by Rev Fr Raymond Raj
Deuteronomy 30:10-14
Psalm 18:8-11
Colossians 1:15-20
Luke 10:25-27
Theme: Compassion is for All
So my dear brothers and sisters in the blessed Lord, like it or not, agree or disagree with me, all of us here including myself, all of us here are different and unique. Therefore, instead of judging others, let us learn how to understand others. Let us take some effort to understand others instead of judging others. As I told earlier, all of us here are unique and different.
My dear friends, it is a known fact. In general, women are more compassionate than men because women have strong and imminent feelings compared to men.
Speaking of being compassionate, speaking of being kind to strangers, a little story comes to my mind.
It was rather a beautiful Sunday morning. People all over were rushing in to the parish to join the Sunday Mass.
As the people were rushing in, a rather old man was trying to enter the church to join the Mass but the parish warden standing at the entrance of the church stopped the old man, refused the old man to come inside the church because the old man looked very filthy, very dirty and smelly. The old man had no shoes on his feet and he looked as if he never took a bath for many years.
So this old man was simple, humble and soft-spoken. Therefore, he refused to argue with the wardens and remained outside the church.
So he sat down on the brick walls outside the church, beside a drain. And deep inside his heart, as he was sitting outside the church, the Mass was going on, he was praying in his heart,
“I wish I could be inside the church praising God. I wish I could be inside the church with all the people praising God.”
So a few minutes passed by. Out of a sudden, a rather young man came beside this old man and sat beside him. This young man asked the old man,
“What are you doing here outside the church?”
He answered,
“I was preparing to go inside the church to participate in the Mass but the warden at the entrance of the church does not allow me inside. The warden said I am too smelly, filthy and dirty. Therefore, I am not allowed to go inside the church. My name is George.” says the old man.
George, this old man, he noticed that this young man who sat beside him had rather a long hair like him. And this young man wore a piece of cloth wrapped over his body with a purple sash. And this young man also had no sandals, no shoes on his feet.
So George asked this young man, “What is your name, sir?”
The young man replied, “My name is Jesus of Nazareth.”
“Like you, I have been trying to get inside this parish. For years they won’t allow me in either. Therefore, do not be disappointed. We are in the same boat.” says Jesus to this old man.
Brothers and sisters, the moral of this story is:
Remember to welcome strangers in your home. Remember to welcome strangers in your parish because I am convinced (I do not know about you all), I am fully convinced if Jesus has to come back, He will come back, He will appear as a stranger.
Brothers and sisters, in today’s Gospel a lawyer, a rather smart lawyer puts Jesus on the spot by asking,
“Who is my neighbour?”
And Jesus told him a story, a parable to make this lawyer think for himself. The parable of this story told by Jesus is a brilliant one because of the characters used by Jesus today speaks volume.
The first two characters in the story, the priest and Levites, choose to ignore this wounded man and they walked past on the other side on purpose. They choose to ignore this wounded man and they walked on the other side.
Meanwhile, the third character in today’s Gospel, a Samaritan, a Gentile chose to attend to this wounded man out of love, out of compassion.
So brothers and sisters, be mindful that this lawyer who approached Jesus with a question today, this lawyer was a Jewish man by race, by religion. Therefore, if only Jesus used a Jewish character as the third person in today’s Parable, I am very sure the lawyer would be very proud and happy. Happy ending story.
Fortunately or unfortunately, Jesus used the Samaritan to capture the whole idea of neighbour.
So brothers and sisters, it is a known fact in the scripture. Jewish people and Samaritan people cannot see eye to eye. They became enemies because of mixed marriage. Jewish people and Samaritan people became enemies because of intermarriage.
The Samaritans were formerly Jewish people by race and religion but because of intermarriage, because of mixed marriage, they abandoned the God of Israel and they started to worship idols.
Brothers and sisters, whether you agree with me or you disagree, whether you like or dislike, let me say this to you today.
Mixed marriage has its consequence. Mixed marriage has its consequence but Jesus does not discount the fact that Samaritan have been more compassionate and loving compared to this Jewish man.
Yes, my dear friends, the Jewish people were faithful to Yahwah unlike the Samaritans. Because of mixed marriage, they denied Yahweh but ultimately the point Jesus was making through today is what is the use of your faithfulness? What is the use of your religion piousness if you fail to be compassionate, to be merciful to one another?
Let me say this again.
What is the use of your faithfulness, religion piousness if you are not compassionate, merciful to others?
Brothers and sisters, if you and I are not careful, you and I can also fall into the same trap thinking God has chosen me because I am a baptised Catholic. God has handpicked me to be a Christian. Therefore I am special. Like these Jewish people, I am special because God chose me.
Brothers and sisters, when a Christian fail or refuse to be compassionate to a non-Christian, he or she has lost the identity of being a Christian. When a Christian choose not to be merciful to a non-Christian, he or she has lost the identity of discipleship.
To be a selfish, self-centered Christian simply means you and I do not love God in the first place.
So my dear friends, the secret to love our neighbours begins with loving God first. When a person loves God, he or she will eventually love his or her neighbour.
And this is exactly the meaning of Good Samaritan. A Good Samaritan loves not only his neighbour but also loves God ultimately.
So brothers and sisters, remember this always. The non-Christians are not our enemies. Neither am I promoting mixed marriage here.
The fundamental message of today’s Gospel is:
Learn how to be compassionate to everyone, regardless of their status, regardless of their race, regardless of their religion.
Amen.
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