HOMILY OF 15TH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME — YEAR C
HOMILY THEME: THE GOOD SAMARITAN
BY: Fr Deotacious Chikontwe SMA
Deuteronomy 30:10-14, Colossians 1:15-20, Luke 10:25-37
Introduction
My sisters and brothers in Christ,
Today we celebrate the 15th Sunday in Ordinary Time. This is a time when we think about what it really means to follow Jesus in our daily lives. Today’s readings give us important lessons about God’s rules, Jesus’s greatness, and the call to love our neighbors.
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God’s Rules Are Close to Us
Our first reading from Deuteronomy gives us great comfort. Moses tells the people that God’s commands “are not too mysterious and remote for you.” He says they aren’t in the sky or across the sea. Instead, they are “very near to you, in your mouth and in your heart.”
This means God’s will for us isn’t a hidden secret. It’s not just for smart people or special people. No, God’s rules for how we should live are inside us. We usually know what’s right, fair, and kind. The challenge isn’t finding out what God wants; it’s choosing to live it out.
Jesus Shows Us God Perfectly
Our second reading from Colossians talks beautifully about Jesus. St. Paul says Jesus is “the image of the invisible God.” This means if you want to know what God is like, look at Jesus. Everything was made through him and for him.
Paul also says that through Jesus, God made peace with everything. If we want to understand God’s rules and see them lived out perfectly, we look to Jesus. He is God’s living rule, walking among us.
Be a Good Neighbor
This brings us to today’s Gospel, the well-known story of the Good Samaritan. A religious expert asks Jesus, “What must I do to inherit eternal life?” Jesus asks him what the law says, and the expert correctly answers: “Love God with all your heart… and love your neighbor as yourself.”
Then, the expert asks, “And who is my neighbor?” Instead of giving a definition, Jesus tells a story. A man is robbed, beaten, and left for dead. A priest and a Levite (religious leaders) see him but walk by on the other side. They probably had their reasons, but they didn’t help.
Then, a Samaritan comes along. Samaritans were people the Jewish people hated. But this Samaritan sees the injured man and feels deep compassion. He doesn’t just feel sorry; he acts. He cleans the man’s wounds, takes him to an inn, and pays for his care, even promising to pay more if needed.
Jesus then asks the expert, “Which of these three, in your opinion, was neighbor to the man who fell in with the robbers?” The expert has to admit, “The one who showed him mercy.” Jesus’s clear message to us all is: “Go and do likewise.”
This story changes how we think about “neighbor.” It tells us to look beyond race, religion, or how much we like someone. Our neighbor is anyone who needs help, especially those who are struggling or ignored. It means taking risks, letting go of our biases, and letting our hearts be moved to help.
What God Asks of Us Today So, on this 15th Sunday, what is God asking from us?
First, trust that God’s rules are close to us. They are in our hearts. Let’s listen to that inner voice, our conscience, that tells us what is right.
Second, see Jesus as the perfect example of God’s love. When we want to know how to live, we look to Jesus. He guides us and gives us strength.
Conclusion
Finally, live like the Good Samaritan. Be a neighbor not just to friends, but to anyone in need. It means stepping over boundaries and letting compassion lead our actions.
Who is the “man on the side of the road” that God wants us to see today? Is it someone in our family, at work, in our town, or even online? Let’s not be like those who passed by. Instead, like the Good Samaritan, let’s be moved with compassion and “go and do likewise.”
When we do this, we not only gain eternal life, but we also bring a little bit of God’s kingdom here on earth. We become, in our own way, a reflection of God’s love and peace.
May God give us the grace to answer this call. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.
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