WHO IS  MY NEIGHBOR
The Gospel LUKE 10:29-37
A scholar of the law 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.”
The Media                            "Radio" beginning session
Coach Harold Jones’ principal, Mrs. Daniels, warns in this session of the movie “Radio” that people can’t treat Radio as a “glorified mascot,” and Jones points out to his daughter that “feeling sorry” for Radio is the last thing that Radio needs. “Feeling sorry” can be described as a state of mind in which a person need not really care about others even as the person works on their behalf. It is a position of power. People who merely “feel sorry” for someone else usually look at themselves as being more important than the person they are helping.
Coach Harold Jones in the movie “Radio” and the Samaritan citizen in Jesus’ story had much in common. Both had their own lives to live, both accidentally stumbled on a person who was hurting, and perhaps most of all, both did more than “feel sorry” for the person. As Jesus phrased it, Coach Jones and the Samaritan were “neighbor” to the person who was hurting.

 People who are “neighbor” to another are people who will go out of their way for them. As the Samaritan of Jesus’ story, they will provide for future care with their own money and time, and, as Coach Jones does during this session of the movie, they will give of themselves, even to the point of taking away personal comfort.

Christian people who are true to their name will “reach out” to others, but they will be “neighbor” to them as well. They will not simply “throw money” at a problem and hope it takes care of it; they will not simply pray and do nothing. They will go out of their way, giving of their money if that is called for, but giving of their time and energy as well.

Perhaps one of the principal problems with the Christian concept of caring for another today is that too many merely feel sorry for others, and going no further, accomplish nothing. If we would have more Christians who considered themselves “neighbor” to people who are hurting, our world might become a truly “caring” world.                     
THOUGHT
Generally speaking, how can you be “neighbor” to some needy people in your world right now?
 
PRAYER
Good and gracious God, your Son taught us to be truly caring people. In our own world including our individual worlds, there are many people who have to be “cared for” in one way or another. Give us the grace to care for those who need it. Be with us, we pray.

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©2007 Capuchin Province of Mid-America
Fr. Mike Scully is a member of the Capuchin Province of Mid-America