Who is my neighbour?

The Fifteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Collect

O God, who show the light of your truth to those who go astray, so that they may return to the right path, give all who for the faith they profess are accounted Christians the grace to reject whatever is contrary to the name of Christ and to strive after all that does it honour. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

First Reading
Dt 30:10-14

The word is very near to you: you have only to carry it out.

A reading from the Book of Deuteronomy

Moses said to the people:
“If only you would heed the voice of the LORD, your God,
   and keep his commandments and statutes
   that are written in this book of the law,
   when you return to the LORD, your God,
   with all your heart and all your soul.

“For this command that I enjoin on you today
   is not too mysterious and remote for you.
It is not up in the sky, that you should say,
   ‘Who will go up in the sky to get it for us
   and tell us of it, that we may carry it out?’
Nor is it across the sea, that you should say,
   ‘Who will cross the sea to get it for us
   and tell us of it, that we may carry it out?’
No, it is something very near to you,
   already in your mouths and in your hearts;
   you have only to carry it out.”

The word of the Lord.

Responsorial Psalm
Ps 69:14, 17, 30-31, 33-34, 36, 37

R. :

℟. (cf. 33) Turn to the Lord in your need, and you will live.

I pray to you, O LORD,
   for the time of your favor, O God!
In your great kindness answer me
   with your constant help.
Answer me, O LORD, for bounteous is your kindness:
   in your great mercy turn toward me.

℟. Turn to the Lord in your need, and you will live.

I am afflicted and in pain;
   let your saving help, O God, protect me.
I will praise the name of God in song,
   and I will glorify him with thanksgiving.

℟. Turn to the Lord in your need, and you will live.

“See, you lowly ones, and be glad;
   you who seek God, may your hearts revive!
For the LORD hears the poor,
   and his own who are in bonds he spurns not.”

℟. Turn to the Lord in your need, and you will live.

For God will save Zion
   and rebuild the cities of Judah.
The descendants of his servants shall inherit it,
   and those who love his name shall inhabit it.

℟. Turn to the Lord in your need, and you will live.

or: Ps 19:8, 9, 10, 11

℟. (9a) Your words, Lord, are Spirit and life.

The law of the LORD is perfect,
   refreshing the soul;
the decree of the LORD is trustworthy,
   giving wisdom to the simple.

℟. Your words, Lord, are Spirit and life.

The precepts of the LORD are right,
   rejoicing the heart;
the command of the LORD is clear,
   enlightening the eye.

℟. Your words, Lord, are Spirit and life.

The fear of the LORD is pure,
   enduring forever;
the ordinances of the LORD are true,
   all of them just.

R. Your words, Lord, are Spirit and life.

They are more precious than gold,
   than a heap of purest gold;
sweeter also than syrup
   or honey from the comb.

℟. Your words, Lord, are Spirit and life.

Second Reading
Col 1:15-20

All things were created through him and for him.

A reading from the Letter of Saint Paul to the Colossians

Christ Jesus is the image of the invisible God,
   the firstborn of all creation.
For in him were created all things in heaven and on earth,
   the visible and the invisible,
   whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers;
   all things were created through him and for him.
He is before all things,
   and in him all things hold together.
He is the head of the body, the church.
He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead,
   that in all things he himself might be preeminent.
For in him all the fullness was pleased to dwell,
   and through him to reconcile all things for him,
   making peace by the blood of his cross
   through him, whether those on earth or those in heaven.

The word of the Lord.

Acclamation before the Gospel
cf. Jn 6:63c, 68c

℟. Alleluia, alleluia.

Your words, Lord, are Spirit and life;
you have the words of everlasting life.

℟. Alleluia, alleluia.


Lk 10:25-37

Who is my neighbor?

✠ A reading from the holy Gospel according to Luke

There was a scholar of the law who stood up to test him 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 neighbor 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 neighbor?”
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 neighbor to the robbers’ victim?”
He answered, “The one who treated him with mercy.”
Jesus said to him, “Go and do likewise.”

At the end of the Gospel, the Deacon, or the Priest, acclaims:

The Gospel of the Lord.

All reply:

Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.

Reflection

St Luke presents us with a lawyer who, although was an expert in the law, had a heart that was far from the Law. His intention was to test Jesus and to justify himself before Him. Jesus’ response to the question, “Who is my neighbour?” does not engage with the intellectual reasoning of the mind … but with mercy that comes from the heart. 

Jesus’ response does not stop at what is known from the Law … but goes on to say how the Law is truly lived. Jesus twice invites the expert in the Law: first, saying “Do this, and you will live,” and later, instructing him to “Go and do likewise.” What is the point of giving the right answer if you don’t live according to it?

And here is where we come in. We all know the parable of the Good Samaritan. Many of us have probably learnt it in school. We know the Law well. But what use is it if we know the Law but don’t live it? We do not inherit eternal life by knowing the Law but by living it.

How do I live the Law?

-By not passing by on the other side of the road, pretending I didn’t see anything. By not living my life as a spectator, indifferent, allowing my heart to grow hard and unfeeling.
- By not walking past … but looking around me, stopping, caring, giving my time, changing my plans, giving of myself, giving financial assistance, going out of my way …

Where are we to live the Law? In the Temple? In Church?
- No … on the street, at home, at our place of employment, while shopping … in our daily life.
With whom are we to live the Law?
- With all those we meet. On the street. Not when we decide to. The character of the person’s face is not important. The colour of their skin is of no concern.

We might have a personal affinity with them, or we may not get along very well. We may have differing opinions. We may be friends; we might also be enemies. I may know them by name, or I may not. It could be someone who has helped me in the past, or someone who has placed obstacles in my way.

Mercy does not look at faces.

Mercy does not make preferences.

Mercy does not choose one over another.

Mercy loves without judging.

Mercy humbles itself, heals and is self-forgetful. 

Mercy goes out of its way to give of itself.

Prayer

Lord, what strikes me is that the Priest, the Levite and the Samaritan had all walked the same road.

What also strikes me is the fact that the Priest, the Levite and the Samaritan all saw the wounded man on the ground.

But not all stopped, some continued on their way.

Never allow me to pass on the other side of the road.

Never allow me to walk at a hurried pace.

Never allow me to judge others by their appearance.

Never allow me to keep going on my way.

Never allow me to be indifferent.

Because I have lost count of the times you have stood with me and bound my wounds. Help me to do the same to others. Amen.

 

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