MONDAY, TWENTY SEVENTH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME
Jon 1: 1 2: 1-2, 11 Jon 2: 3-5, 8 Lk 10: 25-37
BEYOND BOUNDARIES: A CALL TO COMPASSION
We live in a world not unlike the deck of the Titanic: music playing, people dancing, laughing, while just below the surface, the ship sinks. And it is not just the secular world; even many Christians are living unaware, caught up in busyness while souls slip into eternity. That is the tragedy behind the indifference of the priest and the Levite in the parable of the Good Samaritan. A man lies bleeding by the road, and these religious figures, walk past without a second glance. Maybe they were late for temple duties or feared defilement. Or maybe, like Jonah, they did not care enough. The priest and the Levite are like people straightening deck chairs on the Titanic— attending to lesser things while ignoring the suffering at their feet.
Jonah, was worse than being indifferent; he was resistant. When God called him to preach repentance to Nineveh, Jonah ran. Not because he feared failure, but because he feared success. He sought not mercy but judgement for his enemies. His reluctance was rooted in hatred, delighting in the downfall of those he despised. He would have played the violin while Nineveh sank. God, who loved the Assyrians, despite their violence challenged Jonah’s prejudice. He desired to save even those whom Jonah deemed unworthy. That is the scandal of grace!
Do we resemble Jonah or the Good Samaritan? Are we indifferent to the spiritual plight of others, especially those we do not naturally love or understand? Our world is hurting, lost, and sinking. God is still asking reluctant prophets to go and proclaim hope. As we approach the close of the Jubilee Year, the call is clear: to go beyond boundaries, cultures, and prejudices to proclaim the hope of the Gospel. Like Jonah, we may resist, but God’s mercy is always wider than our comfort. The Jubilee invites us to see others not as enemies, but as beloved children of God. We are called to be Good Samaritans. May we not play music while the world sinks, but rise and bring healing to a wounded world!
Response: You brought up my life from the pit, O Lord my God.
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