HOMILY : MONDAY 27TH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME YEAR – YEAR A
BY FR. KARABARI PAUL
THEME : CHOOSE KINDNESS
“Which of these three, do you think, proved neighbour to the man who fell among the robbers?” He said, “The one who showed mercy on him.” And Jesus said to him, “Go and do likewise.”
We all know that we should be kind to others, but it’s not always easy, especially when people are ungrateful or unkind towards us. The Bible tells us that we should ‘clothe’ ourselves with kindness. This suggests it’s something we need to put on each day, rather than something that comes naturally to us. So it is normal for us to struggle to be kind sometimes. But as Christians, we have to choose kindness, no matter what.
In the Gospel today we reflect on the Story of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:25-37). It is about a Samaritan man who chose kindness. When a Jewish man was attacked and beaten on the road to Jericho, a number of other Jewish people including a priest walked straight past. One took the opposite direction; meaning a total rejection and refusal to render assistance. Of course, they might have reasons for ignoring the vulnerable victim. A priest wasn’t allowed to touch blood if he was to be clean ritually. Sometimes, we exalt religious rules above love for humanity.
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The Samaritan man stopped and helped. Not only did he choose to be kind to another man, but he chose to be kind to someone who was culturally his ‘enemy’. The Samaritan and Jewish people didn’t mix, but this man ignored that, and helped the injured man. He chose to be kind by cleaning his wounds, taking him to an inn, and paying the expenses. He went above and beyond what was necessary. He put kindness first. He ignored what was stipulated by culture, overcame the fear of what could happen to him, allowed himself to be interrupted by God’s love, and ignored his own schedule to help the man. If we don’t allow God to interrupt with our time, talent and treasure in our services to God and man then we have not started loving. If we only love people who love us then we have done nothing.
We need to be like that Samaritan man. If he had killed the victim, he would have been probably honoured by his own people. There are people who still act on perpetuated hatred between their families. Children are made to hate themselves for for what their forefathers (now ancestors whose bones can no longer be found in the graves) did in the past. And the children continue to key into the system. Others opt for cultural hatred just because they have come to meet it. Sometimes, we fail to show kindness because we feel it would interrupt with our plans.
We have to choose to respond to those around us with kindness, even when we don’t get along with them. When other people aren’t kind to us, we need to decide whether we are going to let bitterness or kindness win in our hearts. It might feel like a massive challenge to show kindness to them, but the Holy Spirit is there to help us develop it in our lives. Kindness is one of the fruits of the Spirit, and will be produced in our lives when we let the Spirit lead. Today, you are going to see so many injured and vulnerable people; some of which you already perceive as your enemies. Are you going to take the opposite direction? Will you choose kindness today? Remember, ‘Whoever…sees his brother in need, and shuts up his heart…how does the love of God abide in him?’ (1 John 3:17). GOD IS STILL ON THE THRONE. May God have mercy on us, heal our world and bless us all through Christ Our Lord Amen. Good morning.
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