We
live in a time of troubles.
In
this time of trouble think of the poor traveler on the road from Jerusalem to
Jericho, beaten up by the world and left beside the road. We can’t find healing
in those we would normally trust.
The
Priest and the Levite distanced themselves from the robber’s victim. They went to
the other side of the road. I heard it said they did not want to make
themselves unclean with the blood of poor soul lying beaten on the road. If
they were unclean they could not complete their priestly and temple duties.
To
love of neighbor is to care for their today and for their eternity.
But
let us look at that victim on the road as Jesus himself. He laid their broken
and beaten. And those who should have run to his aid turned their eyes away and
cross to the other side of the road.
It
was the one you would not expect that came to him. He came to the victim and
touched him with a healing touch. Even though it was a sacrifice of his time, his
mount, and his silver, this Good Man brought the victim to others so that together
they could make Him strong again. .
This
parable describes a time of trouble. Today
still, we live in a time of troubles.
It
seems many have lost sight of the true Christ. Instead of worshipping God, people turn to
worship the world and their place in the world. In this fault, people can turn to worship the messenger
instead of the message. See this in super
star evangelist and preachers. Their followers fawn over them. They do no
wrong. Some say they are Christ-like; some say they are Christ.
Many
begin to worship the person instead of the one true Trinitarian God. Idolatry is putting something or someone before
God or equal to Christ. Remember, the person
is only God’s vessel in the world.
As
a Deacon, I am a vessel that proclaims the Word of God to the world. I should
not seek glory or fame or advancement in position and fortune by my service to
God and to the Church. This is a truth that holds for priest and preachers and
religious no matter if they are Catholic or Protestant.
St.
Paul writes of Jesus Christ in his letter to the Colossians, “He is before all
things, and in him all things hold together. He is the head of the body, the
church.”
Forgetting
this, one can turn one away from God. A person no longer serves God or the
Church when they put self before God; like the Priest and the Levite in the
parable of the Good Samaritan who forgot they were called by God to do God’s work.
Turning
their eyes away from the needs of others and thinking only of self, they crossed
to the other side of the road. Many in these times of trouble do the same
thing.
By
baptism, each is called to do God’s work above and beyond self. It is a promise
all consecrated religious and ordained clergy take when they profess vows of
obedience to God and his Church. It is obedience to the Bishop or a religious
superior in their vows made to God.
As
a Deacon, I made a vow to be obedient to my Bishop and assist the priests. I am
to serve the people of the diocese, especially in my parish. And, I am to defend
the faith, the church, and the Bishop. I have also taken a vow of chastity. If
I were to become single again through death or some other misfortune, I have pledged
myself and my chastity to God.
But,
I also took another vow before God at my marriage. I promised God, I would be true
to my wife and to love her in sickness and in health, for richer for poor, and till
death do us part.
People
ignore the vows they made to God. Some don’t
even see marriage as a true sacrament. More and more don’t think marriage is
even important enough to make their vows as promise to God. Even those that do may abandon their vows. And
one person or both will put self before their marriage, their relation with
their spouse, and their promise to God.
Sadly,
the same happens with priest, deacons, and religious. They too can abandon the vows they made to God
at their ordination.
In
our vows to God, some have become jaded. Too often, people of faith are not offended
by infidelity or divorce that breaks the marriage vows made to a spouse and to
God.
Some
are jaded to the point that they are not offended by infidelity or divorce from
the vows made to God by a priest, deacon, or religious. Infidelity and divorce manifest
in the abandonment of any vow including chastity or poverty or prayer or
obedience.
We
live in a time of trouble. We live in a
time when many have forgotten the sacraments. We live in a time when some
abandon the vows made to God. We live in a time when people turn their eyes away
from what God has asked and cross to the other side of the road.
But,
God never forgets his promise. Jesus vow to us from the cross, Father forgive
them.
It
is times like these we must remember the greatest commandment "You shall
love the Lord, your God, with all your heart, with all your being, with all
your strength, and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself."
To
love of neighbor is to care for their today and for their eternity.
Be
good, be holy and preach the gospel by the way you live your life and love one
another. Amen.
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