Lk 10:25-37
25There was a scholar of the law who stood up to test [Jesus] and said, “Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” 26Jesus said to him, “What is written in the law? How do you read it?” 27He said in reply, “You shall love the Lord, your God, with all your heart, with all your being, with all your strength, and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself.” 28He replied to him, “You have answered correctly; do this and you will live.”
29But because he wished to justify himself, he said to Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?” 30Jesus replied, “A man fell victim to robbers as he went down from Jerusalem to Jericho. They stripped and beat him and went off leaving him half-dead. 31A priest happened to be going down that road, but when he saw him, he passed by on the opposite side.32Likewise a Levite came to the place, and when he saw him, he passed by on the opposite side. 33But a Samaritan traveler who came upon him was moved with compassion at the sight. 34He approached the victim, poured oil and wine over his wounds and bandaged them. Then he lifted him up on his own animal, took him to an inn and cared for him. 35The next day he took out two silver coins and gave them to the innkeeper with the instruction, ‘Take care of him. If you spend more than what I have given you, I shall repay you on my way back.’ 36Which of these three, in your opinion, was neighbor to the robbers’ victim?” 37He answered, “The one who treated him with mercy.” Jesus said to him, “Go and do likewise.”
Reflection:
Who is my neighbor? A scholar of the law asks Jesus. Jesus’ answer, after telling the parable of the good Samaritan, is to ask, “Who was neighbor to the robbers’ victim?” In answer to the scholar’s question, we can come up with a list of who are our neighbors and who are not. But Jesus’ question asks us to be good neighbors to everyone, especially the needy. We may choose our neighborhood, but we cannot escape the responsibility of being a good neighbor.
My mother used to give me more than I needed for my travel fare to and from school. I once asked her why. She answered, “Son, don’t sell your soul for a few cents. If somebody you know rides the same bus with you, be the first to offer to pay for his fare. Be a good neighbor.” My mother kept this practice in her own life, and she was fondly known in the neighborhood.
Send some cookies to your neighborhood kids.