| Homily for the 15th Sunday in Ordinary Time: July 11, 2010
Given by the Most Reverend Stephen E. Blaire at the Cathedral of the Annunciation in Stockton.
Who is my neighbor? This is a question posed to us by our faith. Because we follow Christ and are members of His Church we seek an answer by looking to Jesus, to His teaching, and in particular to the Parable of the Good Samaritan. We wish to receive the Word of God in our own lives and in our unique circumstances. Each of us wants to know: Who is my neighbor?
Pope Benedict remarks about this passage in Luke, that the translation has lost something of its original vitality. It was more than the Samaritan having compassion. The Greek conveys that it was like a lightning flash of mercy that hit the Samaritan deep within his soul when he saw the victim of the robber lying on the side of the road.
Who is my neighbor? A few weeks ago when I arrived at a parish for Confirmation the word has just come in that a young man I confirmed the previous year was tragically killed in an automobile accident that morning. Everyone was deeply moved with compassion for the family and greatly saddened over what had happened. On another occasion when I heard the story of a woman whose husband and son were killed in a home invasion I was moved to tears. When I saw a child in a Palestinian camp with a distended stomach it affected me viscerally. This is the kind of compassion Jesus is talking about: being jolted in the very depths of our being.
Who is my neighbor? There is so much pain and suffering in the world. One hardly knows where and how to respond. Certainly we can support international agencies of relief and development like Catholic Relief Services. They can do what we could never do as an individual, and they do it very well. But likewise we must not miss the one who is closer and needs our compassion. We cannot help everyone. The demands are so great. But neither can we walk by the one who is on the road we are travelling, right in our sight. In looking around this church I can only imagine that many of you, if not all, carry burdens or may be hurting and could use a word of comfort or benefit from a deed of compassion.
WHO IS MY NEIGHBOR? It is the victim we see on the side of the road. The side of the road can be anywhere. The victim can be anyone.
WHO IS MY NEIGHBOR? My neighbor actually is God. When we love our neighbor as our self we love God with all our heart, with all our being, with all our strength, and with all our mind.
Last Update July 12, 2010
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