The parable of the Good Samaritan is well known. But is more easily preached than practiced. We are reminded that Jesus is the manifestation of God who desires our love so much that we are commanded to love God with all our heart, soul, strength and mind. St. Augustine tells us that the first commandment is contained in the second. By loving our neighbor, we love God. God values each person He has created. He is waiting passionately for them as they make their way to His home and heart. When we help someone on their way, He is so happy He takes it, as done to Himself.
In the prophet Isaiah God tells us: “I have called you by name. You are mine. You are precious in my eyes and I will honor you because I love you”. The mystery is that each person is so precious to God. You are precious to Him. But you know, God cannot be seen and it is so easy to deceive ourselves. ‘It is not those who call me “Lord, Lord,” who will enter the Kingdom of Heaven but those who do the will of my Father in heaven’. God cannot be seen, but His children can.
Jesus in his manhood is the image of the unseen God. In some mysterious way each human being, friend or foe, is the image of the unseen Christ. Remember the words of our Lord; “I was hungry and you gave me to eat. I was thirsty and you gave me to drink. I was a stranger and you invited me in. I was naked and you clothed me. I was sick and you cared for me. I was in prison and you came to visit me.”
I mean, we do not see Jesus, nor do we recognize him, but He said everything we did ‘to even the least of my brethren here, you did it to me’. “When you welcome a small child in my name you welcome me.”
How many of us are like the priest and the Levite pass by on the other side! ‘What can I do?’ But if we really know Jesus, we will see Him in the least of His brethren too. That being said, I want to say that it is more important to love one person in particular than to love the whole world in general. I mean, let us not cease to love Him in our worship but also love Him in our service to others.
Few years back, I saw a naked child on the street hungry and shivering in the cold. I became angry and said to God, “Why do you allow this? Why don’t you do something?”
You know, God did not reply. That night He said quite suddenly, “I certainly did something. I made you”. Remember from last week’s reflection: God has sent you. He is also with you.
Let our prayer today be: Father, teach me to love and serve you in the suffering as Jesus did and thereby be worthy of your blessing.
Wish you a blessed week!
Recent Comments