Who is my neighbor?
Gospel Reflection
Who is our neighbor? Who are our neighbors?
On this 15th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Jesus is asking about the heart of our faith: “Who is my neighbor?”
We live in a world full of “me-first.” It’s understandable—we want our families cared for, our needs met. But Jesus says it’s more than that; our faith is more than that. Love begins at home, yes, but it doesn’t stop there.
Our Gospel reading today speaks of the Good Samaritan: a despised outsider who becomes the hero, simply because he saw another human in need, had compassion, stopped, treated wounds, and paid for care—not because he could get something from the victim.
In our first reading from Deuteronomy, we heard the phrases: “The word is very near to you… in your heart; you have only to carry it out.”
And then in our Gospel reading, Jesus gives us this command: “Go and do likewise.” Go and do what the Samaritan did.
Your “neighbor” isn’t just the person living next to you or the guy asking for coins in the street—it’s everyone God places before you: a coworker, a child struggling, a friend who’s lost hope, even someone you don’t like.
Remember that Christ is the visible image of the invisible God, and our neighbors share in that divine image of Christ, when Christ said that he is the hungry that we feed, the naked that we cover, the prisoner and the sick that we visit. When we love them, we love Christ himself.
Yes, giving alms helps—but why stop there? Let your giving reflect the Samaritan’s heart: a kind word, a listening ear, quiet service, no applause, support—not just by giving money, but also respect, dignity, and empowerment.
That’s not just charity, it’s kingdom justice, the work of God in ordinary places—home, office, and street corners.
So today, let’s ask the Holy Spirit: “Give me eyes to see—not just with my selfish need, but with Christ’s compassion. Help me go and do likewise.”
Let’s be good neighbors. Let’s be Good Samaritans.
Photo by kanchana Amilani on Unsplash
There was a scholar of the law who stood up to test Jesus 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."
Who is our neighbor? Who are our neighbors?
On this 15th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Jesus is asking about the heart of our faith: “Who is my neighbor?”
We live in a world full of “me-first.” It’s understandable—we want our families cared for, our needs met. But Jesus says it’s more than that; our faith is more than that. Love begins at home, yes, but it doesn’t stop there.
Our Gospel reading today speaks of the Good Samaritan: a despised outsider who becomes the hero, simply because he saw another human in need, had compassion, stopped, treated wounds, and paid for care—not because he could get something from the victim.
In our first reading from Deuteronomy, we heard the phrases: “The word is very near to you… in your heart; you have only to carry it out.”
And then in our Gospel reading, Jesus gives us this command: “Go and do likewise.” Go and do what the Samaritan did.
Your “neighbor” isn’t just the person living next to you or the guy asking for coins in the street—it’s everyone God places before you: a coworker, a child struggling, a friend who’s lost hope, even someone you don’t like.
Remember that Christ is the visible image of the invisible God, and our neighbors share in that divine image of Christ, when Christ said that he is the hungry that we feed, the naked that we cover, the prisoner and the sick that we visit. When we love them, we love Christ himself.
Yes, giving alms helps—but why stop there? Let your giving reflect the Samaritan’s heart: a kind word, a listening ear, quiet service, no applause, support—not just by giving money, but also respect, dignity, and empowerment.
That’s not just charity, it’s kingdom justice, the work of God in ordinary places—home, office, and street corners.
So today, let’s ask the Holy Spirit: “Give me eyes to see—not just with my selfish need, but with Christ’s compassion. Help me go and do likewise.”
Let’s be good neighbors. Let’s be Good Samaritans.
Photo by kanchana Amilani on Unsplash
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