Reflection on the Gospel of the Monday
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Luke 10: 25-37 |
A wonderful parable. Wonderful not because it is well crafted, wonderful because it challenges our vocation as Christians, especially so in India, today.
Samaritans, have their beginnings in Israel, as being those lame and useless left behind by the Assyrian conquerors of the Kingdom of North Israel made up of the 10 tribes of Israel. As it was when Israel was ransacked and enslaved, they had already fallen back into sin and detached themselves from Yahweh. The few that were left behind, barely knew how to liturgically worship Yahweh. And add to it the fact that 5 pagan nations were resettled alongside them. Thus the religion that got fashioned was not a reflection of the primary Israelite faith. Because of this when the Jews (primarily the southern two tribes called the Kingdom of Judah, and so called after returning from their own exile in Babylon), returned to the Promised Land, disassociated themselves from the Samaritans. There was great rivalry among them, associating the Samaritans was also looked as associating with a leper.
Imagine Jesus praising the Samaritan, he who did not know his religion, to have truly lived the religion. The compelling part of this story is that those well versed with the religion, missed living the faith. And yet the one who was sincere of heart was living the faith. The Jesus-faith is nothing but living getting into a relationship with Him, no matter who we are or what our history is. It is about securing our future with a direct relationship with God.
Come Holy Spirit shed your light in our lives, light up our path, help us live your life, make us God’s friends…
