Sunday Homily, July 10, 2016, 15th Sunday Ordinary Time
Readings:
Deuteronomy 30, 10-14, Heed the voice of the Lord.
Psalm 69, Turn to the Lord in your need and you will live.
Colossians 1, 15-20, Jesus is the image of the invisible God.
Luke 10, 25-37, The man robbed on the road to Jericho.
Genevieve says, "Welcome in, Everybody. It is nice to be back. Here, let me open the door for you."
Deuteronomy observations:
The Scene: the desert outside the promised land. Moses is talking to the people about all that has happened to them since he led them out of Israel and through the desert for many years. Now, as they prepare to enter, Moses is dying. He is simply exhorting them to love Yahweh and obey his laws.
The Author: not Moses. A compilation put into three discourses.
Date: guess when? Yes, after the Babylonian Captivity, ca. 555 before Christ.
Subject today: Moses talks about a command, but never mentions exactly what it is. Watch for the answer in today's gospel. The Great Command, to be a Good Samaritan.
Says Zoe, "Hi, Folks, Yes, it is nice to be back. California is also pretty nice."
The Victims in Our Lives
This past Friday evening I did something I have been doing a lot of. I rode my bike down the White Rock Creek Path to The Lake, went around it, and came back up the path to Royal Lane, a distance of about 20 miles. Sorry to tell another biking story, but it was so relevant for me at the time.
As I was coming home and making the transition from the Lake to the Path, I went under the new Northwest Hwy Bridge. Being dusk it was sort of dark under the bridge. However, to my left about twenty yards over to the wall, I noticed 3 bikers stopped maybe two guys and a girl.
So, I took a deep breath and yelled, “You guys okay, need any help?”
Welcome back to you, Leo. I've missed the Leo spirit around here.
It may seem pretty trivial, but this is so hard for me to do. These people are calling me to be a Good Samaritan. I, however, am obsessed about keeping my schedule. As I yelled I was hoping they would say, “We are okay.” Which they did. So I got off easy.
I asked these people because I knew I was going to have to make a resolution in view of this homily. I even used to ask people, but got too busy, at least in my mind.
Victoria and Zoe, our Candle Lighters of The Week.
In the past two months I have passed two groups. One group of two guys, they were walking a bike with a flat front tire. I can fix flats in ten minutes. I have everything I need. The other group was under another bridge and had a bike upside down and they were working on an inner tube. Both times I passed by, said nothing, and then felt guilty.
So, I resolve to always ask people if they need help when I see them standing by their bike.
Now, you say, ‘Well, I don’t even ride a bike. How does this pertain to me?’ My bet? Somewhere you have a similar challenge.
Three of the Wyndham Clan, Ron, Barbara, and Ray.
As a community, I would highlight a joy I have, the fact that we attempt to be a good Samaritan to a number of small charities, and in particular to Souls Harbor. This is a privilege.
Recalling my psych stuff, How am I called to be a good Samaritan to myself? We are all wounded people in some way. How am I nurturing my spirit? Where have I been hurt and how am I a Good Samaritan with that hurt?
Where are you challenged to be a Better Good Samaritan?
"Nothing beats Grandma's hugs," says Zoe?