Thoughts on the Good Samaritan

 

Twenty-Seventh Week in Ordinary Time

Luke 10:25–37

Friends, our Gospel today is one of the best known of Jesus’s parables, the story of the Good Samaritan. Every story, parable, illustration, and exhortation is, at the end of the day, a picture of the Lord.   In one of the great windows of Chartres Cathedral, there is an intertwining of two stories: the account of the fall of mankind and the parable of the Good Samaritan. This reflects a connection that was made by the Church Fathers. The Good Samaritan is a symbol of Jesus himself, in his role as Savior of the world.   Now our task is to be other Christs. “Which of these three, in your opinion, was neighbor to the robbers’ victim?” “The one who treated him with mercy.” Jesus says to him, “Go and do likewise.”   We spend our lives now looking for those people stranded by the road, victimized by sin. We don’t walk by, indifferent to them, but rather we do what Jesus did—even for those who are our natural enemies, even for those who frighten us. And we bring the Church’s power to bear, pouring in the oil and wine of compassion, communicating the power of Christ’s cross. Bishop Robert Barron

Thoughts on life issues

During October, under the patronage of Mary, we are reminded in a particular way of the ongoing challenge of reverencing, respecting and defending life in all stages and faces. Life issues are many, among which are abortion, domestic violence, human trafficking, capital punishment, immigration, homelessness, and proper respect for and care of the elderly.  Another life issue, as Pope Francis often emphasized – and which Pope Leo recently reiterated – is care for the earth.

 

It seems to me that most “social justice” issues are also life issues, since they address the quality of human life both in the present and in the future.  

 

Early October often finds us approaching another set of civil elections. This year, however, is an “off year” in regard to federal elections. That said, the opportunity to exercise responsibility for our society’s well-being is ongoing as we continue to engage in what are generally characterized as political issues. Politics and elections are by definition competitive; sadly, they are also often contentious in a way that calls into question our common commitment to truth, justice, life and the common good.  The U.S. bishops repeatedly have reminded us that we should participate in the political process in a manner that is worthy of our human and Christian dignity.  And, they have emphasized that we should analyze issues for their social and moral dimensions, not just in regard to how they impact self-interest or ideology.

 

It is easy to fall into facile, black-and-white thinking.  It is not so easy to bring reflection to our political stances.   It is even more difficult to do so with that true spiritual freedom which enables us to recognize, and act upon, the moral and ethical importance of our choices. In October, let us pray, through the intercession of Mary, that all of us will be granted the wisdom and freedom we need to engage in political realities.



Fr Frank Reale, SJ

Thoughts on Guardian Angels

 

Memorial of the Holy Guardian Angels

Matthew 18:1–5, 10

Friends, today we celebrate the Memorial of the Holy Guardian Angels. Well, is it reasonable to believe in angels? Look at the wild variety in the visible universe—the millions of species of animals, the billions of galaxies, the myriad shells that wash up on the seashore, the incalculable number of cells in each human body. Is it likely that, between this staggeringly variegated physical dimension of creation and God, there simply yawns a great ontological abyss? Isn’t it likely to hold that God has manifested at least an equally great creativity in regard to the purely spiritual order?  But why would God send these spiritual messengers to help us? Why wouldn’t he just take care of us himself? Those questions, of course, are born of a frame of mind that sets God and his world in competition. On the Catholic reading, God delights in using secondary causes, so that his creatures can participate in his active providence of the universe. Aquinas says that each of us, due to our changeable and fallible nature, has been assigned a heavenly guide. Once we’re in heaven, we won’t require a guide anymore, and our angel will become our friend.  Bishop Robert Barron

Thoughts on vengeance

 

Memorial of Saint Jerome, Priest and Doctor of the Church

Luke 9:51–56

Friends, in today’s Gospel, Jesus rebukes James and John for their desire for vengeance. We are walking with Jesus and his disciples as they make their way to Jerusalem. As they pass through Samaria, they are refused hospitality, for their destination is Jerusalem and this annoys the Samaritans. Bothersome? Stupid? Racist? Sure, all of those things. As a result, James and John (the sons of thunder) cry out: “Lord, do you want us to call down fire from heaven to consume them?” Can you hear echoes of this cry up and down the ages? Whenever people have been unjustly treated, excluded, looked down upon, they experience, naturally enough, feelings of hatred and a desire to get back. Correctly enough, they will say that their family or their race or their country was offended, and so they, with justification, react.  But Jesus turns only to rebuke them. Why? Because following him and his way of nonviolence is more important than race or country or ethnic group. Our feelings for him have to go beyond even our justified feelings for these good things. Bishop Robert Barron

Thoughts on a crisis

 

Crisis and Power

Every time we see a major crisis in the history of the Church, such as the Great Schism of the eleventh century, the Reformation of the sixteenth century, or the immense secularization of the twentieth century, we always see that a major cause of rupture is the power exercised by those who claim to be followers of the poor and powerless Jesus.  What makes the temptation to power so seemingly irresistible? Maybe it is that power offers an easy substitute for the hard task of love. It seems easier to be God than to love God, easier to control people than to love people, easier to own life than to love life.

"Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor.  “All this I will give you,” he said, “if you will bow down and worship me.”Jesus said to him, “Away from me, Satan! For it is written: 'Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.'”   - Matthew 4: 8-10

Thoughts on good stories

Luke 16: 19-31

Lazarus and Dives

         

This Sunday’s Gospel has the basic characteristics of all good stories:      

           ● It is interesting (with an unforeseen reversal);

           ● It has a well-constructed plot;

           ● It is engaging (it relates to us; it gets us to think).

According to Aristotle a well-constructed plot has two essential characteristics:  There is a reversal of fortune and it relates to the audience. For Aristotle there is only tragedy or comedy. In tragedy the reversal of fortune is the tragic fall.  In comedy the reversal of fortune leads to success and a happy ending.

In Our Lord’s story of Lazarus (whose name means “God is my help”) and Dives (meaning “rich”), the plot contains a double reversal of fortune.  And in our lives there can also be various reversals of fortune:

● A reversal of fortune can prompt us to remember God. 

● A reversal of fortune might move us to thank God, or perhaps to curse Him.

● A reversal of fortune can cause us to reflect, to reevaluate, and to learn. A reversal may even help us  to grow in wisdom.

Aristotle’s third necessity of a good story teaches that the plot should be engaging and relate to the audience. Perhaps see ourselves in this story. We may even worry and ask if we are a bit like Dives. But even if we do see a little of Dives in our life, we are not heinous sinners. We probably don’t do things that are terribly bad.  The more important question is – How often do we do things that are truly good?

Perhaps many of our sins are sins of omission. That was Dives’ sin.  Dives didn’t do evil; he did nothing; so, he didn’t do good. Dives never even noticed; he was too concerned with himself, with his own self-indulgence. It has been said: “It’s not what Dives did that got him into trouble; it’s what he didn’t do that got him into hell.”

Perhaps I need a reversal of plot in my attitudes, in my life?  Perhaps the plot of my life needs to be amended from potential tragedy to comedy, from a possible terrible fall, to eternal success and happiness.

Unlike Dives, may we pray for the grace to notice our sins of omission. May we notice the needs and the sufferings of others, and may we do something good, something to help. Most importantly, may we remember always to examine our conscience and ask, not simply, “What did I do?"; but also, “What should I have done?” and "What will I now strive to do?"

For us, the Gospel story ends happily, because Our Lord has risen from the dead. He never tires of forgiving us, and He never tires of guiding us in His ways each day. May we always seek His guidance not only to avoid evil, but to do good. 

  Don Saunders, S.J.

Thoughts on evangelization

 

Twenty-Fifth Week in Ordinary Time

Luke 9:1–6

Friends, in today’s Gospel, Jesus sends his disciples on mission. He “summoned the Twelve . . . and he sent them to proclaim the Kingdom of God and to heal the sick.” As members of the Mystical Body, we share the mission of evangelization. In accord with the subjectivism of our culture, many Christians think of their spiritual lives in an individualist way, as the cultivation of their personal friendships with God. But this overlooks something that the New Testament authors took for granted—namely, that Christians exist not for themselves but for the world. Jesus compared his followers to salt, which is designed to preserve and enhance something other than itself, and to light, whose purpose is to be set on a stand in order to illumine what is around it. Pope St. Paul VI articulated the same truth as follows: The Church doesn’t have a mission; the Church is a mission.  We go forth, therefore, with God’s authority and empowered for his work. When we stand before the judgment seat of Christ, he will ask whether we have taught the world how to praise, how to reverence the truth, how to go out vigorously on campaign to extend the kingdom of God. Bishop Robert Barron