We have heard in the Gospel the Law of the Lord that was given through Moses to the people of Israel. "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." Moses said to people “For this command that I enjoin on you today is not too mysterious and remote for you. It is not up in the sky, that you should say, 'Who will go up in the sky to get it for us…, Nor is it across the sea, that you should say, 'Who will cross the sea to get it for us…, and tell us of it, that we may carry it out?' No, it is something very near to you, already in your mouths and in your hearts; you have only to carry it out." Do you have the law of the Lord in your heart? It’s important for us to have the law of abide in us always. The Responsorial Psalm that we pray this Sunday gives us the reason to keep that law of the Lord always in our heart.
We have prayed in the Responsorial Psalm “The Laws of the Lord, are Spirit and life.” It is perfect, refreshing the soul, trustworthy, giving wisdom to the simple, rejoicing the heart; enlightening the eye and enduring forever. They are more precious than gold, than a heap of purest gold; sweeter also than syrup or honey from the comb. Do we ever feel the Law of the Lord as sweet and perfect?
Jesus brought to perfection the Law of Moses with his love and taught us to love. Jesus not only taught God's way of love, but he showed how far God was willing to go to share in our suffering and to restore us to wholeness of life and happiness. Jesus overcame sin, suffering, and death through his victory on the cross. His death brought us freedom from slavery to sin and the promise of everlasting life with God. He willingly shared in our suffering to bring us to the source of true healing and freedom from sin and oppression. True compassion not only identifies and empathizes with the one who is in pain, but takes that pain on oneself in order to bring freedom and restoration. That is what happens when we have the Law of the Lord in in our heart.
Jesus added his cross to the old Law of Love. And He asks as to do the same in today’s Gospel. Are you ready to embrace the cross of Christ, to suffer for his sake, and to lay down your life out of love for your neighbor? The priest and Levite both "saw" the wounded victim, but didn't want to get near him. The Samaritan, though, had no hesitation about getting near the hurting man. The Samaritan "approached him" and "treated him with compassion". Love has to get near and get involved. Love by its very nature can't keep its distance. Jesus, who is Love, could have remained in heaven in eternal bliss with His Father. However, His love impelled Him to seek us out, be near us, and even be God-with-us, Emmanuel. Now He even is so near us that He dwells within us. We are asked to be the same like Christ. Is there any person, group, or class of people you won't get near? Do you stay away from the poor, uneducated, crippled, aged, criminals, unrepentant, or those of a different race or religion? These may be your "wounded victims," your chance to be a Good Samaritan. Jesus may be saying that as often as you neglected to get near these people, you neglected to get near Him.
Let us pray: Jesus, You never kept Your distance from anyone. May I and all who follow you love as You love. Lord Jesus, may your love always be the foundation of my life. Free me from every fear and selfish-concern that I may freely give myself in loving service to others, even to the point of laying my life down for their sake."