FIFTEENTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME, YEAR C

Описание: (Deuteronomy 30:10-14; Ps 69(68):14…; Colossians 1:15-20; Luke 10:25-37)

Theme: The Framework of God’s Path and Life

Having been made in the image of our invincible God, we bear the light of understanding infused in us and the law inscribed in our hearts to help us understand what must be done and what must be avoided.  However, we are reminded in today’s first reading of the risk of losing the moral and spiritual path to happiness and eternal life if we fail to listen to, follow the voice of the Lord, keep His commandments, and adhere to the Church’s teachings.  As Pope St. John Paul II says in his encyclical, Veritatis Splendor, “man is constantly tempted to turn his gaze away from the living, his capacity to know the truth is darkened, and his will to submit to it is weakened.”

In other words, there are physical and unseen forces intent on destroying all things created in Christ, making us ruthless, loveless, and hopeless.  So, how can we remain vigilant to resist the waves of sin, maintain the harmony between our faith and life, and embrace the path to good and life? 

Unlike the lawyer in today’s gospel, we are not ignorant of our faults.  Thus, we are not testing the Lord, nor do we seek a one-time remedy against the foes of eternal life (zoen aionion). However, we seek to participate in the very life of God and to enjoy the peace of the Lord’s passion.  Thus, we must fully embrace the Lord’s commandments, which reveal the way of life and how to attain it. 

The Prophet Moses reminds us in today’s first reading that the Lord’s commandments are not far from us; they are within our mouths and hearts.  In other words, “no darkness of error or of sin can totally take away from man the light of God the Creator.  In the depths of his heart, we yearn for absolute truth and thirst to attain full knowledge of it.”

Using the Parable of the Good Samaritan, our Lord Jesus reminds us that at the heart of the Lord’s commandments, the framework that guides us in developing a moral compass and inspires us to trust and follow the Lord is the Love of neighbour.  One who loves their neighbour has a loving heart and is willing to face the highest challenges.

Since the Lord asks us to go and do likewise, it means that the Love of neighbour is not just a minimum requirement but a measure that drives us to love God, follow Him to His place of rest, and protect the good of others.

The attitude of the Priest and Levite reminds us that a loving heart is rare. To change such loveless and hopeless societies, we must study, live, and follow the principles of God’s law, which shape us to live an intentional life consistent with our faith and supreme values.