Dt 30:10-14
Ps 69:14, 17, 30-31, 33-34, 36, 37
Col 1:15-20
Lk 10:25-37
At the heart of this week’s Scriptures is a simple but radical message: eternal life is not just a distant hope, but something we begin to experience now by recognizing and loving God in every person around us - by becoming true neighbors.
The First Reading from Deuteronomy reminds us that God’s commandments aren’t meant to be distant rules imposed from above. They’re woven into our very hearts. Deep down, we already know what is right: to love, to show kindness, and to seek justice. Living these values is the key to a genuine, lasting relationship with God - a life that endures beyond this world.
In the Second Reading, Paul reveals a powerful truth: Jesus makes the invisible God visible. In the same way, every person we encounter carries within them the image of Christ. When we choose to reach out, forgive, help, or simply notice the struggles of those around us, we are honoring God in the most concrete way possible.
The Gospel brings this all together with the familiar story of the Good Samaritan. A religious leader asks Jesus, “What must I do to inherit eternal life?” Jesus’s response isn’t just theological - it’s deeply practical: love God with everything you have, and then love your neighbor as yourself. But Jesus expands our understanding of “neighbor” far beyond those who look, think, or pray like us. Through the parable, He challenges us to see as neighbor anyone in need, regardless of background, culture, or belief - and to see ourselves as the ones called to help.
This is a message that cuts across time and speaks just as urgently today. In our homes, schools, workplaces, and communities, the road from Jerusalem to Jericho runs right through our daily routines. The wounded may be the family member discouraged by a harsh word, the colleague overwhelmed by stress, or the stranger overlooked because they don’t fit in. Sometimes, being a good neighbor is as simple as offering a real smile, a listening ear, a word of thanks, or a gesture of support. Small acts of kindness can be life-changing.
And just as we are called to reach out, we must also let others reach us. Sometimes the Good Samaritan is not someone we expected to help us - perhaps someone we’ve misunderstood, disliked, or ignored before. Becoming neighbors in the fullest sense means breaking down the walls of prejudice, pride, and fear.
Let’s pray for the courage to let God’s Spirit soften our hearts, break open our assumptions, and stretch the boundaries of our compassion. May our lives witness to a world where no one is seen as unworthy of love, and every person is embraced as a neighbor.