Monday – 27th  Week in Ordinary Time

Gospel – Luke 10:25-37

Won’t You Be My Neighbor?

Old City, Jerusalem

I know, we have heard this parable hundreds of times. The Good Samaritan, the last person you’d expect to help actually helps.  And we are expected to do the same.  To act out of love and mercy and compassion.  OK, got it, heard it before, I got the message.  Let’s move on.

But what if?  Turn things around!  What if you were the victim?  At some point in our lives, many of us have unfortunately been a victim; maybe we were robbed or beat up, cheated, betrayed or abandoned, or worse.  Would it really matter?  Would it make a difference?  Would their gender, religion, age, race, ethnicity or economic status matter?  Would you want to check their wallet for their ID?  Or their credit rating?  Do they have a college degree?  Would you really ever refuse their offer of kindness and compassion?  Would you really say NO to your Good Samaritan?

Then if it doesn’t matter who your Good Samaritan is, then does it really matter who the victim is?  Treat others the way you want to be treated!  God’s love and mercy is boundless to all.  We are called to respond with love, to see all as our neighbor, and to care for them just as God cares for us.

 

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