Christ, The Good Samaritan

Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint Luke 10:25-37.
There was a scholar of the law who stood up to test him and said, "Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?"
Jesus said to him, "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 will live."
But because he wished to justify himself, he said to Jesus, "And who is my neighbor?"
Jesus replied, "A man fell victim to robbers as he went down from Jerusalem to Jericho. They stripped and beat him and went off leaving him half-dead.
A priest happened to be going down that road, but when he saw him, he passed by on the opposite side.
Likewise a Levite came to the place, and when he saw him, he passed by on the opposite side.
But a Samaritan traveler who came upon him was moved with compassion at the sight.
He approached the victim, poured oil and wine over his wounds and bandaged them. Then he lifted him up on his own animal, took him to an inn and cared for him.
The next day he took out two silver coins and gave them to the innkeeper with the instruction, 'Take care of him. If you spend more than what I have given you, I shall repay you on my way back.'
Which of these three, in your opinion, was neighbor to the robbers' victim?"
He answered, "The one who treated him with mercy." Jesus said to him, "Go and do likewise."

Origen (c.185-253), priest and theologian
Homilies on Saint Luke's Gospel, 34, 3.7-9; GCS 9, 201-202.204-205. (©Friends of Henry Ashworth)

Christ, the Good Samaritan

To interpret the parable of the Good Samaritan, one of the elders used to say that the man going down from Jerusalem to Jericho was Adam. He said Jerusalem was paradise, Jericho was the world, and the brigands were enemy powers. The priest was the law, the levite the prophets, and the Samaritan Christ. Adam's wounds were his disobedience, the animal that carried him was the body of the Lord... and the promised return of the Samaritan, according to this interpeter, was a figure of the Second Coming of the Savior...

This Samaritan bore our sins and suffered on our behalf; he carried the half dead man to the inn which takes in everyone, denying no one its help; in other words, to the Church. To this inn Jesus invites all when he says: «Come to me, all who labor and are overburdened, and I will give you new strength» After bringing in the man half dead the Samaritan did not immediately depart, but remained and dressed his wounds by night as well as by day, showing his concern and doing everything he could for him... This guardian of souls «who showed mercy to the man who fell into the hands of brigands» was a better neighbor to him than were either the law or the prophets, and he proved this more by deeds than by words.

Now the saying: «be imitators of me as I am of Christ» makes it clear that we can imitate Christ by showing mercy to those who have «fallen into the hands of brigands». We can go to them, bandage their wounds after pouring in oil and wine, place them on our own mount, and bear their burdens. And so the Son of God exhorts us to do these things, in words addressed not only to the teacher of the law but to all of us: «Go and do likewise.»

"Who do the crowds say that I am?"

Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint Luke 9:18-22.
Once when Jesus was praying in solitude, and the disciples were with him, he asked them, "Who do the crowds say that I am?"
They said in reply, "John the Baptist; others, Elijah; still others, 'One of the ancient prophets has arisen.'"
Then he said to them, "But who do you say that I am?" Peter said in reply, "The Messiah of God."
He rebuked them and directed them not to tell this to anyone.
He said, "The Son of Man must suffer greatly and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes, and be killed and on the third day be raised."

Commentary of the day
Saint Thérèse of the Child Jesus (1873-1897), Carmelite, Doctor of the Church
Poem 52 « L'Abandon est le fruit délicieux de l'amour »

« 'And when I am lifted up from the earth, I will draw everyone to myself.' He said this indicating the kind of death he would die» (Jn 12 ,32-33)

There is on this earth
A marvelous Tree,
Its root, O mystery!
Is in Heaven...

In its shade
Never could anything cause pain.
One can rest there
Without fearing the storm.

Love is the name
Of this ineffable Tree,
And its delectable fruit
Is called Abandonment.

Even in this life this fruit
Gives me happiness.
My soul delights
In its divine fragrance.

It seems a treasure.
Putting it to my mouth,
It is sweeter still.

It gives me in this world
An ocean of peace.
In this deep peace
I rest forever...

Abandonment alone brings me
Into your arms, O Jesus.
It alone makes me live
The life of the Elect.

My Reflection:

Who is Jesus in your life? Do you really know Him that much? As for me, being a renewed christian, I am becoming more aware of His presence. Through good times and bad times, I know that I have a BIG Jesus in my heart. Thanks for loving me Jesus!

God granted us to see in Jesus his well-beloved Son

Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint Luke 9:7-9.
Herod the tetrarch heard about all that was happening, and he was greatly perplexed because some were saying, "John has been raised from the dead";
others were saying, "Elijah has appeared"; still others, "One of the ancient prophets has arisen."
But Herod said, "John I beheaded. Who then is this about whom I hear such things?" And he kept trying to see him.

Commentary of the day
Saint Clement of Rome, Pope from 90 to about 100
Letter to the Corinthians ; universal prayer (©Ancient Christian Writers)

God granted us to see in Jesus his well-beloved Son

May the Creator of the universe
preserve undiminished
the established number of His elect in all the world
through His beloved Son Jesus Christ,

through him he has called us out of darkness into light,
out of ignorance into the full knowledge of the splendor of His name.
we place our hope in your name
who gave existence to all creation.

Open the eyes of our heart,
that we may know You
who alone art Highest among the highest
and Holy, reposing among the holy.

You humble the pride of the haughty,
destroy the designs of the heathens;
you raise up the lowly and humble the lofty,
make rich and make poor,
slay and bring to life.

Only Benefactor of spirits
and God of all flesh,
you gaze upon the deep,
behold the works of men,
Helper in danger,
Savior in despair,
Creator and Watcher of every spirit...

We beg you, O Master,
to be our Helper and Protector.
Deliver those of us who are in distress,
raise up the fallen,
show your face to those in need,
heal the infirm,
bring back the erring of your people,
feed the hungry,
ransom our prisoners,
set the infirm upon their feet,
comfort the fainthearted.
Let all the nations know
that you are the only God,
that Jesus Christ is your Son,
that we are your people and the sheep of your pasture.

"My mother and my brothers"

Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint Luke 8:19-21.

Then his mother and his brothers came to him but were unable to join him because of the crowd.
He was told, "Your mother and your brothers are standing outside and they wish to see you."
He said to them in reply, "My mother and my brothers are those who hear the word of God and act on it."

Commentary of the day
Saint Teresa Benedicta of the Cross [Edith Stein] (1891-1942), Carmelite, martyr, co-patron of Europe
Woman's position within the Church (©Institute of Carmelite Studies)

"My mother and my brothers"

In spite of the real organic oneness of head and body, the Church stands by the side of Christ like an independent person. Christ lived prior to all time and all humanity as Son of the eternal Father. Humankind came into being by the act of creation before Christ assumed its nature and entered into it. By entering into creation, he brought his divine life into it. From himself, he generated human nature anew, in that, through his redemption, he made humanity receptive to His grace and fulfilled it by grace. The Church is that humanity newly created and redeemed through Christ.

The original cell of all redeemed humanity is Mary, in whom purification and sanctification through Christ, and impregnation by the Holy Spirit, first took place. Before the Son of Man was born of the Virgin, the Son of God conceived of this very virgin as one full of grace, and He created the Church in and with her.

Every soul purified through baptism and raised to the state of grace is thereby conceived through Christ and for his sake. Yet the soul is conceived in and born through the Church... The Church is thus the mother of all the redeemed. But it is so because of its most intimate union with Christ, and because it stands at his side as the Spouse of Christ and cooperates with him in his work, the redemption of humanity.

My Reflection:
What is the importance of the church in our life? Do we often go to mass on sundays?
Just like my mother, she is the heart and soul of our home. When I was a child, my mom sees to it that everything is all prepared in our breakfast and baon before she goes to her work.

My Mother, the Church, the Spouse of Christ...

She has shown great love

Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint Luke 7:36-50.
A Pharisee invited him to dine with him, and he entered the Pharisee's house and reclined at table.
Now there was a sinful woman in the city who learned that he was at table in the house of the Pharisee. Bringing an alabaster flask of ointment,
she stood behind him at his feet weeping and began to bathe his feet with her tears. Then she wiped them with her hair, kissed them, and anointed them with the ointment.
When the Pharisee who had invited him saw this he said to himself, "If this man were a prophet, he would know who and what sort of woman this is who is touching him, that she is a sinner."
Jesus said to him in reply, "Simon, I have something to say to you." "Tell me, teacher," he said.
Two people were in debt to a certain creditor; one owed five hundred days' wages and the other owed fifty.
Since they were unable to repay the debt, he forgave it for both. Which of them will love him more?"
Simon said in reply, "The one, I suppose, whose larger debt was forgiven." He said to him, "You have judged rightly."
Then he turned to the woman and said to Simon, "Do you see this woman? When I entered your house, you did not give me water for my feet, but she has bathed them with her tears and wiped them with her hair.
You did not give me a kiss, but she has not ceased kissing my feet since the time I entered.
You did not anoint my head with oil, but she anointed my feet with ointment.
So I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven; hence, she has shown great love. But the one to whom little is forgiven, loves little."
He said to her, "Your sins are forgiven."
The others at table said to themselves, "Who is this who even forgives sins?"
But he said to the woman, "Your faith has saved you; go in peace."

Commentary of the day
Saint Bernard (1091-1153), Cistercian monk and Doctor of the Church
Sermon 7 on the Song of Songs

"She has shown great love"

"Let him kiss me," she says, "with the kiss of his mouth" (Sg 1,1). Who is speaking? The Bride. But why "Bride"? She is the soul which thirsts for God. And to whom does she speak. To her God... For no names can be found as sweet as those in which the Word and the soul exchange affections, as Bridegroom and Bride, for to such everything is common. Nothing is the property of one and not the other, nothing is held separately. They share one inheritance, one table, one house, one bed, one flesh. For this she leaves her father and her mother and clings to her husband and they two are one flesh (Gn 2,24)...

So then love especially and chiefly belongs to those who are married and it is not inappropriate to call the loving soul a Bride. For she who asks a kiss feels love. She does not ask for freedom or payment or an inheritance or learning, but for a kiss, in the manner of a most chaste bride, who sighs for holy love; and she cannot disguise the flame which is so evident...

She loves most chastely who seeks him whom she loves and not some other thing which belongs to him. She loves in a holy way, because she does not love in fleshly desire but in purity of spirit. She loves ardently, because she is drunk with love so that she cannot see his majesty. What? He it is "who looks on the earth and causes it to tremble" (Ps 103,32). And she asks him for a kiss? Is she drunk? Indeed she is drunk with love for God!... Oh, what force of love! What great confidence of spirit! What freedom! What is more evident than that perfect love casts out fear? (1Jn 4,18).


My Reflection:
Perfect love casts out fear. I can still remember when I was a little boy of about 10 years old, when I did something wrong to my parents or when they get angry with me, I easily find a way to make them smile.

What's my secret?

I do household chores. I sweep the floor, clean the dishes and a lot lot more.

I love my parents. Now I am 34 years old, even though I am married, my family and I make it a point to visit them every weekends just to help them do the household chores or even cook for their breakfast.

The ignorance of those who will not repent

Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint Luke 7:31-35.

Then to what shall I compare the people of this generation? What are they like?
They are like children who sit in the marketplace and call to one another, 'We played the flute for you, but you did not dance. We sang a dirge, but you did not weep.'
For John the Baptist came neither eating food nor drinking wine, and you said, 'He is possessed by a demon.'
The Son of Man came eating and drinking and you said, 'Look, he is a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners.'
But wisdom is vindicated by all her children."

Commentary:

The Apostle Paul says that there are some who have no knowledge of God (1Cor 15,34). My opinion is that all those who lack knowledge of God are those who refuse to turn to him. I am certain that they refuse because they imagine this kindly posed God to be harsh and severe, this merciful God to be callous and inflexible, this lovable God to be cruel and oppressive. So it is that wickedness plays false to itself, setting up for itself an image that does not represent him.

What you afraid of, you men of little faith? That he will not pardon your sins? But with his own hands he has nailed them to the cross. That you are used to soft living and your tastes are fastidious? But he is aware of our weakness. That a prolonged habit of sinning binds you like a chain? But the Lord loosens the shackles of prisoners (Ps 145,7). Or perhaps angered by the enormity and frequency of your sins he is slow to extend a helping hand? But where sin abounded, grace became superabundant (Rom 5,20). Are you worried about clothing and food and other bodily necessities so that you hesitate to give up your possessions? But he knows that you need all these things (Mt 6,32). What more can you wish? What else is there to hold you back from the way of salvation? This is what I say: you do not know God, yet you will not believe what we have heard. I should like you to believe those whom experience has taught.

My Reflection:
What is the difference between ignorance and pride?
The spelling? Kidding aside, in my own opinion it is yes. The spelling of "God" in their life is what you will see on these people. Lack of faith in my own life makes it hard for me to spell God because of my ignorance and pride. I must be a childlike to know Him more. Being pure an innocent just like a child is what I need and most others need to be able to recognize His voice.

Let's be a child now!!!

"Behold your Mother."

Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint John 19:25-27.

Standing by the cross of Jesus were his mother and his mother's sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary of Magdala.
When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple there whom he loved, he said to his mother, "Woman, behold, your son."
Then he said to the disciple, "Behold, your mother." And from that hour the disciple took her into his home.

Commentary of the day
Rupert of Deutz (c.1075-1130), Benedictine monk
Commentary on Saint Johns Gospel, 13 ; PL 169, 789

"Behold, your mother."

Woman, this is your son. This is your mother.» By what right is the disciple whom Jesus loved the son of the Lord's mother? By what right is she his mother? By the fact that, without pain, she brought into the world the salvation of us all when she gave birth in the flesh to the God-man. But now she is in labor with great pain as she stands at the foot of the cross.

At the hour of his Passion, the Lord himself rightly compared the apostles to a woman in childbirth when he said: «When a woman is in labor she is in anguish because a child is born into the world» (cf. Jn 16,21). How much more, then, might such a son compare such a mother, the mother standing at the foot of his cross, to a woman in labor? What am I saying? «Compare»? She is indeed truly a woman and truly a mother and, at this hour, she is truly experiencing the pains of childbirth. When her son was born she did not experience the anguish of giving birth in pain as other women do; it is now that she is suffering, that she is crucified, that she experiences sorrow like a woman in labor, because her hour has come ( Jn 16,21; cf.13,1; 17,1)...

When this hour has passed, when the sword of sorrow has completely pierced her soul in labor (Lk 2,35), then no more shall she «remember the pain because a child has been born into the world» – the new man who renews the entire human race and reigns for ever over the whole world, truly born, beyond all suffering, immortal, the firstborn from the dead. If the Virgin has thus brought the salvation of us all into the world, in her son's Passion, then she is indeed the mother of us all.

My Reflection:
Today's gospel marks the celebration of Lady of Sorrows. Having a mother who gives me life and helped me see the beauty of creation is totally a blessing for me. My Mom's love is unconditional. She gave what is best for me. My mom is an example of a faithful servant. I really love my mom.

Mom, thank you for bringing me up in this world.