A Lectio Divina Approach to the Sunday Liturgy

BREAKING THE BREAD OF THE WORD (Series 5, n. 33)

15th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year C – July 15, 2007

 

“The One Who Showed Compassion”

 

BIBLE READINGS

Dt 30:10-14 // Col 1:15-20 // Lk 10:25-37

 

 

N.B. Series 5 of BREAKING THE BREAD OF THE WORD: A LECTIO DIVINA APPROACH TO THE SUNDAY LITURGY includes a prayerful study of the Sunday liturgy of Year C from the perspective of the First Reading. For another set of reflections on the Sunday liturgy of Year C, please go to the PDDM Web Archives: WWW.PDDM.US and open Series 2.

 

 

 

I. BIBLICO-LITURGICAL REFLECTIONS

 

I really enjoyed the Reader’s Digest condensed novel “Lady of No Man’s Land” by Jeanne Williams. It is about a young and beautiful Swedish immigrant, Kirsten Mordal, an itinerant seamstress who traveled in the 1870’s around the Old West, in the wild territory called “Neutral Strip” or “No Man’s Land” in a covered wagon. Her escort was a loyal friend named Blue Martin, part Kiowa Indian and a plantation slave descendant. The courageous Kirsten and Blue Martin defied the orders of the “Committee” – a group of shady vigilantes who had enthroned themselves as dealers of “justice” in the lawless “No Man’s Land”, which lay between Kansas and Texas, west of the part of the Indian Territory called the Cherokee Outlet. The vigilantes were hunting for the wounded fugitive, Bob Randall, a dark, good-looking cowboy whom they had falsely accused as a cattle rustler. Kirsten and Blue Martin came upon the bleeding Randall, bound up his wounds and cared for him. Unfortunately, when Randall was strong enough to move on, he was caught by the ruthless and cruel vigilantes and was hung on a cottonwood tree. A paper pinned on the dead man’s vest was a warning from the “Committee” to leave the body on the tree. The carcass of a sentenced rustler dangling on a tree was a grim symbol of the type of “law” that the vigilantes wielded in “No Man’s Land”. Kirsten and Blue Martin buried Randall in a shallow grave dug by Blue Martin. The vigilantes, with their perverted notion of “law”, pursued and punished Kirsten for her defiance. The heroic Kirsten, however, animated by the law of love and spirit of compassion, was ultimately vindicated. Indeed, good triumphs over evil.

 

The need for obedience to the true law that promotes the life and good of Israel is depicted in this Sunday’s Old Testament reading (Dt 30:1-14). Today’s passage about the Rule of Life is part of a solemn farewell speech attributed to Moses at the end of his life. The Chosen People led by Moses were about to cross the river Jordan to the promised, but unfamiliar land. Moses was calling Israel to repentance and conversion. He reiterated the need for obedience to the law of the Lord, the only way for Israel to secure its future in the Promised Land.

 

The biblical scholar, Leslie Hoppe comments: “Repentance will bring restoration to the land from which Israel has been exiled. Restoration will mean the complete reversal of the effects of infidelity. Not only will Israel be restored to its land, but it will enjoy a renewed prosperity. The only requirement is obedience – obedience that is the offshoot of Israel’s love for God. To prevent Israel from becoming discouraged by its failures, God will provide an inner source of commitment that was previously unavailable. Israel will no longer have to rely on its own strength but will receive a heart circumcised by God and fit for a renewed commitment. Moses goes on to assure the people that obedience is not an impossible task. Israel’s past performance may give rise to the view that the commandments are impossible to fulfill, but this text (verses 11-14) presents obedience as a genuine possibility. The law is designed as a guide to human life. It is not part of an inaccessible divine mystery (verse 12). To believe otherwise is nothing less than an attempt to evade responsibility. Second, the law is a practical guide to daily living. It is not some obtuse, rationalist system that is beyond most people (verse 13). The law is the way of life open to all.”

 

The principle of life, which animates the Chosen People, is the absolute love for God (Dt 6:5) and the efficacious love for one’s neighbor (Lev 19:18). The law of God commanding us to love him and our neighbors is not up in the sky or across the sea. It is neither inaccessible nor remote, but very near. It is inscribed in our conscience and etched deeply in our hearts. The authors of the Days of the Lord, vol. 6, explicate: “It is not the book of the Law, but the Word that Moses declares to be very near you. He adds that it is in your mouths and in your hearts, which, in biblical anthropology, represent the seat of human thought and action. The Law is no dead letter, but the living Word of the living God become an interior principle written in the depths of our being, from whence come, with full knowledge and responsibility, the decisions that appear in practice. But for all this, it is necessary that the Lord himself intervene, through grace, in order to place the Word in our hearts. This is the fruit of conversion of all one’s heart and all one’s soul. After all, only the faithful God can cause his people to be faithful. Such is the power of the word of the Lord: truth, deliverance, wisdom and joy. More desirable than anything else.”

 

In the Gospel reading (Lk 10:25-37) Jesus commanded the polemically inclined scholar of the law to put into practice the Rule of Life (“You shall love the Lord, your God with all your heart, with all your being, with all your strength, and with all your mind, and you neighbor as yourself.”) by telling him: “Do this and you will live.” Jesus narrated the Parable of the Good Samaritan in order to teach the lawyer the true meaning of “neighbor”. After receiving an answer to his important question, “Who was neighbor to the robbers’ victim?” Jesus commanded the lawyer: “Go and do likewise.” Just like Moses of old, Jesus challenges in every time and space all those who are seeking “eternal life”, enjoining them to carry out God’s command of love and translate it into practical living.

 

In the New Covenant, Jesus teaches us how to translate into life the true love of God and neighbor. Animated by the Spirit of love, Jesus proved himself as the Good Samaritan who carried out saving deeds and a service of love to those in need. Indeed, the Lord Jesus is the ultimate neighbor. He is the Good Samaritan – the one who was moved to pity – the one who showed compassion to a needy and injured neighbor.

 

The authors of the Days of the Lord, vol. 6, conclude: “He is the Good Samaritan par excellence, beyond all comparison. No one has been or will ever be so completely the neighbor of each and every person. He did not encounter them by chance on the road. He voluntarily came to seek them, he, the Word of God who has taken flesh. He not only did everything for them, but handed himself over for them; he died and rose that they might have everlasting life.”

 

 

 

PERSONAL REFLECTION

By Rev. Fr. Edwin Limpiado, CSS

Holy Cross Church

Sacramento, CA-U.S.A.

 

 

The Christian concept of neighbor is easy to define in words – neighbor is every human being, especially one who is in need of help. But it may be quite hard to accept it in practice, for it is very demanding to be the neighbor of certain individuals or groups … One always has the impression of being on the “giving side,” and this hurts our instinctive self-centeredness and the tendency to expect good things, rather than give them.

 

Most of us (all, perhaps?) prefer a neighbor that is strong, generous, pretty, reliable … one who is at hand and on whom we can rely when we are in need. Hence, “neighbor” is the relative, the friend, the benefactor, the one we like! This is all too easy. Such was the concept of “neighbor” which the Israelites had. But Jesus shattered all these convenient human patterns with a parable that is portrayed his own attitude and life – a life of service unto death for the good of all.

 

Starting with Jesus, “neighbor” has become a universal category. It has come to encompass all human beings. It includes even the “enemy”! The insidious road from Jerusalem to Jericho stretches far beyond its 37 kilometers. It crisscrosses the whole world and intersects our lives every day. We see it strewn with numberless victims, robbed of their moral and spiritual assets by the enemy of all good.

 

A real follower of the Divine Samaritan has to be prepared to change his plans, make an unscheduled stop, and even a detour, in order to “become neighbor” of the unpredictable victims whom Divine Providence places on our journey, which stretches from birth to burial.

 

“Neighbor” may have a million different faces and more. It can be the helpless squatter looking for a permanent dwelling, the drug addict now reduced to a wreck, the deserted wife or the unwed mother, the retarded child or the lonely old folk, the school drop-out or the unemployed … Crowds of people (even religious people!) will cast on them a look of commiseration, and stride on, without stopping for a minute, afraid to get involved with people that may tarnish their image in the “good society” …

 

The indifferent, the over-cautious, the “Christians-in-name” can be a very large crowd indeed and their example of non-caring attitude is often a hard test for the generous souls who would like to put into practice the message of the parable of the Good Samaritan. It really takes a stout heart to opt to be non-conformist – in imitation of Jesus, the most non-conformist of all men – to choose to do what is right, even when the majority is bent on doing what is pleasant or convenient.

 

But a wonderful reward awaits those who have such courage: Jesus Christ, the one present in all the victims and needy people, will say to them the warmest “Thank you!” one can receive. And he will explain: “Whenever you did this for one of my least brothers, you did it for me!” (Mt 25:40). Since Christ’s days, in fact, “neighbor” is the newest name of God.

 

 

 

II. POINTS FOR THE EXAMINATION OF THE HEART

 

A.     Do I see the intimate connection between listening to the voice of the Lord and keeping his commands? How do I respond to the call to conversion: “Return to the Lord with all your heart and all your soul”? Do I believe that the living Word commanding me to love is something very near – already in our mouths and inscribed in our hearts? Do I endeavor to carry out the Word of God and obey his command?

 

B.     Do I meditate on the great command of love: “You shall love the Lord, your God with all your heart, with all your being, with all your strength, and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself.” Do I allow this life-giving principle to animate my daily life?

 

C.     Do I contemplate Jesus as the Good Samaritan par excellence? Do I thank the Good Samaritan for the compassion he showed me when I was needy, wounded and beaten up in life? Do I try to imitate Jesus, the Good Samaritan? Do I treat my neighbors with love and compassion? Do I allow the Lord Jesus - the Good Samaritan par excellence – to teach me the ways of sacrificial love and compassion?

 

 

III. PRAYING WITH THE WORD

 

Leader: O Jesus, the Good Samaritan par excellence, you were moved to pity when you encountered the wounded man, beaten by the robbers on the road to Jericho. You have dressed his wounds and assisted him all the way so that he may be restored to good health, dignity and wholeness. Teach us the ways of love. Help us to be true neighbors to those in need. Give us the grace of compassion. Make us efficacious in our ministry to our needy neighbors whom we meet and serve in our daily journey to our spiritual Jericho. We adore you and love you, for you are gracious and loving, full of mercy and compassion. We praise you and serve you, now and forever.

Assembly: Amen.

 

 

 

IV. INTERIORIZATION OF THE WORD

 

            The following is the bread of the living Word that will nourish us throughout the week. Please memorize it.

 

“You shall love the Lord, your God with all your heart, with all your being, with all your strength, and with all your mind, and you neighbor as yourself.” (Lk 10:27)

 

 

 

V. TOWARDS LIFE TRANSFORMATION

 

A.     ACTION PLAN: Pray that the Christian disciples of today may truly understand the meaning of “neighbor” and endeavor to be a helping “neighbor” to those in need. Everyday this week, try to carry out the compassionate ministry of the Good Samaritan, no matter how small, to the needy people around you.

 

B.     ACTION PLAN: To help us delve more deeply into the meaning of our Christian vocation as bearers of joy and peace, make an effort to spend an hour in Eucharistic Adoration. Visit the PDDM WEB site (www.pddm.us) for the EUCHARISTIC ADORATION THROUGH THE LITURGICAL YEAR (Vol. 3, n. 33): A Weekly Pastoral Tool.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Prepared by Sr. Mary Margaret Tapang  PDDM

 

PIAE DISCIPULAE DIVINI MAGISTRI

SISTER DISCIPLES OF THE DIVINE MASTER

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Website: WWW.PDDM.US

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