Scripture: Deuteronomy 30:10-14. Psalm 69:14.17.30-37. Col.1:15-20. Luke
10:25-37. Lectionary # 106:

Holiness is wholeness, integrity, and commitment. The book of Deuteronomy
is one of the most encouraging books in the Bible and its message can help
us to understand our call to holiness and integrity. It is based on the
traditions Moses has handed down concerning the covenant we all can make
with God who already has offered to each one of us a covenant similar to
the one given to Israel. The book contains the divine revelation of God,
his love precepts, and his initiative in commitment to us. We are asked to
say HINNENI or Yes, "Here I am", Lord to this covenant of love, mercy, and
peace (Hesed). All of today's readings speak of such holiness and our
response is called for if we hear or read them. It is a universal call to
holiness which is not just for the patriarchs, prophets, rabbis, priests,
cantors, sisters, or religious brothers. One does not have to take the
vows of poverty, chastity, obedience, etc. in order to be holy and
wholesome. Vatican II called for this and certainly Jesus is saying the
same thing to the lawyer both by citing the Torah and by giving him a
concrete example int he parable of the "Good Samaritan." In the Gospel the
words are similar to those bequeathed to us through the Mosaic tradtion in
Deuteronomy. These are the hinge words in the Gospel: God, love, heart,
soul, neighbor and self. We can reflect upon those words in the light of
our daily life commitments and our priorities as a person called to
integrity and holiness. Jesus mirrors them for us in this passage as well
in what the Pauline tradition in Colossians is saying about him in a more
abstract and theological way. It is in the parable of the Good Samaritan
that each of us can be touched at the level of understanding and
spirituality where we are right now. The message is that of
loving-compassion for the man who has been left in the desert without any
help except from this "stranger", the Samaritan. The concluding line has
Jesus telling you and me, "...Go and do the same! (as the Samaritan and
become one yourself). Amen.