JERUSALEM TO JERICHO

Fifthteen Sunday in Ordinary Time Year C Luke 10:25-37 “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.” Friends notice the direction of this man:from JERUSALEM to JERICHO. This kind of movement indicates a very deep significant biblical interpretations. One interpretation is like this:Jerusalem is a place of prosperity, abundance, luxury, fortune and plethora of blessings. Why? Because it is where the temple of God resides. On the other hand, Jericho is a sin city. I was in Jericho last year for a pilgrimage. One of its attraction is the Mount of Temptation. You know what, there are gallery of temptation in Jericho. It is like Las Vegas of our time:a city the never sleep. People who resides in Jericho during the time of Jesus were not afraid of God. Biblical scholars considered it as a place of damnation, doom and torment. That is why, when this man moved from Jerusalem to Jericho, he was robbed and beaten unto death. Friends, the gopel for today is challenging us to find our Jerusalem and stay there. Never be tempted to exchange your everlasting Jerusalem with temporary Jericho’s. When we move away from Jerusalem we will surely experience similar misery like that of man in today’s gospel. When we trade our Jerusalem to Jericho surely plagues, afflictions, harassments and misery is our final destiny. In Jerusalem however blessing collides. Friends, stay in your Jerusalem. Our Jerusalem is our Sunday worship. Never trade your Sunday with a day of Jericho like recreation, work, sleeping, shopping and travelling. To all husbands, your wife is your Jerusalem. Never trade her with a false and fake lover. If you trade your wife a mistress that mistress will be your “miss” for a year but she will be your “stress” forever! To all students, your studies is your Jerusalem. Never trade it with Jerichos like playing long games and hanging with atrocious company. Conclusion: Pope Francis once said: “Like the good Samaritan may we never be afraid to touch wounds of those who suffer but heal them with concrete acts of love and mercy.” Let me end this reflection by saying: To help your self is good. To help a friend is better but to help a stranger is the best. Blessings Fr. Jhack