Category: Faith & Life

As a theology student, I began to acquire the habit of writing down sayings that I considered relevant for my life as a pilgrim with a thousand destinations plus One: human hopes on earth and Christian hope in heaven, respectively. Hereafter, I wish to share some salient sayings that have helped me on the journey of my life. These sayings – many of them you know, perhaps, are like signposts on the path of the life of pilgrims of hope. They point out the smooth road ahead, the bumpy road, the dangerous curves, the lightened part and the darkened kilometres. My dear co-pilgrims of hope: 

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The readings for this Sunday invite us into a profound meditation on the nature of wisdom, freedom, and the cost of discipleship. They challenge us to reorient our lives around the Gospel, to see with spiritual clarity, and to walk with courage as pilgrims of hope.

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There are four main characters in today’s Gospel parable: the victim of robbers, the priest, the Levite and the Samaritan. The priest (Hebrew Kohanim) is a direct male-line descendant of Aaron, brother of Moses, who was appointed as the first high priest. The Kohanim were the only ones who could perform sacrificial rituals in the Temple, offer incense and maintain the Menorah (the seven-branched golden lampstand inside the Tabernacle and later, in the Temple). Because of their special functions, they wore distinctive garments and avoided contact with dead bodies which would render them impure.  Levites were male descendants of Levi, one of the twelve sons of Jacob (whom God renamed Israel). The Levites were not Kohanim but were given tasks to assist in the Temple in various supporting roles. For example, they served as musicians, gatekeepers, and temple officials. Even if they were not Kohanim, the Levites were also considered “holy” and set apart for God’s service. 

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