15 SUNDAY, CYCLE C

Luke 10: 25—30
 
We can choose our friends but we have little say to who is next us whether be in the pew at church, a stranger in line at the store, or a coworker.  In today’s Gospel we hear about the scribe of the Law asking Jesus who is his   neighbor?    
 
   Like the scripture scholar in Luke’s Gospel, we too ask Jesus: Who is our neighbor? Is a     neighbor the person who looks, speaks, and thinks like us?  In reality those next to us may not share the same       passion for a particular sports team or agree in politics or in faith as us.  Even in the differences, we are called to respect one another. Yet, being a good neighbor is more than peacefully coexisting or showing mutual respect.  Rather, a neighbor is the one who shows compassion to those who are in need.  Since we are connected to another person through our humanity, then we have the ability to relate to those who are sad, afraid, and feel alone.
  
   Jesus’ response to the question of who is our neighbor is through the parable of the Good Samaritan.  In the story, we hear about the Samaritan who took a risk to show compassion to a stranger.  The Samaritan did not know if the robbers were still hiding, ready to pounce on the next unsuspecting traveler.  The Samaritan also took a risk of being seen by another Samaritan attending to a stranger who is more than likely a Jew, thus an enemy, since the Jews and Samaritans disagreed in matters of faith and ethnicity.  The Samaritan also used his resources such as oil and wine to cleanse the wounds, and cloths to bandage the wounds as well as time to take the injured stranger to an inn which may have been out of the way.  Moreover, he also paid the innkeeper to care for the stranger.  Thus, the moral of the story is that Jesus wants his listeners to understand the importance of showing compassion to another human being, even to one’s enemies.
   
   As followers of Jesus, we are called to take a risk of being rejected or criticized for helping another person.  We are also called to use our resources and even our time to attend to the needs of others.  For example, if we see a stranger who appears lost in a store, we can take the time and ask if they need directions.  If we know of a neighbor who just lost a loved one, we can make a visit and offer to bring food, to be present, and listen, as well as offer to pray.     Moreover, we are to be a voice and speak up for those who are forgotten by our society such as the unborn, the     elderly and the immigrant.  Therefore, may we be a neighbor by showing mercy to those we meet today.