In Him Were Created All Things
July 10, 2022: A Reflection for the 15th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Yr C
Luke 10:25-37
“Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” “What is written in the law? How do you read it?” He said in reply, “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.” He replied to him, “You have answered correctly; do this and you shall live.” (Lk 10:25-28)
It started off on a sour note. The scholar of the law was out to test Jesus and asked a trick question. Or at least, one that he thought would trip Jesus up as regards a very important topic: eternal life.
Jesus took the sour note and turned it into harmony. He asks the scholar what is written in the law and his interpretation of it. The scholar knew his scripture and quotes the command to love God and neighbor. Jesus commends his interpretation and tells him to practice it in his life, and he will live. But the harmony didn’t last. The scholar’s true intent becomes evident and in order to justify himself, asks Jesus who his neighbor might be.
Then comes not only harmony, but a whole symphony from Jesus! A magnificent parable detailing not only how to live, but how to BE. It pours out before our eyes what the heart of God is like. It is Mercy. It takes the whole-hearted love of God as its basis and puts before us the truth: God and creation are one. We don’t have to look far for a way in which to express our love of God. It is right next to us – in one another.
We’ve all fallen victim to robbers in our lives. Hopefully not the robbers that have stolen personal property, but we have all been victims of interior wounds that life just throws our way and we are left to deal with it. Then along comes Jesus. He has compassion on us and pours the wine and oil of mercy over our wounds and bandages them with care. He sends people into our lives to love us and care for us and he covers the cost in his cross.
Jesus asks us to do the same. To recognize his presence in every person, to go out of our way to be of assistance. To live eternal life NOW by opening our hearts in faith to the God who asks us to love him with all our heart, with all our being, with all our strength, with all our mind by loving him in the neighbor whom we can see. With Peter who recognized Jesus as he approached the disciples boat, walking on the water, perhaps we can say about one another, “It is the Lord!” The unity of God with all creation is real. We have only to look at one another to see it. Do this and you shall live.