(Dt.30:10-14; Ps.69:14,17,30-31,33-34,36-37 or 19:8-11; Col.1:15-20; Lk.10:25-37) "He lifted him up on his own animal, took him to an inn, and cared for him." This "Samaritan traveler… was moved with compassion" upon seeing the poor victim on the road. And so he "poured oil and wine over his wounds" and provided for his healing. Such is the love to which we are called. In our first reading, Moses exhorts us: "Heed the voice of the Lord, your God, and keep His commandments… Return to the Lord, your God, with all your heart and all your soul." We are told this commandment of love is not far from us, but in our very hearts and on our very tongues – "You have only to carry it out." In our second reading, Paul tells of Jesus' presence in all creation: "In Him were created all things in heaven and on earth… He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together." He tells us, too, that it is by "the blood of His cross" that all things are reconciled, that peace comes. And in our gospel, the commandment to love God and neighbor is clearly presented, both in the words of the law, and in a parable of its employment. The commandment we have is indeed to love, brothers and sisters, to love God and to love neighbor. This word burns in our hearts. We must "carry it out." It does little good simply to know the law; it must be put into practice to have merit. And who are we called to love? Jesus makes it quite clear that we are called to love all who are in need; we are called to respond with compassion at the sight or the cry of any of His "lowly ones," His "victim[s]." Remember that Paul has told us that Jesus lives in and through all creation: He is not in some and not in others. So, mustn't we help our Lord when He is in need? Has He not told us, "What you do to the least of my brothers, you do to me"? Is not every soul in His blessed Hand? And we must be His blessed hands here on this earth. We must indeed be like Him. Let us look at David's psalm. In it we hear the cry of those "afflicted and in pain" calling on the favor of the Lord: "In your great kindness answer me with your constant help." Here we see that in "great mercy" the Lord turns toward those who seek Him. Brothers and sisters, "the Lord hears the poor" and we must be as He is. We must cry out to Him ourselves in our own need, yes, but we are also called as His disciples to serve in His place, to share His love – to pour His blood upon the wounds of those in need. Written, read & chanted, and produced by James Kurt. Music: "Coat of Warmth" (1st part) from Cleansing Human Frailty, fourth album of Songs for Children of Light, by James Kurt. ******* O LORD, let us carry out your Word by caring for the needs of others in Jesus your Son. YHWH, let us do as your Son has done; let us live in and by His blood. Compassion may we have for all in need that all might know your mercy. All things were created in and through Jesus, and all things have life because of Him. To reconcile all things He died on the Cross that all might dwell in your peace. And to what are we called, O LORD, but to help bring that peace to bear upon this earth? What must we do but share His blood with all souls, that all souls might indeed find themselves alive in Him? Enlighten our eye, O LORD, to the truth of your presence in the love of your Son. Let us see His light shining before us this day and allow it to shine through us as well. O let your Word be fulfilled, your Word that burns in our hearts even as we speak. You hear the prayer of all your lowly ones – may we listen to them with you.