15th Sunday Ordinary C/ the Good Samaritan
 

Deut 30:10-14/ Ps  /Col 1:15-20/ Lk. 10:25-37
  Introduction
 

          One thing I like here in US is the traffic system. The people are so discipline that almost everybody follows the rules, whenever there is a stop sign everybody stops. Only those involve in emergency and rescue mission like ambulance, fire truck and police are allowed to defy traffic rules, simply because their task is so sensitive that it involves urgency of saving lives. Saving someone’s life is the highest law that supersedes all other laws, as the Latin saying goes, “Salus Animarum Suprema Lex.”

  
  Background
 
  1. As a rule Samaritans do not deal with any Jew. There had been a long time conflict between the two. But the Samaritan in today’s Gospel defies that old tribal law and helped a dying Jew. He must be a man with a good heart for he knows that saving life is the supreme law. He might be also an honest man with a good credit. Inn accepted his partial payment and accepted the responsibility of taking care of the victim. He was still on his way to travel but gave up his oil (for bread) and wine (for the coldness of the night) and his last two coins for his enemies’ welfare. And he will be back to see if he gets well and he was willing to pay more. It might be too much act of kindness to an enemy.
  2. The setting and the place was so unfriendly. The way from Jerusalem to Jericho was a notorious and dangerous road. It was road of narrow, rocky defiles, and of sudden turnings which made it the happy hunting-ground of brigands. People seldom use this road if they were carrying goods or valuables. They would rather travel in groups or in convoys and caravans than to travel alone. The victim might be a reckless and foolhardy character and there was no one to blame for tragic that happened but himself.
  3. Who is my neighbor? Jews define man’s neighbor at their worst and narrowest sense, it means “a fellow Jew.” It was surprising that the priest failed to help the man and opted to pass by on the other side. He probably remembered that he who touched a dead man was unclean for seven days (numbers 19:11). He might think that the man was dead and to touch him would mean losing his turn of duty in the Temple and he refused to risk that. A Levite is the one who take care of the Church and where he in charge of the altar and the worship celebrations. He was a man of certainty and precise in his action. The doubted that the man was a decoy. He thought that if he would stop and suddenly other people might come to overpower him, he would not risk himself.
  
  Reflection:  
 
  1. Probably the victim and the Samaritan met before. Perhaps this victim helped him in the past and now the situation was changed, the victim now was in need. The Samaritan recognized his face, so he came to save him. In our life today, we might be surprised that in times of need, people whom you do not expect would come to help you. Perhaps you are not aware that you touched other people’s lives in one point in time. It might be simple gesture of help and means nothing to you but for other people it’s a big help. They value it and remember you. When the time for your need comes, you might be surprised by the presence. We are not aware that People loved us more than what we think we are loved.
  2. The religiosity of the priest and the Levite is far more important than their act of charity. Our prayer and worship is important but the application of it in actual life (after the mass) is far more important. Faith without action is dead (James 3:5)
  3. Generosity is based not only on what we have, but what we are. If we a generous, we are generous regardless of how much money we have in the bank. Having more will not make us necessary more generous. Generosity is a value that needs to be formed within a person. It can be developed through a regular small act of charity. It does not take to be so rich in order to give it only takes a drop of love to share. You can give without loving but you can not love without giving.
  
  Conclusion  
 

        Salus Animarum Suprema Lex, the salvation of soul is the supreme law. But saving soul does not happen only when someone dialed 911. It happens not only when fire trucks and ambulance are on the road. It could also happen in an ordinary situation where you see a friend, with his head down in sadness and anxieties. You might save someone’s psychological and spiritual life by just a simple smile and ordinary act of kindness as long as you do it with love.