"Ideas for Being Loving and Merciful" - 15th Sunday of Ordinary Time Homily

Moses said to the people, all people, all of humanity, you know how to love God.

It's in your mouths, it's in your hearts, how to keep the commandments.

There no excuses.

You know what to do, you just need to do it.

You need to carry it out.

And so here you are this morning carrying it out.

Loving God, honoring the Sabbath.

You had maybe excuses popping into your mind this morning, too tired, not feeling it.

You said, I need to do this.

I need to praise God and

Worship Him and thank Him every Sabbath, every Sunday.

And we do that in the Eucharist.

We get to how Jesus showed us how to love God.

And the next level, what I see you do throughout the day and night, every day, is adoring the chapel.

It's the coolest thing as a pastor to see parishioners every hour going to adore Christ.

It's next level, it's worshiping loving God fully.

That's what Jesus shows us.

And then the next commandment, the second best commandment to love neighbor, he shows us how to love our neighbor fully with mercy.

And so this famous story of the Good Samaritan, Jesus is taking us to the next level of love of neighbor.

He shows us how to love God, he shows us how to love neighbor, himself.

But this story introduces a new character, a non-Jew, a Samaritan who would show the new way.

which is mercy.

And we have the priest and the Levite represented in the old way.

They avoid caring for the robbery victim.

They go the opposite side.

So you have that depiction between the old and the new.

And with Samaritan, there's so much detail here.

Jesus is teaching us this is how you show mercy.

Very specific, detailed story.

that gives us ideas.

To me the takeaway is we now learn what to do from the Samaritan.

And we need to learn from others, see others in action with mercy.

It's like the Samaritan learned this from others, he was ready to go.

He had not only the intention to stop, but also the supplies.

He was ready with help.

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How many times you and I pass by someone on the road or in need and then later on regret it?

We weren't ready or we weren't thinking about it, but he has compassion in his heart at the sight of this victim and he stops.

And thank God he stopped because that's when the mercy started to flow.

If you and I would just stop and have that scene, that chance,

then mercy flows from us.

And so I want to give you some ideas, simple ideas, in the moments, or anticipating moments even, to be mindful of mercy, to be generous and compassionate and kind and

thoughtful and generous creators.

15 ideas on this 15th Sunday that others have taught or shown me.

I'm sure you could put together your own list and tell me.

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Write thank you notes when someone gives you something generous or extraordinary.

Blessing bags we offer a few times during the year for our youth group.

You put it in your car, you come in with someone at the light who's begging.

It's got water and snacks, clean socks, and a prayer card.

That idea actually came from young man who I knew who used to have bottles of water in his car for that very moment.

And that, those supplies are like the oil and wine and the bandages of the Samaritan.

You probably already do this and messages to people on their birthdays and anniversaries Take the initiative in clearing dirty plates at the dinner and lunch table.

Kids, I'm talking to you.

Your parents do it all the time.

You expect them like they're your servants.

But to take the initiative, we do it with our staff.

In our staff lunches, it's contagious.

It's fun to watch people take that initiative.

Okay, this one be careful.

Greet people in public with hello or good morning.

Be prudent, don't be creepy on that.

The world could do some more friendliness in public.

Set aside money for charities every year.

The Samaritan had two silver coins ready to go.

That provided days of lodging for the robbery victim.

Take initiative with reconciliation.

To say you're sorry to someone or to start a conversation in which you'll forgive them.

Go to confession regularly.

To receive God's forgiveness regularly really leads us to forgive others regularly.

Serve the poor and watch others do it.

So many of us are rookies at this and we sign up to volunteer something good, it's awesome thing to do.

And then you go and do it and you see the pros at work serving the poor.

They know what to do.

And they show such creativity and goodness and thoughtfulness.

It's awesome to watch and to learn from them.

Do one kind thing for your spouse every day, big or small.

Offer up a penance or a suffering for someone else, like Jesus did for the whole world on the cross.

Write a personal note to a loved one.

You'll never regret doing this.

You might regret not doing it.

When you come to Mass, have an intention in your heart for someone or something else, especially at communion Or when you spend time in the Adoration Chapel, offer that up for

someone, like a holy hour.

Reach out to someone who is alone.

Again, be safe and prudent with this, but so they know they truly are not alone.

Last one might be the hardest.

Work hard to remember people's names.

That's hard.

But here you are.

You know what to do.

Now let's all do it.