The document provides commentary for readings for an upcoming Sunday mass, including a passage from Deuteronomy emphasizing obedience to God's commandments, a responsive psalm of prayer and praise to God during affliction, and a passage from Colossians describing Jesus' primacy over all creation and his role in reconciliation. It also includes commentary on the Gospel reading recounting the Parable of the Good Samaritan.

1. Welcome to our Bible Study
15th
Sunday in Ordinary Time C
10 July 2016
In preparation for this Sunday’s Liturgy
As aid in focusing our homilies and sharing
Prepared by Fr. Cielo R. Almazan, OFM

2. 1st
reading: Deut 30:10-14
 10 Moses said to the people, “if only you 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. 11 "For this command which I enjoin on you
today is not too mysterious and remote for you. 12 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?' 13 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?' 14 No, it is something very near to
you, already in your mouths and in your hearts; you have
only to carry it out.
The focus is on heeding the commandments of God.

3. Textual Context of Deut 30,10-14
 Part I Historical Review and Exhortation (1.1—4.43)
 Part II God and His Covenant (4,44—11,32)
 Part III Exposition of the Law (12,6—26,19
 Part IV Final Words of Moses (27,1—34,12)

4. 1st
reading: Deut 30,10-14
 10 Moses said to the people, “if
only you 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. 11 "For this command which I
enjoin on you today is not too
mysterious and remote for you. 12
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?' 13 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?' 14 No, it is something
very near to you, already in your
mouths and in your hearts; you
have only to carry it out.
Commentary
 The Book of Deuteronomy repeats the
commandments in the Book of
Exodus.
 The reading reiterates on heeding the
voice of God // keeping his
commandments (v.10)
 V.11 claims that God’s commands are
clear and can easily be understood.
 Not too mysterious (not ineffable)
 Not too remote (not out of this world)
 Vv.12-13 follow up the previous verse.
You don’t need to do the impossible in
order to be instructed of God’s
commands (No one needs to go up to the
sky / or go across the sea to find out God’s
will or to carry it out).
 The reading allows no excuses for
ignorance of God’s law and for not
obeying.
 V.14 indicates the familiarity of God’s
command to the mouths and hearts of
the Israelites. Just do it!

5. Reflections on the 1st
reading
 The Christian must be a good listener to the voice of
God, and must also be a good implementor.
 We must take God’s commands seriously.
 Obedience is the name of the game. It is a reminder
that someone is higher than us.
 God’s commandments keep our relationship with God
and with other people on the right track.
 Without heeding God’s commands, we live chaotic lives
and never in harmony with one another.

6. Resp. Ps. 69:14. 17. 30-31. 33-
34. 36. 37
 R. (cf. 33) Turn to the Lord in your need, and you will live.
14 I pray to you, O LORD, for the time of your favor, O God!
In your great kindness answer me with your constant help.
17 Answer me, O LORD, for bounteous is your kindness:
in your great mercy turn toward me.
30 I am afflicted and in pain;
let your saving help, O God, protect me.
31 I will praise the name of God in song,
and I will glorify him with thanksgiving.
33 “See, you lowly ones, and be glad;
you who seek God, may your hearts revive!
34 For the LORD hears the poor,
and his own who are in bonds he spurns not.”
36 For God will save Zion and rebuild the cities of Judah.
37 The descendants of his servants shall inherit it,
and those who love his name shall inhabit it.

7. Resp. Ps. 69:14, 17, 30-31, 33-34, 36, 37
R. (cf. 33) Turn to the Lord in your need, and
you will live.
14 I pray to you, O LORD, for the time of
your favor, O God! In your great kindness
answer me with your constant help.
17 Answer me, O LORD, for bounteous is
your kindness: in your great mercy turn
toward me.
30 I am afflicted and in pain;
let your saving help, O God, protect me.
31 I will praise the name of God in song,
and I will glorify him with thanksgiving.
33 “See, you lowly ones, and be glad;
you who seek God, may your hearts revive!
34 For the LORD hears the poor,
and his own who are in bonds he spurns not.”
36 For God will save Zion and rebuild the
cities of Judah.
37 The descendants of his servants shall
inherit it, and those who love his name shall
inhabit it.
Commentary
 The psalm is classified as
individual lament.
 In vv.14 and 17, the psalmist prays
hard to God for help.
 V. 30 states the condition of the
psalmist: afflicted and in pain.
 In v.31, the psalmist anticipates
what he will do when God answers
him.
 Vv.33-34 contain his song in
answer to God’s kindness.
 V.36 indicates a bigger context in
which the psalmist finds himself:
Zion (Jerusalem) and Judah.
 V.37 hopes God’s servants will
repossess it.

8. Reflection on the Psalm
 When we are troubled and in pain, we must pray to
God, like the psalmist.
 When we pray, we must anticipate God’s positive
answer to us.
 We must plan to celebrate.
 When we pray, we look at our bigger context which
causes our misery.
 We pray that God will liberate our nation from evil
and make people occupy their land and enjoy
freedom.

9. 2nd
reading: Colossians 1:15-20
 15 Christ Jesus is the image of the invisible God, the
firstborn of all creation. 16 For in him were created all
things in heaven and on earth, the visible and the invisible,
whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers;
all things were created through him and for him. 17 He is
before all things, and in him all things hold together. 18 He
is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning,
the firstborn from the dead, that in all things he himself
might be preeminent. 19 For in him all the fullness was
pleased to dwell, 20 and through him to reconcile all
things for him, making peace by the blood of his cross
(through him), whether those on earth or those in heaven.
The focus is on the primacy of Christ.

10. 2nd
reading: Colossians 1,15-20
Identity of Jesus (expressed in the verb “to be”)
 15 Christ Jesus is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation.
Prepositions
 16 For in him were created all things in heaven and on earth, the visible and
the invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers; all
things were created through him and for him.
Identity of Jesus
 17 He is before all things,
Preposition
 and in him all things hold together.
Identity of Jesus
 18 He is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn
from the dead, that in all things he himself might be preeminent.
Prepositions
 19 For in him all the fullness was pleased to dwell, 20 and through him to
reconcile all things for him, making peace by the blood of his cross (through
him), whether those on earth or those in heaven.
The text alternates the identity of Jesus and the prepositions used.

11. Textual Context of Col 1,15-20
Outline of Harrington
Greeting (1:1-2)
Thanksgiving (1:3-8)
Petition (1:9-11)
Part One: Doctrinal Matters (1:12-2:23)
Christian hymn about Christ as the Wisdom of God (1:15-20)
Two applications of it (1:12-14; 1:21-23)
Two reflections on Paul as a minister of the gospel (1:24-29; 2: 1:5)
Christian life as participation in Christ's death and resurrection (2:6-23)
Part Two: Ethical Matters (3:1—4:1)
Theological foundation (3:1-4),
Lists of vices to be avoided (3:5-11)
Virtues to be pursued (3:12-17)
A "household code" (3:1 8-4:1)
Concluding exhortations (4:2-6)
Travel plans and related messages (4:7-18)

12. 2nd
reading: Colossians 1,15-20
Identity of Jesus (expressed in the verb “to
be”)
 15 Christ Jesus is the image of the invisible
God, the firstborn of all creation.
Prepositions
 16 For in him were created all things in
heaven and on earth, the visible and the
invisible, whether thrones or dominions or
principalities or powers; all things were
created through him and for him.
Identity of Jesus
 17 He is before all things,
Preposition
 and in him all things hold together.
Identity of Jesus
 18 He is the head of the body, the church. He
is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead,
that in all things he himself might be
preeminent.
Prepositions
 19 For in him all the fullness was pleased to
dwell, 20 and through him to reconcile all
things for him, making peace by the blood of
his cross (through him), whether those on
earth or those in heaven.
Commentary
 The text is about the primacy (pre-
eminence) of Christ. All other beings
find their existence and meaning in
and through Christ.
 Notice the alternating use of the verb
“to be” (in the 3rd
person singular) and
the preposition with Christ as its
object.
Christ’s identity
 Image of the invisible God v.15
 Firstborn of all creation v.15
 He is before all things v.17
 Head of the body v.18
 The beginning v.18
 The firstborn from the dead v.18
Christ as object of prepositions
 In him were created all things v.16
 All things were created through him
and for him. V.16
 In him all things hold together v.17
 In him all the fullness was pleased to
dwell v.19
 Through him to reconcile all things
for him v 20
 Blood of his cross (through him)

13. Reflections on the 2nd
reading
 Christ Jesus is not an ordinary human being or creature.
 Jesus Christ is the reason for the existence, subsistence and purpose
of all created things and human beings.
 Jesus as image of the invisible God. (He makes God present, visible,
and tangible.)
 Jesus as firstborn of creation. (He precedes all creation. He was there
when all things were created.)
 Jesus as head of the body, the church. (He is the leader, the authority,
the guide of the community of believers).
 Jesus as the firstborn of the dead. (He is the first to resurrect from a
violent death, that gives life, a total and supreme sacrifice). (Lazarus
rose but had no direct effect on our salvation).
 The use of prepositions (in, through, for) indicates the effects upon all
things, upon us, of the person of Christ.
 The Christian must be intelligent enough to make necessary
conclusions from what has been said of Christ and make appropriate
responses.

14. Gospel reading: Luke 10:25-37
 25 There was a scholar of the law (who could it be?
Certainly he is a scribe) who stood up to test him (he asks
question with a wrong motive. Will he learn from Jesus with
this kind of disposition?) and said, "Teacher, what must I
do to inherit eternal life (heaven)?" (as if you earn your
own way to heaven, not through the merits of Jesus) 26
Jesus said to him, "What is written in the law? (torah,
613 mitzvot) How do you read it?" (Jesus also knows how
to ask questions. As a good teacher, rabbi, he facilitates the
answer. He wants that the answer must come from the
scholar himself. Here, Jesus does not take offense at this
testing. He entertains him.)
Please read the text with its commentary in parenthesis.

15.  27 He said in reply, "You shall love the Lord, your
God, with all your heart, with all your being, with
all your strength, and with all your mind, and your
neighbor as yourself." (The scholar’s answer comes
from Deut 6,4-6 and Lev 19,18.) 28 He replied to him,
"You have answered correctly; do this and you
will live." (Jesus approves his perfect answer.) 29 But
because he wished to justify himself (makulit! His
purpose is to show himself as righteous, acceptable to
God. That he’s doing well. “Alam ko na ‘yan!”), he said
to Jesus, "And who is my neighbor?“ (He is bent on
testing Jesus as he introduces another topic. Jesus does
not embarrass him just the same.)

16.  30 Jesus replied (with a parable called the Parable of the
Good Samaritan), "A man fell victim to robbers (like
Barabbas or the two thieves crucified with Jesus) as he went
down from Jerusalem (mountain) to Jericho (plain, near
Jordan River). They stripped and beat him and went off
leaving him half-dead (semi-patay). 31 A priest (highest
religious leadership) happened to be going down that
road, but when he saw him, he passed by on the
opposite side. (He did not help the poor guy. Pari pa
naman. Maybe he is tired already, just came from the service
at the Temple) 32 Likewise a Levite (from the tribe of Levi,
no land assigned to them during the time of the Judges, lay
associate of the priest) came to the place, and when he
saw him, he passed by on the opposite side. (The law
did not allow these people to touch the dead to avoid
contamination or ritual impurity. Lev. 21:1-3,11, Num 19:11-16.
From the Jewish point of view, they were doing the right
thing.)

17.  33 But a Samaritan traveler (foreigner, enemy
of the Jews, not expected to show sympathy to
them) who came upon him was moved with
compassion (with all his heart and being) at the
sight (The Samaritan had feelings. Very human!
Mabuti pa siya. He used his right brain. The priest
and the Levite used their left brains). 34 He
approached the victim, poured oil and wine
(ancient medication) over his wounds and
bandaged them (with all his mind). Then he
lifted him up (with all his strength) on his own
animal, took him to an inn and cared for him.
(The Samaritan acted upon his feelings. He
concretized them to save the victim).

18.  35 The next day he took out two silver coins
(denarii, two days wage) and gave them to the
innkeeper with the instruction, 'Take care of
him. If you spend more than what I have
given you, I shall repay you on my way back.'
(The Samaritan did more than expected.
Outpouring of support! He supported up to the
finish. His help was total, not half-hearted.)

19.  36 Which of these three, in your opinion, was
neighbor to the robbers' victim?" (Jesus’ question
changes the meaning of “neighbor,” not the victim, but the
Samaritan.) 37 He answered, "The one who treated
him with mercy." (‘Tol, correct ka diyan!) Jesus said
to him, "Go and do likewise.” (This time the scholar
had no more questions. He should imitate the good
Samaritan. Did he do it? If he did it, wow, a big
conversion! His change defies personal, religious,
historical and cultural conditionings. He did not become a
Samaritan, but an intelligent follower of Christ.)

20. Textual Context of Luke 10,25-37
 Journey to Jerusalem: 9:51—
19:27
 Luke 10,1-12 Mission of the 70
 Luke 10,13-16 Woes to the Unrepentant Cities
 Luke 10,17-24 Return of the 70
 Luke 10,25-37 Parable of the Good Samaritan
 Luke 10,38-42 Jesus visits Martha and Mary
 Luke 11,1-4 The Lord’s Prayer

21. Reflections on the gospel
 Jesus is a good teacher, even to the scholar, who
approaches him with bad motivation.
 Jesus takes all opportunities to teach those who can
understand, even those who, at one point, are misguided.
 Jesus takes you seriously even if you are not sincere at
first. If you continue your search, you will find light.
 How to attain eternal life?
 Jesus’ answer is: Keep the commandment of love.
 Love God and neighbor (be a neighbor to your neighbor).
 Be compassionate.
 Show your love concretely.
 Prioritize love, not rituals.

22. Tying the 3 readings and the
Psalm
 The first reading talks about keeping the
commandments of God.
 The psalm
 The second reading talks about the primacy of Christ.
He is the reason for our being, we have to take him
seriously, his commandments.
 The gospel reading talks of the commandment of love
of God and neighbor.

23. How to develop your sharing / homily
 Tell your story how you follow instructions.
 It is cumbersome to understand rules and follow them.
We want to follow our own rules.
 We want to simplify them or do our own thing. In the
process, we do not deliver what is expected of us.
 Filipinos are fond of not following
instructions. (Is this true?) They find pleasure
in violating rules and regulations and
getting away with them without being
penalized.

24.  The first reading is emphatic on heeding the
commandments of the Lord.
 We, Christians, must learn the commandments
of God.
 They are easy to understand and easy to do.
 Let us not be hard headed (pasaway) or
headstrong.
 There is no reason for us not to obey.

25.  If we dig deeper into the theology of the Old Testament,
we keep the commandments because it is part of our
being covenanted with God.
 The covenant (The Lord is our God / we are his people!)
demands that we keep the commandments.
 The commandments (laws) instruct and guide us how we
should relate with God and with one another.
 Without the covenant, heeding the commandments is
meaningless.
 With God, we, as covenanted people, cannot dictate our
own terms.

26.  The second reading teaches us the primacy of
Christ.
 We should not take him for granted.
 As his followers, we must give him our due
respect.
 We should listen to him and keep his teachings
(commandments).

27.  The gospel reading teaches us to obey God’s
commandment of love.
 We are supposed to love God and our
neighbor.
 We cannot enter heaven if we have no love.

28.  The parable of the Good Samaritan teaches us how to
love.
 To love is to rescue the victim and the needy. (not to
ignore them)
 To love is to use your imagination, your feelings, your
strength, your time and resources. You become a little
poorer when you love.
 Love is spontaneous and is not selective.
 It goes beyond cultural, historical and religious differences
(gender included).
 Love is a commandment. It is God’s imperative. It is life-
giving, health restoring. It is a skin to skin contact with the
bloody victim. (You overcome your “kadiri” attitude.)

29.  What happens if we do not follow any precept or if
we don’t love?
 We cannot form a community, a family.
 We do not live according to our dignity as covenanted
people.
 God does not exact obedience to the
commandments for its own sake.
 Keeping the commandments is for our own good.
 For the Israelites, if they heed God’s laws, they
will keep the promised land. They will enjoy God’s
protection. They will not be driven away from
home. (Read the whole book of Deuteronomy.)
 We too will not be driven away from our groups, families and
communities, from work, if we obey God’s laws (including our own
laws and constitutions).

30.  Now, if we love, it must be total. God demands
complete and high quality love from us. “Love
God with all your soul and heart.”
 We must not withhold anything from God. We
must love with our whole being, with all our
energies, attention, devotion and wisdom.
 We must not ignore the needs of our neighbors
who are victims of social injustices and flawed
economic and political system.
 We must not invoke the “law” (our work, our family,
our safety, our convenience) as an excuse for not
doing anything for them.
 Alibis are signs of unloving. They make you
useless (walang silbi).

31. Again we take a look at the concrete steps the
Samaritan had taken.
The Good Samaritan (vv.33-34)
 approached the victim (no qualms, no fear of violating any law)
 poured oil and wine over his wounds (he did not think his
supply might go low on his long journey. Confident and unafraid,
first-aid).
 and bandaged them. (with care and affection and sensitivity,
walang aray!)
 Then he lifted him up on his own animal, (with all his
strength)
 took him to an inn (checked him in and even gave an advance
payment)
 and cared for him. (stayed with him for awhile, assured him of
his support to the finish)
 More in v.35.

32.  In our communities and parishes, we should not
act like “robbers.”
 We rob other ministers of their schedules and
their zeal to serve.
 We deprive them of their opportunity to
approach the parish priest or rector, by acting
like a cordon sanitaire.
 We appropriate time and space exclusively for
ourselves.
 We also do violence to our co-workers by our
careless speech and misplaced anger.
 Think twice about serving in the Church if you
can’t love your fellowmen and have so much
hatred in your heart.

33.  Instead, let us be good Samaritans for those who
are battered, victimized and violated.
 - victims of sexual abuse, human trafficking, white
slavery, discriminated against, falsely accused,
illegal recruiters, displaced indigenous peoples,
terrorism, etc.
 We must be crafty (creative) and loving persons.
 In this Year of Faith, the Church must be a loving
Church.
 Let the victimized find refuge in our loving and
caring communities.
 We cannot transmit our faith if we are not loving.

34.  The eucharist is for those who are committed to love God
and neighbor.
 The eucharist is a sacrament of love, communion and
compassion. Jesus is here to bind up our wounds if we
have been victimized. He is here to teach us to become
Good Samaritans.
 In the eucharist, we express our willingness to keep the
commandments of God.
 In the eucharist, Jesus promises us eternal life.

35. Our Context of Sin and Grace
 Unloving, predatory
 Legalistic, ruled by rules,
not by love
 Rugged individualists
 Kadiri mentality (easily
nauseated, maarte)
 Thief, war freak, violent
 Hurts a lot of people by
careless speech
 Exacerbates, makes things
worse
 Gets out of his way to help
 Caring, cool
 Loving
 Law keeper, keeps the
covenant, follows
instructions, practical
 Can save lives
 First aid
 Health care
 Damage control
Are you a good Samaritan or a robber? What do other people say about you?

36. Suggested Songs
 Alay Kapwa Songs
 Paano Namin Masasabi
 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WVN-MThZQDs
 Pananagutan
 Sa Bawat Sandali
 Go Tell Everyone
 Prayer before the Crucifix

37.  Dear sisters and brothers,

 Let us learn to be good Samaritans.

 Fr. Cielo