According to an ancient legend, a king who had no son to succeed him posted a notice inviting young men to come and apply for adoption into his family. The two qualifications were love of God and love of neighbor.
A poor peasant boy was tempted to apply but felt unable to do so because of the rags he wore. He worked hard, earned some money, bought some new clothes, and headed off to try his luck at being adopted into the king’s family. He was half-way there when he came across a poor beggar on the road, who was shivering in the cold. The young lad felt sorry for him, and he exchanged clothes with him. There was hardly much point in going any further towards the king’s palace, now that he was back in rags again. However, the young boy felt that having come this far, he might as well finish the journey. He arrived at the palace, and, despite the jeers and sneers of the courtiers, he was finally admitted into the presence of the king. Imagine his amazement to see that the king was the old beggar he had met on the road, and he was actually wearing the good clothes the young man had given him! The king got down from his throne, embraced the young boy, and said “Welcome, my son!”
Today’s readings focus on two themes: love of God and love of neighbor. The first reading from the Book of Deuteronomy reminds us that God is not beyond our reach. God reveals to Moses that his law, his words, and his presence are not up in the sky or across the sea. God is here with us, especially in the people we encounter each day. When we act as neighbor to them, we act as neighbor to God. In the second reading, St. Paul reminds the Colossians, and us, that just as Christ is the “visible image of the invisible God,” so our neighbors are the visible image of Christ because the invisible God dwells in every person. When we love our neighbors, we are also loving God.
Jesus then challenges us in the gospel to ponder the question, “Who is my neighbor?” The parable clearly indicates that a “neighbor” is any fellow human being who is in need of help. So, the question for us really is, “Am I a good neighbor to others?”
We know that we are supposed to love God with all our heart, our being, our strength, and our mind. But loving our neighbor as ourself? That’s not so easy – especially with those who take advantage of us, who mock and bully us, who treat us like we are inferior, and who think we don’t belong because of the color of our skin, the way we dress, or the accent of our voice. But as a disciple of Jesus, we are called to love everyone: even if and no matter what!
My heart is in agony over what happened this past Monday with the senseless shooting in Highland Park. This was something that I have been struggling with and praying about all week. I keep asking myself, “What would I have done? If I were there, would I have been the priest, the Levite, or the Samaritan? Would I be the one running away or the one of the many who stayed to help those who had been shot or injured?” I pray that I would have had the strength to be the Samaritan.
It’s time to stop asking, “If I stop to help this person, what will happen to me?” and be like the Good Samaritan and ask, “If I do not stop to help this person, what will happen to him/her? Good intentions never change anything. The only thing that matters is the action that we take in helping one another – because real love is self-giving, self-sacrificing, and without limits. Real love begins by receiving Jesus in the Eucharist and then by being Jesus to others.
As we go through this coming week, here are some questions for us to ponder: Have we been the man beaten, and then helped by a stranger we thought was an enemy? When God calls us to help others, do we listen? When God places a situation in our path, do we walk around it, as the priest and Levite did, or jump in as the Samaritan did? Do we let our obligations and daily tasks get in the way of loving our neighbors as Jesus asked of us?”
The message of the Parable of the Good Samaritan is as simple and difficult as this: Love God, love others, do good, and be strengthened and renewed by the Eucharist each week.
Jesus reminds us today that loving our neighbor doesn’t just mean the person living next door. Our neighbor is the person God has placed right in front us in every moment of each and every day. And no matter how inconvenient, how unexpected, or how difficult, we’re asked to love, show mercy, and help those in need.
My sisters and brothers, “Go and do likewise.”
How can we be the best version of ourselves? Find out here.
