went off leaving him half-dead.
A priest happened to be going down that road,
but when he saw him, he passed by on the opposite side.
Likewise a Levite came to the place,
and when he saw him, he passed by on the opposite side.
But a Samaritan traveler who came upon him
was moved with compassion at the sight.
He approached the victim,
poured oil and wine over his wounds and bandaged them.
Then he lifted him up on his own animal,
took him to an inn, and cared for him.
The next day he took out two silver coins
and gave them to the innkeeper with the instruction,
'Take care of him.
If you spend more than what I have given you,
I shall repay you on my way back.'
Which of these three, in your opinion,
was neighbor to the robbers' victim?"
He answered, "The one who treated him with mercy."
Jesus said to him, "Go and do likewise."
"Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?"
Jesus said to him, "What is written in the law?
How do you read it?"
He said in reply,
"You shall love the Lord, your God,
with all your heart,
with all your being,
with all your strength,
and with all your mind,
and your neighbor as yourself."
He replied to him, "You have answered correctly;
do this and you will live."
But because he wished to justify himself, he said to Jesus,
"And who is my neighbor?"
Jesus replied,
"A man fell victim to robbers
as he went down from Jerusalem to Jericho.
They stripped and beat him and went off leaving him half-dead.
A priest happened to be going down that road,
but when he saw him, he passed by on the opposite side.
Likewise a Levite came to the place,
and when he saw him, he passed by on the opposite side.
But a Samaritan traveler who came upon him
was moved with compassion at the sight.
He approached the victim,
poured oil and wine over his wounds and bandaged them.
Then he lifted him up on his own animal,
took him to an inn, and cared for him.
The next day he took out two silver coins
and gave them to the innkeeper with the instruction,
'Take care of him.
If you spend more than what I have given you,
I shall repay you on my way back.'
Which of these three, in your opinion,
was neighbor to the robbers' victim?"
He answered, "The one who treated him with mercy."
Jesus said to him, "Go and do likewise."
For the readings of the Memorial of Our Lady of the Rosary, please go here.
Meditation:
"Go and do likewise"
If
God is all-loving and compassionate, then why is there so much suffering and
evil in this world? Many agnostics refuse to believe in God because
of this seemingly imponderable problem. If God is love then evil and suffering
must be eliminated in all its forms. What is God's answer to this human
dilemma? Jesus' parable about a highway robbery gives us a helpful hint. Jesus
told this dramatic story in response to a devout Jew who wanted to understand
how to apply God's great commandment of love to his everyday life
circumstances. In so many words this religious-minded Jew said: "I want to
love God as best as I can and I want to love my neighbor as well. But how do I
know that I am fulfilling my duty to love my neighbor as myself?"
Jesus
must have smiled when he heard this man challenge him to explain one's duty
towards their neighbor. For the Jewish believer the law of love was plain and
simple: "treat your neighbor as you would treat yourself." The real
issue for this believer was the correct definition of who is "my
neighbor". He understood "neighbor" to mean
one's fellow Jew who belonged to the same covenant which God made with the
people of Israel. Up to a certain point, Jesus agreed with this sincere expert
but, at the same time, he challenged him to see that God's view of neighbor
went far beyond his narrow definition.
God's
love and mercy extends to all
Jesus told a parable to show how wide God's love and mercy is towards every fellow human being. Jesus' story of a brutal highway robbery was all too familiar to his audience. The road from Jerusalem to Jericho went through a narrow winding valley surrounded by steep rocky cliffs. Many wealthy Jews from Jerusalem had winter homes in Jerico. This narrow highway was dangerous and notorious for its robbers who could easily ambush their victim and escape into the hills. No one in his right mind would think of traveling through this dangerous highway alone. It was far safer to travel with others for protection and defense.
Jesus told a parable to show how wide God's love and mercy is towards every fellow human being. Jesus' story of a brutal highway robbery was all too familiar to his audience. The road from Jerusalem to Jericho went through a narrow winding valley surrounded by steep rocky cliffs. Many wealthy Jews from Jerusalem had winter homes in Jerico. This narrow highway was dangerous and notorious for its robbers who could easily ambush their victim and escape into the hills. No one in his right mind would think of traveling through this dangerous highway alone. It was far safer to travel with others for protection and defense.
Our
prejudice gets in the way of mercy
So why did the religious leaders refuse to give any help when they saw a half-dead victim lying by the roadside? Didn't they recognize that this victim was their neighbor? And why did a Samaritan, an outsider who was despised by the Jews, treat this victim with special care at his own expense as he would care for his own family? Who was the real neighbor who showed brotherly compassion and mercy? Jesus makes the supposed villain, the despised Samaritan, the merciful one as an example for the status conscious Jews. Why didn't the priest and Levite stop to help? The priest probably didn't want to risk the possibility of ritual impurity. His piety got in the way of charity. The Levite approached close to the victim, but stopped short of actually helping him. Perhaps he feared that bandits were using a decoy to ambush him. The Levite put personal safety ahead of saving his neighbor.
So why did the religious leaders refuse to give any help when they saw a half-dead victim lying by the roadside? Didn't they recognize that this victim was their neighbor? And why did a Samaritan, an outsider who was despised by the Jews, treat this victim with special care at his own expense as he would care for his own family? Who was the real neighbor who showed brotherly compassion and mercy? Jesus makes the supposed villain, the despised Samaritan, the merciful one as an example for the status conscious Jews. Why didn't the priest and Levite stop to help? The priest probably didn't want to risk the possibility of ritual impurity. His piety got in the way of charity. The Levite approached close to the victim, but stopped short of actually helping him. Perhaps he feared that bandits were using a decoy to ambush him. The Levite put personal safety ahead of saving his neighbor.
God
expects us to be merciful as he is merciful
What does Jesus' story tell us about true love for one's neighbor? First, we must be willing to help even if others brought trouble on themselves through their own fault or negligence. Second, our love and concern to help others in need must be practical. Good intentions and showing pity, or emphathizing with others, are not enough. And lastly, our love for others must be as wide and as inclusive as God's love. God excludes no one from his care and concern. God's love is unconditional. So we must be ready to do good to others for their sake, just as God is good to us.
What does Jesus' story tell us about true love for one's neighbor? First, we must be willing to help even if others brought trouble on themselves through their own fault or negligence. Second, our love and concern to help others in need must be practical. Good intentions and showing pity, or emphathizing with others, are not enough. And lastly, our love for others must be as wide and as inclusive as God's love. God excludes no one from his care and concern. God's love is unconditional. So we must be ready to do good to others for their sake, just as God is good to us.
Jesus
not only taught God's way of love, he also showed how far God was willing to go
to share in our suffering and to restore us to wholeness of life and happiness.
Jesus overcame sin, suffering, and death through his victory on the cross. His
death brought us freedom from slavery to sin and the promise of everlasting
life with God. He willingly shared in our suffering to bring us to the source
of true healing and freedom from sin and oppression. True compassion not only
identifies and emphathises with the one who is in pain, but takes that pain on
oneself in order to bring freedom and restoration.
The
cross shows us God's perfect love and forgiveness
Jesus truly identified with our plight, and he took the burden of our sinful condition upon himself. He showed us the depths of God's love and compassion, by sharing in our suffering and by offering his life as an atoning sacrifice for our sins upon the cross. His suffering is redemptive because it brings us healing and restoration and the fulness of eternal life. God offers us true freedom from every form of oppression, sin, and suffering. And that way is through the cross of Jesus Christ. Are you ready to embrace the cross of Christ, to suffer for his sake, and to lay down your life out of love for your neighbor?
Jesus truly identified with our plight, and he took the burden of our sinful condition upon himself. He showed us the depths of God's love and compassion, by sharing in our suffering and by offering his life as an atoning sacrifice for our sins upon the cross. His suffering is redemptive because it brings us healing and restoration and the fulness of eternal life. God offers us true freedom from every form of oppression, sin, and suffering. And that way is through the cross of Jesus Christ. Are you ready to embrace the cross of Christ, to suffer for his sake, and to lay down your life out of love for your neighbor?
"Lord
Jesus, may your love always be the foundation of my life. Free me from every
fear and selfish-concern that I may freely give myself in loving service to
others, even to the point of laying my life down for their sake."
Daily
Quote from the early church fathers: God desires to be our neighbor, by
Augustine of Hippo, 354-430 A.D.
"God
our Lord wished to be called our neighbor. The Lord Jesus Christ meant that he
was the one who gave help to the man lying half-dead on the road, beaten and
left by the robbers. The prophet said in prayer, 'As a neighbor and as one's
own brother, so did I please' (Psalm 34:14 ). Since the divine nature is far
superior and above our human nature, the command by which we are to love God is
distinct from our love of our neighbor. He shows mercy to us because of his own
goodness, while we show mercy to one another because of God's goodness. He has
compassion on us so that we may enjoy him completely, while we have compassion
on another that we may completely enjoy him. (excerpt from CHRISTIAN
INSTRUCTION 33)
MONDAY, OCTOBER 7, LUKE 10:25-37
(Jonah 1:1―2:1, 11, Psalm: Jonah 2)
(Jonah 1:1―2:1, 11, Psalm: Jonah 2)
KEY VERSE: "You shall love the Lord, your God, with all your heart, with all your being, with all your strength, and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself" (v. 27).
TO KNOW: A scribe, well versed in the Law of Moses, asked Jesus: "What must I do to inherit eternal life?" Jesus asked him what was written in the law. The scribe answered correctly that he must love God and neighbor as himself. Then, hoping to put Jesus to the test, the scribe asked: "Who is my neighbor?" In his parable of the Good Samaritan, Jesus reversed the scribe's narrow view of 'neighbor' as only those who belonged to the people of Israel. Jesus contrasted the attitudes of three witnesses to the scene of a victim who had been beaten half-dead. A priest and Levite passed him by but they did not stop to help, probably because they were on their way to the holy city of Jerusalem, and did not want to risk the possibility of ritual impurity. Their piety got in the way of their charity. But an outsider, a Samaritan, came to the man's rescue. There was deep hostility between Jews and Samaritans, and the words 'Samaritan' and 'neighbor' were generally not used together. But Jesus made the supposed villain into the hero. He asked the scribe, "Who was neighbor to the wounded man?" And the scribe answered, "The one who showed him mercy." Jesus told this legal expert to go and do likewise to the "neighbor" he would meet along the way.
TO LOVE: Do I have compassion toward people who do not meet my standards?
TO SERVE: Lord Jesus, help me to see you in the suffering people I meet each day.
NOVA -- National Organization for Victim Assistance
The National Organization for Victim Assistance is a private, non-profit organization of victim and witness assistance programs and practitioners, criminal justice agencies and professionals, mental health professionals, researchers, former victims and survivors, and others committed to the recognition and implementation of victim rights and services. www.trynova.org
Memorial of Our Lady of the Rosary
“The Rosary draws from the Gospel the presentation of the mysteries and its main formulas. As it moves from the angel's joyful greeting and the Virgin's pious assent, the Rosary takes its inspiration from the Gospel to suggest the attitude with which the faithful should recite it. In the harmonious succession of Hail Mary's, the Rosary puts before us once more a fundamental mystery of the Gospel--the incarnation of the Word, contemplated at the decisive moment of the Annunciation of Mary. The Rosary is thus a Gospel prayer, as pastors and scholars like to define it, more today perhaps then in the past.” (Pope Paul VI, Marialis Cultus, 44)
Monday 7 October 2019
Our Lady of the Rosary
Jonah 1:1 – 2:1, 11. Jonah 2:3-5, 8. Luke 10:25-37.
You will rescue my life from the pit, O Lord – Jonah 2:3-5, 8
‘The one who took pity on him’
The priest and the Levite both passed by on the other side of
the road. Excuses came readily to mind: the place was dangerous; the man was
not a pretty sight; their business was urgent; it really was not their concern.
The Samaritan allowed himself to feel compassion. And from feeling compassion
he proceeded to act compassionately. He gave what he had. Oil to soothe the
battered limbs. Wine to disinfect the wounds. His animal to carry the victim.
And then he made himself responsible for the man’s recovery.
We all know the answer to Jesus’ question, ‘Which of these three
proved to be the neighbour?’ But how hard it is to act in the way of the
Samaritan! Let us remember: loving one’s neighbour does not mean indulging in
guilt-feelings about those we cannot help, but using what resources we have to
help those we can.
Our Lady of the Rosary
Saint of the Day for October 7
 |
| Our Lady of the Rosary | St. Nicholas Church, Osgood, Ohio |
The Story of Our Lady of the Rosary
Saint Pius V established this feast in 1573. The purpose
was to thank God for the victory of Christians over the Turks at Lepanto—a
victory attributed to the praying of the rosary. Clement XI extended the feast
to the universal Church in 1716.
The development of the rosary has a long history. First a
practice developed of praying 150 Our Fathers in imitation of the 150 Psalms.
Then there was a parallel practice of praying 150 Hail Marys. Soon a mystery of
Jesus’ life was attached to each Hail Mary. Though Mary’s giving of the rosary
to Saint Dominic is recognized as a legend, the development of this prayer
form owes much to the followers of Saint Dominic. One of them, Alan de la
Roche, was known as “the apostle of the rosary.” He founded the first
Confraternity of the Rosary in the 15th century. In the 16th century, the
rosary was developed to its present form—with the 15 mysteries: joyful,
sorrowful and glorious. In 2002, Pope John Paul II added five Mysteries of
Light to this devotion.
Reflection
The purpose of the rosary is to help us meditate on the great
mysteries of our salvation. Pius XII called it a compendium of the gospel. The
main focus is on Jesus—his birth, life, death, and resurrection. The Our
Fathers remind us that Jesus’ Father is the initiator of salvation. The Hail
Marys remind us to join with Mary in contemplating these mysteries. They also
make us aware that Mary was and is intimately joined with her Son in all the
mysteries of his earthly and heavenly existence. The Glory Bes remind us that
the purpose of all life is the glory of the Trinity.
The rosary appeals to many. It is simple. The constant repetition
of words helps create an atmosphere in which to contemplate the mysteries of
God. We sense that Jesus and Mary are with us in the joys and sorrows of life.
We grow in hope that God will bring us to share in the glory of Jesus and Mary
forever.
Lectio Divina: Luke 10:25-37
Lectio Divina
Monday, October 7, 2019
1) Opening prayer
Father,
your love for us
surpasses all our hopes and desires.
Forgive our failings,
keep us in your peace
and lead us in the way of salvation.
We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
your love for us
surpasses all our hopes and desires.
Forgive our failings,
keep us in your peace
and lead us in the way of salvation.
We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
2) Gospel reading - Luke 10:25-37
A lawyer stood up and, to test Jesus, asked, 'Master, what must
I do to inherit eternal life?' He said to him, 'What is written in the Law?
What is your reading of it?' 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 neighbor as yourself.' Jesus said to him, 'You have answered
right, do this and life is yours.' But the man was anxious to justify himself
and said to Jesus, 'And who is my neighbor?' In answer Jesus said, 'A man was
once on his way down from Jerusalem to Jericho and fell into the hands of
bandits; they stripped him, 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 traveler who came on him was moved with
compassion when he saw him. He went up to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring
oil and wine on them. He then lifted him onto his own mount and took him to an
inn and looked after him.
Next day, he took out two denarii and handed them to the
innkeeper and said, "Look after him, and on my way back I will make good
any extra expense you have."
Which of these three, do you think, proved himself a neighbor to
the man who fell into the bandits' hands?'
He replied, 'The one who showed pity towards him.' Jesus said to
him, 'Go, and do the same yourself.'
3) Reflection
● The Gospel today presents the parable of the Good Samaritan.
To mediate on a parable is the same thing as to look deeper into our life to
discover in it the call of God. In describing the long journey of Jesus to
Jerusalem (Lk 9, 51 to 19, 28), Luke helps the communities to better understand
what the Good News of the Kingdom consists of. He does it by presenting persons
who come to speak with Jesus and ask Him questions. These are real questions
from the people of the time of Jesus and they are also real questions asked by
the communities of the time of Luke. Thus, today in the Gospel, a doctor of the
law asks: "What should I do to inherit eternal life?" The
response, both of the doctor and that of Jesus, helps us to better understand
the objective of the Law of God.
● Luke 10, 25-26: "What should I do to inherit
eternal life?" A doctor, who knew the law wants to test Jesus and
asks him: "What should I do to inherit eternal life?" The
doctor thinks that he has to do something in order to be able to inherit. He
wants to obtain the inheritance through his own personal effort. But an
inheritance is not merited. We receive an inheritance by the simple fact of
being son or daughter. "Therefore, you are no longer a slave, but
a son, and if a son, then an heir by God's own act". (Ga 4, 7).
As sons and daughters we can do nothing to merit the inheritance. We can lose
it however!
● Luke 10, 27-28: The answer of the doctor. Jesus
responds asking a new question: "What is written in the Law? The
doctor responds correctly. Uniting two phrases of the Law, He says: "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 neighbor as
yourself". This phrase comes from Deuteronomy (Dt 6, 5) and from
Leviticus (Lv 19,18). Jesus approves of the response and says: "Do this
and life is yours!" What is important, the principal thing, is to
love God! But God comes to me in my neighbor. The neighbor is the revelation of
God for me. And because of this, I have to love my neighbor also with all my
heart, with all my soul and with all my strength and with all my mind!
● Luke 10, 29: "And who is my neighbor?" Wanting
to justify himself, the doctor asks: "And who is my
neighbor?" He wants to know: "In which neighbor God comes to
me?" That is, which is the person close to me who is the revelation of God
for me? For the Jews the expression "neighbor" was linked to
the clan, it was not a neighbor. Anyone who did not belong to the clan was not
a neighbor. According to Deuteronomy, they could exploit the
"foreigner", but not the "neighbor" (Dt 15, 1-3). Proximity
was based on bonds of race and of blood. Jesus has a different way of seeing
which He expresses in the parable of the Good Samaritan.
● Luke 10, 30-36: The parable.
a) Luke 10, 30: The attack along the road of Jerusalem
toward Jericho. The Desert of Judah is between Jerusalem and Jericho,
which is a refuge of rebels, marginalized, and where one could be attacked.
Jesus tells a real fact which had happened many times. "A man was on
his way down from Jerusalem to Jericho and fell into the hands of bandits; they
stripped him, beat him and then made off, leaving him half dead".
b) Luke 10, 31-32: A priest passed by travelling on the
same road, then a Levite passed by. By chance a priest passed by, and
immediately after, a Levite passed. They are officials of the Temple of the
official religion. Both of them saw the man who had been attacked, but passed
by and did nothing. Why did they do nothing? Jesus does not say. He allows one
to guess with whom one identifies oneself. This must have happened many times,
in the time of Jesus as well as in the time of Luke. This also happens today: a
person from the Church goes by close to a poor person without helping him. It
could also be that the priest and the Levite had a justification: "He is
not my neighbor!" or, "he is impure and if I touch him, I will also
be impure". And today: "If I help him, I will miss Sunday Mass
and will commit a mortal sin!"
c) Luke 10, 33-35: A Samaritan passed by. Immediately
after, a Samaritan who was travelling passed by. He saw the man and moved with
compassion, he got close, bandaged his wounds, lifted him onto his own mount
and took him to an inn and looked after him during the night. The following day
he took out two denarii and handed them to the innkeeper. That was the salary
of ten days and he tells him: "Look after him and on my way back I
will make good any extra expenses you have!" This is the concrete
and effective action. It is the progressive action: to arrive, to see, to be
moved with compassion, to get close and to act. The parable says "A
Samaritan who was travelling". Jesus was also travelling up to
Jerusalem. Jesus is the Good Samaritan. The communities should be the Good
Samaritan.
● Luke 10, 36-37: Which of these three do you think
proved himself a neighbor to the man who fell into the bandits'
hands?" At the beginning the doctor had asked: "Who
is my neighbor?" Behind the question was the concern for him. He
wanted to know: God orders me to love whom, in a way to be able to have my
conscience in peace and be able to say, “I have done everything that God has
asked me to do". Jesus asks another question: "Which of these
three do you think proved himself a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands
of the bandits?" The condition of neighbor does not depend on the
race, on the fact that they are relatives, on sympathy, on closeness or on
religion. Humanity is not divided into neighbor and not neighbor. To know who
is our neighbor depends on us: to arrive, to see, to be moved with compassion
and to get close. If you get close, the other becomes your neighbor! It
depends on you and not on the other! Jesus overturns everything and takes away
from the doctor the security which could come to him from the Law.
● The Samaritans. The word Samaritan comes from
Samaria, the capital of the Kingdom of Israel in the North. After the death of
Solomon, in the year 1931 before Christ, the ten tribes of the North separated
themselves from the kingdom of Judea in the South and formed an independent
kingdom (1 K 12, 1-33). The Kingdom of the North survived approximately for 200
years. In 722, its territory was invaded by Assyria. A large part of its
population was deported (2 K 17, 5-6) and people from other places went to
Samaria (2 K 17, 24). There was a mixture of races and of religions (2 K 17,
25-33), and the Samaritans were born from these. The Jews of the South despised
the Samaritans considering them unfaithful and adorers of false gods (2 K 17,
34-41). Many prejudices existed against the Samaritans. They were not well
accepted. It was said of them that they had an erroneous doctrine and did not
form part of the People of God. Some even went so far as to say that to be a
Samaritan was something of the Devil (Jn 8, 48). Most likely, the cause of this
hatred was not only a question of race and of religion, but also a
political-economic problem, linked to the possession of the land. This rivalry
even existed in the time of Jesus. But Jesus places the Samaritans as a model
for others.
4) Personal questions
● The Samaritan of the parable was not of the Jewish people, but
he did what Jesus asks. Does this happen today? Do you know people who do not
go to Church but live what the Gospel asks? Today, who are the priest, the Levite
and the Samaritan?
● The doctor asks: "Who is my neighbor?" Jesus asks: "Who was the neighbor of the man who was the victim of the bandits"? There are two different points of view: the doctor asks starting from himself. Jesus asks starting from the needs of the other. Which is my perspective or point of view?
● The doctor asks: "Who is my neighbor?" Jesus asks: "Who was the neighbor of the man who was the victim of the bandits"? There are two different points of view: the doctor asks starting from himself. Jesus asks starting from the needs of the other. Which is my perspective or point of view?
5) Concluding prayer
I give thanks to Yahweh with all my heart,
in the meeting-place of honest people, in the assembly.
Great are the deeds of Yahweh,
to be pondered by all who delight in them. (Ps 111,1-2)
in the meeting-place of honest people, in the assembly.
Great are the deeds of Yahweh,
to be pondered by all who delight in them. (Ps 111,1-2)
Không có nhận xét nào:
Đăng nhận xét