23rd Week Yr LK 10: 25-37 7:00 AM
St Thomas of Villanova, Augustinian Parish Church, Villanova, PA
...next to Villanova University, 19085
PERHAPS, THERE IS NO BETTER, or more touching story...that Our Lord ever
ever told that better summarizes....what the Christian Life should mean to
everyone....than the STORY OF THE GOOD SAMARITAN.
IT IS INTERESTING to note that in...LK 25:35....”a certain Jewish Lawyer
got up, a Doctor of the Law....putting Jesus to the TEST, asked Him:...
”Master, what must I do to gain Eternal Life? Christ says...”what is written
in the Law...how does it read? He answered .....” you shall love the Lord your
God with your whole heart, with your whole Soul, with your whole strength
...& with your whole mind...& your neighbor as yourself.”
IT IS INTERESTING to note that the Lawyer does NOT ASK about some point
in the Law.....or a set of rules...but he ASKS ABOUT LOVE!
CHRIST ANSWERS THE LAWYER by telling him....& the whole world the famous
GOOD SAMARITAN STORY which begins in the 10th Chapter of Luke....& how a
Stranger, Priest & Levite......ALL passed by the bleeding Samaritan who was
left for dead....even to avoid him by walking......on the far side of the Street.
THE JEWS WOULD NOT associate....or EVEN BE SEEN in the company of a
Samaritan....& they “looked down” on them. It was beneath their dignity!
SO...it was the GOOD SAMARITAN...the ONLY ONE who stopped, poured Oil
on his wounds...took him TO AN INN...PAID for his stay...& said he WOULD PAY
for any increased expense on his RETURN JOURNEY.
DO YOU THINK most modern-day Christians would help an injured person in
the same way the Samaritan did? PROBABLY NOT!
REAL TRUE LOVE OF GOD & NEIGHBOR NEEDS TO BE EXTERNALIZED
BY ACTION........NOT JUST BY WORDS.