along that road and saw the man, but passed by on the other side. Likewise a Levite saw the man, and passed by on the other side. But a Samaritan also was going that way; and when he came upon the man, he was moved with compassion. He went over to him, and cleaned his wounds with oil and wine, and wrapped them in bandages. Then he put him on his own mount, and brought him to an inn, where he took care of him.The next day, he had to set off; but he gave two silver coins to the innkeeper, and said, ‘Take care of him, and whatever you spend on him, I will repay when I return.’”Jesus then asked, “Which of these three, do you think, made himself neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?” The teacher of the law answered, “The one who had mercy on him.” And Jesus said, “Then go and do the same.”

Lectio Divina
READ: We read in the first reading that the commandments and laws of God are neither too high nor so remote, while the second reading tells us that all is created through and for Christ and holds together in him. And the gospel passage specifies the love of God and neighbor as the basis to gain eternal life.
REFLECT: The Spanish phi- losopher and theologian Raimon Panikkar put forward the “cos- motheandric” (cosmos = cosmic/ universe; theos = the divine/God; aner = human) notion or vision of reality. Simply put, all of reality exists in interdependence and interrelation. Each of the three dimensions exist in the other. In other words, one is so present in the other two. Reflecting on this vision, we may speak of the pro- found connection of God, nature, and humans. We, humans, form a single, integral relationship with God and nature. We are not sepa- rated from them. There exists a unity. That is why the first reading was able to speak of the closeness of Yahweh’s commandments and laws to us; and Saint Paul, in the second reading, was able to contemplate of Christ holding all things together in himself. Base on this relation, a genuine turning to God, or love of him, is made possible only through the love of neighbor; and neighbor, here, would include both humans and nonhumans alike. The only way to love God is my loving all that he has created.
PRAY: God, maker of all, grant us the grace to see our deep relation with the whole creation and help us feel the suffering and pain of our poor sisters and brothers, and of other creatures.
ACT: Be involved in the promo- tion of social justice and protec- tion of the natural world.
© Copyright Bible Diary 2019