The Word Of Peace
Homiletic Reflections On Peacemaking

Deacon Robert M. Pallotti, D. Min

15th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Cycle C

In the book by Morris West entitled, The Shoes of the Fisherman, a scholar priest named Fr. Telemond is asked to appear before a special Pontifical Commission to answer questions concerning his theological writings. One of the members of the commission asks him : "Fr. Telemond how are we to understand you ? Are you a philosopher, a poet or a theologian ? How are we to judge you ?"

His repines was: "Judge me like any other man."

"And how are we to do that?"

Fr. Telemond's response was: "I am like any other person seeking the truth of existence. I ask who am I ? Where am I going, Is there any point to suffering and the daily death ? Are we trapped here and die a death all for nothing ? Or, are we involved in a great "becoming" , thrust forward to completion in Christ? !"   I believe we are destined to share in Christ, I believe in Christ ! That is how to understand my writings.

This episode in the book gives eloquent expression to the fundamental questions of all human beings. Such questions reveal us as creatures who intuit that something more awaits us ! We are creatures who at base, are religious. We are the only creatures who want and need to know why ! We need to know that my life, your life and the world is not mere futility.

Even our belief in God summons us to want to know what I means to believe in God. Who is God ? What can we expect from God ? These are questions behind the first two reading of today that occupied those of the ancient world and that occupy us in our world now, and will continue to occupy the world until the fullness of God's Kingdom comes.

In Paul we hear that through the Son of God, Jesus Christ, all things were created in him and for him. An extraordinary statement to say the least. It means all creation, all moments, all hopes and dreams are destined for completion in Christ. That Jesus is the principle through which all was created, is sustained and completed is the answer to the questions we posed. Jesus is God's Wisdom personified. Jesus is not an abstract axiom. Jesus is God's Wisdom in the flesh--with a human face.

Luke tells us what this personified wisdom, Jesus Christ means. He tells us what it means to be God and what is the meaning of human existence and the creation. Luke uses the parable of the Good Samaritan. This parable has become one of the most famous of Jesus' parables.

Jesus uses a Samaritan to talk about and to have people experience something of eternal life--the reality of God's and our compassion. This means that all creation comes from, is held together and finds completion in compassion.

Compassion, meaning to suffer with, is that doorway to eternal life that joins us to all people, creatures, the creation and God. It is the experience of community as a foretaste of the fullness of this community in fullness of God's reign. It is that share in the divine life that sees no obstacles like, race, gender, class, creed or anything from a deliberate choice to be empathetic with all. Jesus' use of a Samaritan illustrates this--after all, Samaritans were considered enemies of the Judeans. They were considered religious inferiors and impure.

The symbols of the Levite and the priest who went to the other side of the road did not see or experience God because that missed God in rejecting compassion for the man beaten and left for dead. Their religious vision was too narrow and as a consequence they did not see God--great liturgy notwithstanding.

But it is easy to talk about compassion--at times it can be so hard to live ! But there are many opportunities to do so. We can be compassionate with our children who are growing up in violent and confusing times. Children can be compassionate with their parents who may be the products of their own family traumas, or traumas in the workplace. We can be compassionate with those thousands of miles away with contributions to mission work and participation in changing policy to reflect a concern for the poor and vulnerable. We can be compassionate with ourselves, knowing that God's loves me without conditions and is working with me to get it right.

Fr. Telemond asked the questions of every person. Why am I here ? Where am I going?   Is there any point to suffering and death ? The answer given in Jesus Christ is yes, and you will discover it in compassion. That is why all was and is created!

Deacon Robert M. Pallotti, D. Min.
Uploaded December 10, 1998