15^th Sunday, Year C: Homily by Fr Isaac Chima

Theme: Who is my neighbour?

Readings: Deut. 30: 10-14; Col. 1:15-20; Lk 10:25-37

In every religion and culture, there exists a doctrine that advocates for the love of one’s neighbour. This doctrine invariably waters the soil for the application of the golden rule: treat others as you wish to be treated. Nevertheless, it seems that the teaching of ‘who qualifies as one’s neighbour’ is often misinterpreted across various religions and cultures. For instance, within Judaism, Samaritans are not regarded as neighbours and, consequently, are not to be treated with love; for the Essenes of the Qumran community, neighbours are exclusively those who share their religious beliefs; for the Zealots, neighbours are solely those who share their nationality and ethnicity; for some Muslims, Christians are not considered neighbours but rather infidels; and even for many of us, when we hear the term neighbour, we often think of our relatives, those residing nearby, or our colleagues at school or work. While it is accurate that all the people I have mentioned (our relatives, colleagues, and those living in proximity to us, etc.) are indeed our neighbours, it would be inadequate if these individuals were the only neighbours we acknowledged.

Consequently, in today's gospel, Jesus uses His response to the question posed by the teacher of the law to tell what has been lacking in the teaching of 'who one's neighbour is' as interpreted by various religions and cultures. Indeed, He articulates what the understanding of 'who my neighbour is' ought to be within Christianity; His reply signifies a transformative shift from the traditional perception of who a neighbour is or should be.

Let us examine the context of the narrative in the parable presented in today's gospel to extract the first lesson that Jesus is giving us. The parable said that the man who fell into the hands of robbers was travelling from Jerusalem to Jericho. Dear friends, the road from Jerusalem to Jericho was a lonely one during the time of Christ. It was very rocky with sudden turns that made it easy for criminals to operate successfully. Thus, it was recommended that anyone making a journey on that road should travel with escorts to avoid being attacked by robbers. However, the victim in today's parable chose to travel alone; that was why he fell into the hands of robbers. Therefore, it can be said he was not careful about his own safety.

Although it could be said that the man acted carelessly regarding his safety and consequently invited trouble upon himself, Jesus requested that he should be helped. What lesson can we derive from the position of Jesus? It teaches us that we must extend our helping hands even to those who are responsible for their own misfortunes. Thus, Christians should not deny help to those who are the cause of their own downfalls. We should not say, “Leave him to die because we warned him, and he refused to listen to us.”

In the gospel of today, rather than identifying the individuals surrounding him as the neighbours of that teacher of the law who sought to understand the definition of a neighbour, Jesus chose to tell the story of a man in need of help. The implication of Jesus's message is that the neighbours of Christians include those who are in need of help, even if they caused their own problems. In fact, such people are our true neighbours; they deserve our help.

Therefore, dear friends, who is our neighbour? Our neighbours are not only those who share our nationality, those who share the same race with us, those residing near us, our relatives, our fellow Christians, and our colleagues in school or workplaces, but they also include those in need of help: those wounded by poverty, those wounded by hunger, those afflicted by ignorance, those harmed by toxic relationships, those struggling with unemployment, those affected by corrupt government systems, those who have been wounded by cultural practices, etc.  Anyone in need of help is the neighbour to a Christian; that person is your neighbour, regardless of their family background, religion, culture, or nationality, for Jesus has united us.

The Samaritan in the parable of today broke down the racial barriers that separated Jews and Samaritans. He recognized that anyone in need of help is his brother, sister, and neighbour, irrespective of their origin. Therefore, dear friends, let us go to the streets and the highways this week and treat those in need as our neighbours through our acts of kindness.

As we engage in this activity, it is essential to keep in mind that one does not need to be excessively wealthy – financially stable – in order to assist those who are less fortunate. Some people claim that they lack sufficient funds for their own needs, and thus, they feel unable to extend help to others. In today's gospel, the Samaritan did not possess enough money at the time, yet his financial limitations did not hinder him from aiding the man in distress; instead, he transported the injured man to a location where he could receive proper care, then he deposited the little money he had and promised to cover any remaining costs later. This is love and charity for one’s neighbour in action. Let us emulate this example as we encounter the needy on the streets this week.

Peace be with you. Have a blessed new week

Fr. Isaac Chinemerem Chima

 

 

 

 

 15^TH SUNDAY, YEAR C: REFLECTION BY FR. JULIAN EKEH

THEME: THE DANGER OF PASSING BY

(Luke 10:25-37)

The Gospel of today continued from where that of last Sunday stopped. Last Sunday, Jesus told His disciples how fortunate they were to have heard the many things they heard and to have seen what they saw for many longed to but couldn't. As if the lawyer of today's Gospel was among those who wished to have heard, he stepped forward to Jesus with a question. He became interested in the new teacher. He wanted to test Jesus.

What do I do?

This is a question asked by someone in confusion who wants to know the right or best way to follow. Jesus could have overlooked this young man because he really knew the answer to his question. But Jesus, knowing the danger of passing by, didn't overlook him. Unlike the other places in the Bible where this question was genuinely asked, today's case is a different scenario altogether. After the preaching of John the Baptist, the question came up. Following the teaching of st Peter on Pentecost, the question was asked by his audience. The same question was still asked in the Philippian jail. These others asked to know, to be shown, to be better and to change. They were not asking to justify themselves or to be given reasons to pass by.

This lawyer's intent was not what it should be, but Jesus paid attention to him.

 

The lawyer and the lawgiver

Having put the question to Him, Jesus, the lawgiver, replies by putting it back to him. What is written in the law?

He answered by reciting part of the shema:

"Hear, oh Israel... you must love the Lord your God (Deut 6:5), Love of neighbour as oneself (Lev. 19:18)."

From the caveat " Your neighbour" he asks: who is my neighbour?

He was not asking to know what he didn't know, but to find reasons of limiting his neighbours. He needed more reasons to pass by. Jesus led him through a story, leaving him to find the correct information he needed by himself.

 

Those who passed by

We sing in Igbo "agabialamo mgbe I na-eje, mgbe I na ala", "Mgbe I na agaghari na eme mma", and in English: pass me not, oh gentle Saviour.

We fail daily to respond to those in need of our stopping over. But we make God stop for us. We don't seem to care about doing for those around us what we will like the God above us do for us. The priest passed by, followed by the levite. They may have done what they did for some ritualistic reasons. They considered the danger of not performing their rites as priests than the danger of seeing the only neighbour they had along that dangerous route who needed their help. They considered being attacked, being blackmailed for touching, being accused of killing the man, and not enjoying their rest. For these, they passed by. Passing by is passing away from the love of God. Do not pass by anyone in danger.

 

Our excuses to pass by

We've got excuses not to be helpful. In the villages, we do not want them to kill us and we allow the poor widow to die of malaria, we do not want our fuel tank to run dry against tomorrow's work we leave the pregnant poor woman to die of labour. 'It doesn't concern me' is a dangerous attitude to life. (I don't care 'wu onye oruberela'). We should have feelings for our neighbours.

 

Am I involved?

Odumegwu Ojukwu, the leader of Biafra, is known for the dictum: "because I am involved." Being involved or not has become the measure of many things in our society today. Because our leaders are not involved, our poor masses are passed by unnoticed. Our schools are passed by dilapidated because our leaders' wards are not in them. Our hospitals are left because our leaders have foreign health insurance abroad. Our roads are abandoned because our leaders use helicopters. The poor man's child languishes in jail after committing the same crime with the freed governor's child. The Christians suffer because a Christian is not the president. People are massacred daily, and a leader of a nation pretends not to be aware. Indifference is all we get from political officers, while the poor masses suffer as a result of terrorism and insecurity.

But when an epidemic that knows no great or small comes like the Ebola or Covid19, everyone gets involved. It is unfortunate!

 

Then the Samaritan came by

Here is the answer to the question: Who is my neighbour? The one who did not pass by is the true neighbour. The Samaritan did not pass by. His good deeds can not be passed by not even by the lawyer in his prejudice. He at least admitted, even though he avoided mentioning his Samaritan origin.

Take a look at what the Samaritan did:

He came to where he was

(He did not stay far away to take pictures for Facebook upload)

He felt compassion for him

(Did not just stop at saying eiyaaa and continue typing on WhatsApp)

Bound up his wounds and carried him to an inn, took care of him, and spent on him without reservation. This is inspirational!

 

Go and do the same

The argument winner stood dumbfounded. And Jesus charged him to go. Go and don't pass by again.

You're given to give. You're alive to make others live. You're standing that others may rise. Help them up.

You may be next in same situation tomorrow. Do as you would want done to you.

 

BLESSINGS

May you be blessed with good caring neighbours as you endeavour to be a good neighbour yourself.

May God not pass you by as you stop by for others.

Happy Sunday to you.

Rev Fr Julian O Ekeh