WHAT MUST I DO TO INHERIT ETERNAL LIFE?

HOMILY FOR FITHTEENTH SUNDAY OF THE YEAR C

( Deu. 30:10-14, Col.1:15-20, Lk 10:25-37)

During our Catechism class, one of the questions that we were asked was: “Why did God make you?". The answer to this question in the small Catholic Catechism is “God made me to know Him, to love Him. To serve Him and to be eternally happy with him in heaven. The answer to this question summarized the essence of our existence. This is because God created us for a purpose and we have a destiny. At the end of our lives we hope to be in heaven where we shall see God face to face and be happy with him forever. The big question is how can we go to heaven? What can I do in order to enter the kingdom of God?
In our Gospel reading today a lawyer came to Jesus and asked Him “what must I do to inherit eternal life.” This is an important question which we need to ask daily. This is because heaven is our target. In response to the question Jesus said” You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength, and with all your mind; and your neighbor as yourself”. In other words Jesus is saying keep the commandments. This is because the whole Ten Commandments are talking about the love of God and neighbor. The man being a lawyer, wanted to clear all ambiguity and be sure of what he is to do, further asked Jesus “who is my neighbor”? In answer to his second question Jesus gave the parable of the Good Samaritan. The story of the Good Samaritan, Jesus clearly taught that our neighbor is anyone who is in need. The neighbor is not limited to our relations or those living close to us but all who need our love, care, service of assistance from any race, religion or nationality.
Jesus told the lawyer that if he wants to enter the kingdom of heaven, he must be like the Good Samaritan. Like the man that was attacked and beaten by the thieves, today there are many people who are helpless and are in need of Good Samaritan to come to their aid.
The parable of the Good Samaritan indicates in particular a way what the relationship of each of us must be towards our suffering neighbor. We are not to pass by on the other side indifferently. We must learn to stop beside people who need our assistance. Everyone who stops besides the suffering of another person whatever form it may take is a Good Samaritan. This stopping does not mean curiosity, but availability. We live in a world where people are curious about what happened to others; but are not ready to help. Our curiosity should lead to our availability and readiness to help.
For us to be good Samaritans, we need to be sensitive to the needs of other and ready to offer assistance. A Good Samaritan not only sympathize with people in difficult situation but also empathize with them and make the situation better.
When we are able to love our neighbors as ourselves, the loving God becomes easier. No wonder St. John says “anyone who says I love God but does not love his brother is a liar. For if you cannot love your brother which you see, how you can love God that you do not see” (CF 1John)
Today Jesus has given us a clear way of inheriting eternal life. The choice is yours either to possess or not. The first reading tell us that the law of God which we need to keep in order to inherit eternal life is in our hearts. There is that inner voice of God in our hearts always telling us what to do. That voice is telling you today: go and visit that your sick neighbor, go and help that your neighbor in need of assistance from you, go and contribute your quota to the work of God, go and give a helping hand to your wife/husband, go and help that poor person in your locality, give your time to God, go and destroy that idol you are serving. Let us always remember the words of John Bunyan “you have not lived today until you have done something for someone who can never repay you”
I pray the lord will grant you the grace to always do things that will help you inherit eternal life. May you do away with every obstacles that stops you from loving God and your neighbor with all your heart, soul and mind; through Christ our Lord. Amen,