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July 8, 2022Reflection for Fifteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time: July 10, 2022
Deut 30:10-14: Moses addresses us with a very simple message. It isn’t complicated. Inside every one of us, God has implanted a soul with a conscience. Each “conscience” includes a “voice” or a “knowing” of what’s the right thing to say or do, and what’s the wrong thing to say or do. Essentially, Moses is asking us: “Are we listening to the “voice,” or the “promptings” of God, within us? Are we listening to God’s promptings or are we closing our eyes and ears and going our own way? Moses instructs that if we listen to that “voice,” (the Law), that is already implanted in our mouths and in our hearts, we will find peace and fulfillment. Obeying and living God’s Law brings serenity. Ponder that.
Psalm 19: “Your words, Lord, are Spirit and life.” Today’s psalm continues our focus on the great gift that God’s Law, is. We’re assured that the Law is perfect; and that living the Law gives life to the soul. The psalmist witnesses that the Law is trustworthy; proven by time to be valid, fair and full of love and wisdom. Ponder that the Law reflects God’s Love for us, rather than desires to restrict or control us. We’re told that living and pondering the Law gives wisdom, insight and the courage and conviction that come from an interior “knowing” that one is thinking, striving for and doing the right things. The psalmist observes that “the fear of the Lord is pure.” Ponder that. Fear of the Lord indicates a simple and humble soul that accepts God’s superiority and goodness, without questioning or arguing. When one has fear of the Lord, one listens to the Law-giver, (God) and obeys; much like Mary, our Blessed Mother, did. Reflect on that!
Colossians 1:15-20: Beginning this passage, Paul proclaims that “Jesus is the image of the invisible God.” Ponder that Jesus is the image of God’s Law, set before us, in human form, for us to follow as a role-model and teacher. Paul later observes that, in Jesus, “all the fullness (of God) was pleased to dwell.” Jesus modeled for us a radical new way of living out the Law. Jesus showed us how to live out the Law in generous and total self-giving service to others. Jesus showed us how to sacrifice all, in order to show mercy and compassion and forgiveness of others. We are being asked to strive for the grace and the will to love all, forgive all and to serve other diverse peoples and groups without discrimination. That isn’t always easy, but again, if we live the Law, we will be filled with grace and peace.
Luke 10:25-37: In today’s Gospel the scholar accurately defines for us what living out the Law means for us. We are to love God with our whole being and love our neighbor as we love ourselves; giving them the same respect, dignity and life-sustaining care that we give ourselves. We’re to serve others as we do ourselves; ensuring that they aren’t merely surviving, but thriving. Jesus is showing us an image of what living out the Law, authentically, looks like, but there’s some irony in the parable that Jesus chooses to share.
The irony is that the Good Samaritan is living out the Jewish Law of God better, more completely and sincerely than Jewish people who profess to believe and be bound by that Law. Jesus emphatically tells us to “go and do likewise;” to love and serve God and others, extravagantly! Are we?
Amen.
Deacon Matt
