💖 HOMILY - OCTOBER 3 💖

First Reading - Galatians 1:6-12

Gospel - Luke 10:25-37

What is more easy and cosy? It's to escape occassions of responsibility. When we assume a responsibility, we are burdened with liabilities. Therefore, to avoid a responsibility means to remain unaffected and comfortable in a safer zone. However, the readings of today teach us to come to the periphery from our comfort zones, to take responsibility and beat a cosy life of selfishness.

The first reading reveals the concerns of Paul for the Christians in Galatia. He hears about the heretical teachings which are making ways among Christians promoted by the Judaizers. He warns the Christians about the heretical teachings and ascertains about the authenticity of his teachings about Jesus and his teachings. 

The passage of the first reading is saturated with touch of great concern for the community, lest they are led astray from the authentic teachings. This passage also shows how Paul the responsibility upon himself to protect and save them from the spiritual threats.

The gospel passage presents a beautiful example of love in the person of a Samaritan. The Samaritan becomes an example to be imitated by Jews in the parable of Jesus. 

The Samaritans were arch enemies of Jews due to the historical situation but Jesus sets a Samaritan as an example to be emulated. This is a paradox of life where the example of an enemy becomes a message.

Jesus teaches, by the parable, that it's love that impels to take responsibility. The same love is mirrored by the Samaritan who observed a man lying half dead and filled with compassion headed to care for the injured. The contrary figures also appear in the parable in Priest and Levite, who were religious figures and most likely people to have helped the injured man but they refused to take responsibility for the injured man. 

Dear friends, there is a need for us to take responsibility for our brothers and sisters who are in need and vulnerable. It's always easy and comfortable to wash our hands from those affairs which can soil us or challenge us or demand responsibility from us. It's indeed difficult to take responsibility for the needy people because it requires extra effort and challenge as is seen in the case of the Samaritan who took extra trouble to bandage the injured man and took him to the inn. It's only love for our fellow brothers and sisters that can strengthen us to take up challenge and to go extra mile in their sufferings. It's then we will prove that we love our neighbours which is the injunction of Jesus for us. 

Let's not escape from our responsibility for our needy brothers and sisters but become like the good Samaritan who understood the need of the injured person. Let's shows a sense of sensitivity towards our brothers and sisters like Paul, who realising the need of pastoral concerns for the people, encourages them to remain firm in faith.

We can become the good Samaritan by perceiving the hurt, pain or brokeness a person and taking a step up to listen to the person who has suffered a lot, by spending time with the forlorn, and if possible helping them to overcome them. We can also become good Samaritans by caring for the vulnerable. Let's try to become good Samaritan everyday in our lives.