Psalm 69
Colossians 1:15-20
Luke 10:25-37
BEHOLD YOUR NEIGHBOUR!
The written law, as we hear in today’s first reading, is meant not only to help us remain faithful to God, but also to manifest God’s love and closeness to us. This law is not too mysterious (wonderful) and distant. It is close to us, so that we may hear it, meditate on it and put it into practice. Meanwhile this law of God is summed up in the commandment of love: to love God and to love one’s neighbour.
As a Ghanaian proverb says, no one shows God to a child, for the knowledge of God is innate. But who is our neighbour? This is the question the famous and well-known parable of the Good Samaritan presented in today’s gospel reading tries to answer. To a Jewish audience therefore a neighbour would be referring to a fellow Jew and would have excluded any non-Jew including Samaritans. Again, in the time of Jesus, Samaritans and Jews did not get along nor did they associate (cf John 4:9). No way a Jew would talk to a Samaritan, let alone being helped by one. Yet in the parable, the man, who was rubbed, injured and left half-dead, had no choice but to accept help from a Samaritan who was moved with compassion for his misery.
Thus, the parable of the Good Samaritan has been given to correct our understanding of who a neighbour is. Like the priest and the Levite, how many times have we not failed to show love and compassion to own kind or fellows let alone to talk about that “outsider”, that “stranger” or someone we do not know. “Go and do the same” is an invitation to us all. We are to show compassion and love for those we encounter in our everyday activities. We are to love others regardless of their ethnic background, race or religion, because anyone we meet is our neighbour and compassion has no boundaries. By so doing, we will inherit eternal life.
May God bless and have keep all of us. Amen
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