By Shiju Joseph, CSC –
“Who is my neighbour?” is the question that prompted Jesus to tell what has now become a celebrated story in the gospels.
The one who asked this question was a teacher of the law, not an uneducated peasant. The question did not come from ignorance of the meaning of the word ‘neighbour,’ but from an attempt to deflect it from one’s responsibility.
The story of good Samaritan continues to challenge me to allow myself to be moved with compassion at the plight of anyone, regardless of color, caste, religion or ethnicity. Everyone who is in need of my help is my neighbor. It is I who have built pigeon-holes to categorize people, and convince myself that I do not have to feel compassion for some categories.
I can even convince myself, despite my education, that I do not know who my ‘neighbor’ is or why I am not the best person to help! But, as the first reading reminds us, ‘my word is very near you, it is already in your mouth and in your heart.’ All that is left is put it into practice.