Who Is My Neighbor?

07-10-2022Weekly ReflectionFr. Anthony Okolo, CSSp

In the first reading of today we see Moses telling the people if you obey the voice of the Lord your God, to keep His commandments and His statutes which are written in this book of the law you will have life. He goes further to say that “But the word is very near you, it is in your mouth and in your heart, so that you can do it.” It means that the word of God is with us here and now and it is by keeping this word of God that our life becomes meaningful. The word of God is alive and active and the Word of God is Jesus Himself. Our life is sustained by the word of God and if we keep to the word of God we become happy and live well.

In the second reading Paul, tells us that “Jesus Christ is the image of the invisible God, the first born of all creation. For in Him all things were created in heaven and on earth.” It means that Christ is the omnipresent being who continues everything in existence. Christ is the center, not only of moral and religious effort, but also of all physical and spiritual growth in the universe. The whole universe is stamped with His character and shaped according to His direction.

Then in the gospel we hear the story of the Good Samaritan. It is a story most of us are very familiar with. However, there are few points we need to pay special attention to in this reading. The first thing is that, the scholar wanted from the beginning to test Jesus. It is not as if He was very much interested in eternal life. He wanted to challenge Jesus in His teaching of love. However, Jesus asked him, since you are a scholar of law you should know what the book of law says about inheriting eternal life. He recites it and Jesus told him you have answered very well, then go and do what you have read and you will live. But to justify himself he wanted to ask who my neighbor is, but did Jesus answer that question? Jesus never answered that question. Rather, He tells a story of the Good Samaritan.

I would like us to pay attention to the opening part of the story. Jesus, says, “A man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho. First, we have to note that Jerusalem is a sign of a place of life, a place of holiness, a place where God is encountered. Then, Jericho is a sign of a place of the den of robbers, a place of all kinds of evils and uncharitable things. Which means this man was moving away from a place of life to destruction. A place of peace to violence. A place of love to evil. It was while on this road to destruction that the man fell victim of a robbery attack.

Jesus goes on to tell him the response and actions of the different people. The Priest, the Levite, and the Good Samaritan. At the end Jesus asked him, who among the three was a neighbor to the victim. Also pay attention to the response of the scholar. He said, the one who treated him with mercy. He could not even mention his name the Good Samaritan because of the enmity between Jews and Samaritans. More so the Jews see the Samaritans as people who are unfit for the Kingdom of God. They do not know God.

Then, at the end Jesus tells him go and do likewise. Even if you don’t want to call his name Samaritan go and act the way he has done. It is in this way you will inherit the Kingdom of God.

Thus, from this how do we apply it to our own lives or what message do we get that our Faithfulness and Love of God will be assessed on the basis of our attitude to other people. True practice of religion is the religion of life and not that of beautiful words. We are to show compassion to whoever is in need or misfortune even if the person brought such to himself or herself. Render assistance to people without considering whether he is our own blood or not. Do something practical and not just feeling sorry.

In giving help to people let it come from our heart which may cost us something and that is true giving.

Happy Sunday to you all.

Fr. Tony Okolo

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