Last week, we read the parable of the Good Samaritan and saw the importance that Jesus places on practical charity. We might then find his meeting with Martha and Mary somewhat surprising. Martha is busy preparing for guests and Mary is sitting at Jesus’ feet listening to him speak. Martha asks Jesus to have Mary help her, but he not only refuses but tells her that she, Martha, is overly concerned about the wrong things and that she should join Mary.  

This is a set up. Jesus and Luke know that we are siding with Martha just as a few weeks ago we sided with the potential disciples who wished to bury a father or take leave of family before following Jesus. (Lk.9:51-61, 13^th Sunday of Ordinary Time) The message is clear: when in the presence of Jesus, sit down and listen.  

Well, with the number of references that I make to community organizing and homilies and regular conversation, you would be correct to believe that as part of my background, it would be wrong, however, to think I was very good at it.

I have many of the skills required to do it well, but lack one important virtue.

Anger. Anger is really considered a virtue, and it’s usually not.

Good morning, everyone.

Great blessings to be with you again this morning. This would be my last time being here for a little bit because I’m heading back to California tomorrow to continue to discern with a group of monks out there in beautiful Berkeley, California. Some people have it rough, I guess. Right. But we’ll see how that goes. I promise you, I will be back later this year. And for those you’ve known a little bit about my journey, I continue to appreciate all of the prayers and support.

You know, today we hear the parable of the Good Samaritan. It’s perhaps one of the most famous parables of Jesus. It’s one that has impacted us on many levels. It’s even in our secular laws. We all know about Good Samaritan laws when someone attempts to help someone out of the goodness of their heart, and even if they kind of mess it up, they’re protected.

Today’s gospel is unique.

Unique in the sense that you only find this particular story in Luke.

It does not appear in the other synoptic gospels, nor does it appear in John.

And so you ask, well, why would Luke put this story in?

What was he aiming at? Well, many scholars would tell us that the best way to understand the Gospel of Luke is to look at the Magnificat, the prayer of Mary when she goes to visit her cousin, Elizabeth. And in that prayer, as Mary offers praise to God for the blessings that she has received, he makes part of the prayer, an understanding of what God is in the process of doing.