Fifteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year C Lk 10,25-37

When we walk around town, especially in shopping centers, we surely notice how their range of goods is changing. Everywhere there are electronics, clothes, watches, computers… As soon as we walk past a store, we are offered various brochures and flyers to catch our attention, so that we will go inside and maybe something will catch our eye… We can safely say that today, there are advertising flyers and instructions for use for everything. But have you ever wondered if there is an instruction manual for love? Jesus wants to show us one in today’s Gospel through the parable of the Good Samaritan. His instructions differ from those given to us by the world around us.

Novels, pop songs, movies, various competitions, and entertainment programs offer instructions on love, but they often misunderstand it as a frivolous game, hedonism, flirting, and infidelity. Today’s youth is infected with this false view and is afraid of missing out if they do not rush prematurely into the pursuit of sexual experiences. This is confirmed by statistics, which show that in cities, only about 50% of 14-year-old girls and 15% of 17-year-old girls have not yet had intimate relationships with boys. How little influence must God’s commandment to love one’s neighbor have on these young people! Therefore, the question arises: What kind of love do I prefer? The love offered by the environment in which I live, or the love offered by Christ?

True love, according to Jesus Christ, is the love we show to every person without distinction, without expecting anything in return, and with a willingness to serve. He summed it up nicely with the Samaritan, who did not ask whether the wounded man was a Jew or a Samaritan, whether he was a believer or an atheist, whether he was worthy or unworthy of brotherly help. He saw only one thing: that the wounded man needed help. Furthermore, he could not expect anything in return from him because he was unconscious, and so he acted selflessly. He did not approach the wounded man with resistance, grumbling that he was wasting his time because of the man’s condition. He approached him with a heart full of love. Which guide to love will I choose? The world’s guide or Christ’s? Jesus’ guide is more difficult, more demanding, but those who follow it are happy people.

And tell me, who among us does not desire happiness? You may say, “Okay, but what about the young people we talked about at the beginning? How can we bring them closer to Jesus’ love?” That is the task of those of us who work with them, study with them, or live with them. We must show them the actual values of our lives. You young people who are believers must show them how believers behave before marriage and how believing spouses behave in marriage.

First and foremost, this requires us to respect the Ten Commandments and moral laws. If we strive to do this, the young people living around us will begin to change because they will learn other values. Through us, Jesus’ request in today’s Gospel will be fulfilled when we open our eyes, ears, and especially our hearts to young people.

Police in Mexico staged a traffic accident. They placed two broken cars on the side of the road, scattered mannequins of adults and children around them, and puddles of “blood” around them. At first glance, it appeared to be a terrible accident. Do you know what the result of the experiment was? Around 32 cars passed unnoticed, and it wasn’t until the 33rd driver, who was a black man, stopped. He alone was willing to help, sacrifice time, and have his seat bloodied. The only one who did not see only himself, but also others. The beginning of human misery is that we see only ourselves. But that is not Christian. What of so many prayers, bowing before the altar, when we don’t want to see our neighbors for worship?! But Jesus does not care about such a service! Let’s learn to look at our neighbors not only with our eyes, but also with our hearts. Let’s see their needs and try to help them selflessly. Only then will there be more love, understanding, and true happiness in the world.