14th Sunday in Ordinary Time – Reflections on Sermon by Fr. Minta

1. We are all familiar with the parable of the Good Samaritan but have we put the lessons to action.
3. In the parable, the lawyer came to test Christ. We need to be wary of flattery. Note that this Lawyer was learned & knew the law, but to call Jesus Rabi, calling Christ who had not been to school. It was flattery & test of Christ.
4. He follows up with a trick question & Christ answers with a parable.
5. Note that Jews were not allowed to befriend Samaritans. Jews were supposed to spit on Samaritans. There was so much hatred between the 2. The Samaritan had married pagans and the Jews did not find them pure enough. Look at Jesus choice, it is loaded with meanings & lessons to us.
6. Jerusalem was a city on a hill while Jericho was a low lying city. It was a dangerous journey & people do not travel alone. Even in our lives, there dangerous road we need spiritual companions to be able to traverse the road. Most importantly we need the Holy Spirit to make it on the road of life.
7. Robbers are people who believe that what we have is their.
8. That road was called the road of blood, it is unthinkable. Some of us are traveling roads without thinking.
9. Then a Priest came to pass & he did not want to be contaminated with the blood of a half dead man. He was thinking of himself. He did not want to defile himself. Sometimes tradition become more important than our purpose. He was also afraid that it might be a setup. He was thinking of his safety. How many of us have not thought about self preservation instead of being of service.
10. Then came along a Samaritan who was supposed to be an enemy, but he stopped & took care of him, provided for him as he went along & promised to return.
11. Christ ask the Lawyer who was a neigbour, but note that the egocentric lawyer did not mention the name of the Samaritan.
12. “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.”
13. Christ is still asking us who is our neighbor, our Nkonya & Alavanyo Catholics, what are we doing. What about our Nanumba & Kokomba friends. Do we come to Mass, go to church & still harbour hatred for people. Christ is asking me & you to go back and do likewise like the Samaritan.
14. Our Neigbour has nothing to do with people we know.
15. The robber is those who will think what we have is for them, the Priest are those who believe that what they have is for himself & he will not share it. While the Samaritan believed that what he had was for others. This should be our attitude.
16. We should avoid self pride like the lawyer
17. We should be careful with words we use
18. May God help us to see our neigbours in the sick, the down troddened,  derived, marginalized

FIRST READING
Deuteronomy 30:10–14

Moses said to the people:
“If only you would heed the voice of the LORD, your God, and keep his commandments and statutes that are written in this book of the law, when you return to the LORD, your God, with all your heart and all your soul.

“For this command that I enjoin on you today is not too mysterious and remote for you. It is not up in the sky, that you should say, ‘Who will go up in the sky to get it for us and tell us of it, that we may carry it out?’ Nor is it across the sea, that you should say, ‘Who will cross the sea to get it for us and tell us of it, that we may carry it out?’ No, it is something very near to you, already in your mouths and in your hearts; you have only to carry it out.”

RESPONSORIAL PSALM
Psalm 69:14, 17, 30–31, 33–34, 36, 37 (see 33)

R. Turn to the Lord in your need, and you will live.

I pray to you, O LORD, for the time of your favor, O God! In your great kindness answer me with your constant help. Answer me, O LORD, for bounteous is your kindness; in your great mercy turn toward me.

R. Turn to the Lord in your need, and you will live.

I am afflicted and in pain; let your saving help, O God, protect me. I will praise the name of God in song, and I will glorify him with thanksgiving.

R. Turn to the Lord in your need, and you will live.

“See, you lowly ones, and be glad; you who seek God, may your hearts revive! For the LORD hears the poor, and his own who are in bonds he spurns not.”

R. Turn to the Lord in your need, and you will live.

For God will save Zion and rebuild the cities of Judah. The descendants of his servants shall inherit it, and those who love his name shall inhabit it.

R. Turn to the Lord in your need, and you will live.

or: Psalm 19:8, 9, 10, 11 (9a)

R. Your words, Lord, are Spirit and life.

The law of the LORD is perfect, refreshing the soul. The decree of the LORD is trustworthy, giving wisdom to the simple.

R. Your words, Lord, are Spirit and life.

The precepts of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart. The command of the LORD is clear, enlightening the eye.

R. Your words, Lord, are Spirit and life.

The fear of the LORD is pure, enduring forever. The ordinances of the LORD are true, all of them just.

R. Your words, Lord, are Spirit and life.

They are more precious than gold, than a heap of purest gold; sweeter also than syrup or honey from the comb.

R. Your words, Lord, are Spirit and life.

SECOND READING
Colossians 1:15–20

Christ Jesus is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For in him were created all things in heaven and on earth, the visible and the invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers; all things were created through him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. He is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things he himself might be preeminent. For in him all the fullness was pleased to dwell, and through him to reconcile all things for him, making peace by the blood of his cross through him, whether those on earth or those in heaven.

ALLELUIA
see John 6:63c, 68c

R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Your words, Lord, are Spirit and life; you have the words of everlasting life.

R. Alleluia, alleluia.

GOSPEL
Luke 10:25–37

There was a scholar of the law who stood up to test him 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.”

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