Who Is My Neighbour?
Introduction
The letter of Paul to the Galatians is a strong reaction that tries to safeguard the integrity of the gospel and of the young Church. The Judaizers, that is a group of Jews converted to Christianity alleged that new Christians had to accept the Jewish law and practices in order to be good Christians. What, then, about Christ and the cross?
According to an old Jewish story, a father tells his small son: “I think that God made people because he likes to tell stories and he wanted someone to tell them to.” We have Jesus with us today to tell us the immortal story of the Good Samaritan. Who is my neighbour? Anyone who needs me, whoever he or she may be. And “go and do the same.”
1 Reading Galatians 1:6-12
Brothers and sisters:
I am amazed that you are so quickly forsaking
the one who called you by the grace of Christ
for a different gospel (not that there is another).
But there are some who are disturbing you
and wish to pervert the Gospel of Christ.
But even if we or an angel from heaven
should preach to you a gospel
other than the one that we preached to you,
let that one be accursed!
As we have said before, and now I say again,
if anyone preaches to you a gospel
other than the one that you received,
let that one be accursed!
Am I now currying favour with human beings or God?
Or am I seeking to please people?
If I were still trying to please people,
I would not be a slave of Christ.
Now I want you to know, brothers and sisters,
that the Gospel preached by me is not of human origin.
For I did not receive it from a human being, nor was I taught it,
but it came through a revelation of Jesus Christ.
Responsorial Psalm 111:1b-2, 7-8, 9 and 10c
R. (5) The Lord will remember his covenant for ever.
or: R. Alleluia.
I will give thanks to the LORD with all my heart
in the company and assembly of the just.
Great are the works of the LORD,
exquisite in all their delights.
R.
The works of his hands are faithful and just;
sure are all his precepts,
Reliable forever and ever,
wrought in truth and equity.
R.
He has sent deliverance to his people;
he has ratified his covenant forever;
holy and awesome is his name.
His praise endures forever.
R.
Alleluia John 13:34
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
I give you a new commandment:
love one another as I have loved you.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Gospel Luke 10:25-37
There was a scholar of the law who stood up to test Jesus and said,
“Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?”
Jesus said to him, “What is written in the law?
How do you read it?”
He 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 neighbour as yourself.”
He replied to him, “You have answered correctly;
do this and you will live.”
But because he wished to justify himself, he said to Jesus,
“And who is my neighbour?”
Jesus 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.
A priest happened to be going down that road,
but when he saw him, he passed by on the opposite side.
Likewise a Levite came to the place,
and when he saw him, he passed by on the opposite side.
But a Samaritan traveler who came upon him
was moved with compassion at the sight.
He 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.
The 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.’
Which of these three, in your opinion,
was neighbour to the robbers’ victim?”
He answered, “The one who treated him with mercy.”
Jesus said to him, “Go and do likewise.”
Commentary
Did Jesus answer the question: “who is my neighbour (that I may love him as myself)?”—that the teacher of the Law had thrown at him? Not really. Because, according to the story that followed, it was the Samaritan who played the neighbour to the wounded Jew. The questioner was thinking it should be those who help me in my need (and thus become my neighbours) that I should love! But Jesus delivers an unexpected punch line instead and orders the teacher of the Law: “Go then and do the same (as the Samaritan did).” Thus, Jesus unequivocally tells him that he should become neighbour to the needy people around instead of looking for neighbourly people to love. Here’s an Arab fable:
A man once saw a fox that had lost its legs, but was fed daily by a tiger. The tiger would eat its game, and leave portions of it for the fox to feed on. He marveled at the ways of the Lord and thought: “I too shall lie down at home and trust God to provide me everything I need.” So he did. Days passed by, but no one turned up at his door to feed him. When he complained to the Lord, the Lord replied: “You fool! Imitate the tiger, not the fox!”
Blessing
We have heard how Jesus wants to make us all good Samaritans, people who have time and attention, compassion and love, for everyone in need. Our neighbor is any person who needs us. May the loving and almighty God bless you all, the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen!