United to God – Reflection on Luke 10:25-37
I suspect that some of you, like me, thought loving the Lord and neighbor had to do with mind and heart with not much focus on soul. We can have an ah-ah moment when we realize that the deeper meaning of “and with all your soul” is far more complex. Prayer alone is not the only way to recognize that our soul participates in Divinity. You can think about how the action of our soul combines with our intellect to form Christian intuitions. One of the more intense realizations comes when we accept that our souls are already united to God. It is up to us to allow further integration with our mind and heart to maximize the sense of eternal life. There is no doubt that it takes an enormous amount of spiritual and physical strength to do this. However, if we let divine love, mercy, and compassion surface from Trinity within and let it flow to our neighbor, our yearning to know more increases. As with practice or exercise, we can do more and as St. Paul emphasizes we grow stronger in the unification of mind, body, and soul.
The Good Samaritan, by James Tissot (full resolution)
More details are available on the Brooklyn Museum website.
Additional Ordinary Time Reflections
Luke 10:25-37 – Scripture*
The Parable of the Good Samaritan
25 Just then a lawyer stood up to test Jesus. “Teacher,” he said, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?” 26 He said to him, “What is written in the law? What do you read there?” 27 He answered, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength, and with all your mind; and your neighbor as yourself.” 28 And he said to him, “You have given the right answer; do this, and you will live.”
29 But wanting to justify himself, he asked Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?” 30 Jesus replied, “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell into the hands of robbers, who stripped him, beat him, and went away, leaving him half dead. 31 Now by chance a priest was going down that road; and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side. 32 So likewise a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. 33 But a Samaritan while traveling came near him; and when he saw him, he was moved with pity. 34 He went to him and bandaged his wounds, having poured oil and wine on them. Then he put him on his own animal, brought him to an inn, and took care of him. 35 The next day he took out two denarii, gave them to the innkeeper, and said, ‘Take care of him; and when I come back, I will repay you whatever more you spend.’ 36 Which of these three, do you think, was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of the robbers?” 37 He said, “The one who showed him mercy.” Jesus said to him, “Go and do likewise.”
Additional Thoughts
Thank you for meditating on this Gospel and reading this Lectio Divina on Luke 10:25-37 Reflection – United to God.
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Prayer for young families:
Lord, let the young families of our communities get to know your joy, peace, comfort, and love despite the world’s distractions.
Attributions
This site has written permission to use the Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition (NRSVCE) Bible for the Luke 10 Bible passage.
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