Latin October 04 Luke 10:25-37 Monday of the 27th Week in Ordinary Time
There is an orphanage run by Sisters of Charity, the congregation founded by Mother Teresa at Ernakulam, Kerala, India named ‘Nirmala Sishu Bhavan’. Catechism classes are being conducted for the orphans in collaboration with the Catechism Department of the Arch-Diocese of Ernakulam. Once a question was asked in a catechism exam of third grade children based on the chapter on Parable of Good Samaritan? “Who is the good neighbour?” One child answered ‘Mother Theresa is the Good Neighbor’. It was the impact of the visit of Mother Theresa herself into their community a few weeks ago. The correct answer as per the answer note given from the Diocesan catechism department was, ‘The Samaritan’ and so the teacher came to the parish priest with the dilemma if the answer to be considered correct. The parish priest said the answer is correct.
Dictionary defines neighbor as “a person living near or next door to the speaker or person referred to”. But Jesus adds a deeper meaning to neighbour and neighbourhood that does not depend on proximity whether relational or geographical. For Jesus a neighbour is the one who treats others with mercy and not necessarily a person living near or next door.
In other words neighbour refers to someone who has Time, Talent and Treasure for others in need. The Samaritan becomes a good neighbor to the miserable man by posing his travel for a day (Time), bandaging wounds and taking to an inn (Talent), and paying two silver coins to the innkeeper (Treasure). In short, the Good Samaritan became a neighbor when his eyes had an understanding seeing the victim’s vulnerability, his legs manifesting mercy approaching the victim, his heart moving with compassion and hands caring by bandaging the man’s wounds.
In short, we become good Samaritans when our eyes are understanding, legs merciful, heart compassionate and hands caring. Amen.