Deacon Tom Anthony

Reading 1 Dt 30:10-14

Moses said to the people:
"If only you would heed the voice of the LORD, your God,
and keep his commandments and statutes
that are written in this book of the law,
when you return to the LORD, your God,
with all your heart and all your soul.

"For this command that I enjoin on you today
is not too mysterious and remote for you.
It is not up in the sky, that you should say,
'Who will go up in the sky to get it for us
and tell us of it, that we may carry it out?'
Nor is it across the sea, that you should say,
'Who will cross the sea to get it for us
and tell us of it, that we may carry it out?'
No, it is something very near to you,
already in your mouths and in your hearts;
you have only to carry it out."

MY BROTHERS AND SISTERS,

The words of Moses ring true as much as then as they do today. Moses is offering the simplest solution to all of our problems and frustrations in our life. Turning to God and surrendering to Him is the first act that will bring so many fruitful rewards. These rewards can be experienced now and throughout our entire life. God is always near us and waiting for us to recognize Him. How wonderful it is to know that He is always here to protect us and love us. Because of all of the distractions we find ourselves engaged in, it is very easy to forget how close God is to us. In reality, if we are truly serious about our faith, we should always do and say everything with God in mind. As long as He is kept central in our thoughts, our clear path will be revealed. God must be our lover, best friend, and closest confidant. So much time is wasted on trying to push Him away that we fail to realize that drawing Him closer is the key to a better life.

In our brokenness, we have a propensity to go forward without God, thinking that He is far away and unable to know what we are doing. But He is there and with us. We as Christians can never forget this. We never walk alone. In our time of need, we must turn to Him. When we recognize Him, our lives will flourish within the Christian Community. It is through this interaction with the Christian Community that our bond with God becomes stronger and the answers that we seek become clearer. Clarity and answers to a joyful existence, isn’t that what we all seek? God tells us to stop seeking because the answer is right in front of us. It is Him.

The Gospel Reading today focuses on the parable of the Good Samaritan. In it, the Broken Man lies on the side of the road, ignored by the righteous, he is cared for by a Samaritan. Who is this Samaritan, the lowest of the low in Jewish Society, who takes the time to bind the wounds and take care of a stranger? It is through the actions of the Samaritan that we can view our relationship with Jesus Christ. There we lay, desperate and battered, along the side of the road. We long for comfort and healing but find none within the scope of society. We are ignored because we are judged by others and found wanting. We wallow in our sinful nature. There is no one to help us until Jesus responds to our prayer for mercy. It is through this response to Jesus’ love that we are then healed and taken care of.

Not only does Jesus heal us in the moment, but He also assures us that we will be taken care of forever. We are further nurtured at the inn, which is representative of the Mother Church. His presence is felt strongest here as we gather in community where we all have a responsibility to heal all of our brothers and sisters. It is here that we engage in a shared experience. As we are healed, we look longingly down the road, waiting for Him to return in all of His glory. Yet, as we wait, we still feel His presence through the Holy Spirit.

We are all One Body through Jesus Christ. Gathered together, we have the capability of living a joyous, prosperous life.

Deacon Tom