The readings for this coming Sunday(7/11) are at USCCB.org>>>
I am presiding at the 4:00pm (7/10) and the 8:00 & 9:30am (7/11).
The Good Samaritan has been read for ages in two ways. The first is to read it literally as Jesus' answer to what mercy, compassion or "neighborliness" looks like. The second way is in an allegorical sense as a description of what God has done for the human race in and through Jesus Christ.
I am leaning toward the second way this week. Humanity has "fallen in with robbers" through sin and is existing "half dead" or better only half alive off on the side of the path to life.
Sin-affected religion(which is half dead itself) can't save humanity, it can't get close enough(cfr the priest and the levite). Only Jesus in the person of the church can, through the remedy/means of the sacraments(wine and oil) get close enough to heal us and carry us to life.
Are we living life as the half alive human being dead in our attachment to sin and life in this world? Is our spiritual/religious life the half dead religious life that just keeps walking through life not in contact with Jesus who can fully save us? Are we not called to a new and fuller life as the Body of Christ that can connect with the totality of our humanity and bring that humanity, that life in the world to the fullness of life in Christ? I think so. What do you think?
