WALK THE LINE

“A Samaritan who was journeying along came on him…” –Luke 10:33

In today’s first reading, St. Paul allows no compromise with the Gospel that he preached to the new Christians in Galatia. The pure, complete Gospel must be presented. No compromise is allowed; the gospel of Christ cannot be “watered down” in any way. Otherwise, that person deserves a curse; Paul even repeats it twice for emphasis (Gal 1:8-9). Yet, in today’s Gospel passage, Jesus presents two people who are pure doctrinally and one man who is not. The hero of Jesus’ parable is the one who is doctrinally impure, yet who acted with the heart of the gospel, and not the two who held to the proper doctrine, but did not act with the charity demanded by the gospel of Christ.

Reading today’s two passages together, the Church tells us that both our doctrine and our lifestyle are to be pure, completely in line with the gospel. We are to strive for purity of faith and charity of action. This is a difficult line to walk. Yet the Lord pours out the Holy Spirit so that we will have the abundance of grace needed to act in spirit, truth, and charity. Jesus sets a high standard, yet He lived it Himself and sent us the Holy Spirit so that we can “go and do the same” (Lk 10:37).

Study your faith, especially as presented in the Catechism of the Catholic Church and the Scriptures. Ask the Lord for the grace to be able to fully receive the Holy Spirit.

PRAYER: Father, help me to believe the gospel in truth. Overshadow me with the Holy Spirit so that I can pour out my life in Your charity. Open my eyes to see all those in my path who need Your loving help.
PROMISE: “There is no other [gospel].” –Gal 1:7
PRAISE: Blessed Francis Xavier was born in Germany. He preached in English and German throughout the Midwest and Mid-Atlantic states. He trained Redemptorist seminary students. President Lincoln honored his appeal to not draft his students into the Civil War.