Won't you be my neighor

Growing up, I remember watching reruns of Mr. Roger's neighborhood. THat catchy little song sometimes continue to ring in my head even today, "Would you be, could you be, won't you be my neighbor."

What a refrain!


Here is the introduction to Mister Roger's neighbor via Youtube


Today in the gospel we read the story of the Good Samaritan.
We are familiar with the story. We all know the players: the robbers. the victim. the priest, the levite and of course the Good Samaritan.

We know the bad guys and the good guy in the story very well.

Remember the story is told in response to the question: Who is my neighbor?

Basically the response form JEsus is thus: we don't get to choose who our neighbor is. God has already chosen that for us. Each and every day God puts unfortunate souls in our path and we must choose to respond in a neighborly way.

We don't have the luxury to go to the opposite side of the road and look away and pretend we don't see.

This is why JEsus tells us, "Go and do likewise." Which of these three, in your opinion, was neighbor to the robber's victim? He replied, "The one who treated him with mercy." "Go and do likewise.

The invitation is clear and precise.

We know what God ask of us.

Be on the look out for victims of any sort. Do not seek to justify yourself but trust in the justification that comes from God who empowers us to do as he did.

BEcause in the end, we are the victims, abandoned on the side the road and Christ is Good Samaritan who has had mercy us, who carries on his shoulders and who binds our wounds by being wounded for us, "By his wounds we are healed" says St. Peter.

Won't you be a neighbor today.