Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time

“But I say to you”

Jesus came not to abolish the Old Testament Law (Torah) but to fulfil it by revealing its deeper meaning: true righteousness goes beyond external actions to include internal attitudes (anger, lust, thoughts) and a transformed heart, surpassing the superficial holiness of the Scribes and Pharisees, demanding radical love, truthfulness, and purity, making even a glance or angry word as serious as murder or adultery.

Jesus calls for a heart-level transformation where love for God and neighbour becomes the driving force, fulfilling the spirit of the Law through deeper integrity, purity, and compassion, rather than just adhering to its letter.

In Jesus' parable (Luke 10:25-37), the Good Samaritan is the only one who stops to help because the priest and a Levite prioritized religious ritual, fear, or convenience over human life, while the Samaritan allowed compassion to override social, cultural, and personal risk.

For a Jewish priest or Levite, touching a dead or dying person meant  - according to Mosaic law (Numbers 19:11-16) - becoming "unclean”. They saw the man but chose to pass by on the other side of the road, showing a lack of empathy, religious hypocrisy.

The Samaritan saw a person in need and acted with practical love, taking the injured man to an inn, paying for his care.

Jesus seems to say – to me at least – do be and act as a Good Samaritan. I try.