To Inherit Eternal Life. Our love of God, we learn from today’s gospel, will be assessed on our attitude towards people. A true religion is a religion of love, not one of mere words. The Samaritan was capable of sharing in God's compassion for all people. The first reading tells us that the commandments are not imposed from outside but spring from our hearts. The second reading is in line with this theme. Jesus holds the first place in love for his brethren. He was the first authentic “Samaritan.”
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*FIRST READING*
A reading from the Book of Deuteronomy (Deuteronomy 30: 10-14)
“The word is very near you so that you can do it.”
Moses spoke to the people, saying, “You shall obey the voice of the Lord your God, and keep his commandments and his statutes which are written in this book of the law, and turn to the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul. “For this commandment which I command you this day is not too hard for you, neither is it far off. It is not in heaven, that you should say, ‘Who will go up for us to heaven, and bring it to us, that we may hear it and do it?’ Neither is it beyond the sea, that you should say, ‘Who will go over the sea for us, and bring it to us, that we may hear it and do it?' But the word is very near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart, so that you can do it.”
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*RESPONSORIAL PSALM* Psalm 69:13 and 16.29-30.32—33.35ab and 36 (R. see 32)
*R/. You who are poor, seek God, and your hearts will revive.*
I pray to you, O Lord, for a time of your favour.
In your great mercy, answer me, O God,
with your salvation that never fails.
Lord, answer, for your mercy is kind;
in your great compassion, turn towards me. *R/.*
As for me in my poverty and pain,
let your salvation, O God, raise me up.
Then I will praise God’s name with a song;
I will glorify him with thanksgiving. *R/.*
The poor when they see it will be glad,
and God-seeking hearts will revive;
for the Lord listens to the needy,
and does not spurn his own in their chains. *R/.*
For God will bring salvation to Sion,
and rebuild the cities of Judah.
The children of his servants shall inherit it;
those who love his name shall dwell there. *R.*
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*SECOND READING*
A reading from the Letter of Saint Paul to the Colossians (Colossians 1:15-20)
“All things were created through him and in him.”
Christ Jesus is the image of the invisible God, the first-born of all creation; for in him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or authorities — 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 first-born from the dead, that in everything he might be pre-eminent. For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross.
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*ALLELUIA*
John 6:63c.68c
Alleluia. Your words, Lord, are Spirit and life; you have the words of eternal life. Alleluia.
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*GOSPEL*
A reading from the holy Gospel according to Luke (Luke 10:25-37)
“Who is my neighbour?”
At that time: Behold, a lawyer stood up to put Jesus to the test, saying, “Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?” He said to him, “What is written in the law? What do you read there?” 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 neighbour as yourself.” And he said to him, “You have answered right; do this, and you will live.” But he, desiring to justify himself, said to Jesus, “And who is my neighbour?” 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. Now by chance a priest was going down that road; and when he saw him he passed by on the other side. So likewise a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. But a Samaritan, as he journeyed, came to where he was; and when he saw him, he had compassion, 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. 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.’ Which of these three, do you think, proved neighbour to the man who fell among the robbers?” He said, “The one who showed mercy on him.” And Jesus said to him, “Go and do likewise.”
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*Today’s Reflection*
The path to inherit eternal life is not so far from us as to need someone to bring it near. It is visible in Jesus and expressed in his teaching: ‘Love your neighbour as yourself.’ This path to eternal life calls us to stretch beyond our comfort zone to the very unfamiliar and the strange. It is a human inclination in us to love our own and despise what we consider as the other. Your neighbour is that person with whom you may not necessarily share the same faith. He is that person with whom you may not necessarily share the same race, ideology, or opinions. In a world that is becoming more exclusive and boundary-bound, true worshippers of God are invited to break those boundaries and reach out to the other.
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