Treat Him/Her With Mercy October 9

“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.” (Luke 10:36-37)

Piety

Oh my God of all beauty and life. Oh my brother Jesus who forgave my sins on the cross. May those who today are hungry, lonely, in despair, afraid, wounded, and disrespected know that you are there with them surrounding them with your unequaled and unqualified love. Help me remember throughout the day that I am their sister/brother in you. May I be grateful and mindful of the many blessings of my life. May I offer my blessings for their healing and comfort. May I approach everyone I meet today as my sister or brother, beloved by You.

http://www.usccb.org/nab/100906.shtml

Study

My heart is so moved with the parable today. In light of the killings of 6 innocent girls last week, other school shootings and misery worldwide. But also I grieve over the “killing” of the Pennsylvania gunman’s family; they were innocent but are now lost in the confusion and despair of what their father / husband did.

Are we neighbors of Iraqi citizens who executed daily by insurgents and who are boxed in at gunpoint by American soldiers? Are we neighbors of the poor in Darfur who are day after day set upon by robbers and rapists? Are we neighbors of the homeless sleeping in parks in Fairfax or the streets of DC? Are we neighbors of Hispanic immigrants, Catholic as we are who are barely welcomed into our churches because we do not speak their language or honor their traditions?

Think about the parable: All we know of the victim in Jesus’ story is that he was attacked. We don’t know that he might have been a sheep rustler or a ne’er do well who sponged off society. On the other hand he might have been a law-abiding land owner. And all we know of the Samaritan is that he was of a people considered enemies by the Jews. He could have been a slave trader or perhaps an honest merchant.

Jesus doesn’t tell us the details because they aren’t important. Jesus says that THEY are our neighbors. No matter WHOM we think they are.

Paul tells the Galatians: if anyone preaches to you a gospel other than the one that you received, let that one be accursed! (Gal 1:9) Are our modern attitudes and understanding of other people a gospel other than the one Jesus gave to us?

The Lord will remember his covenant forever…(Ps 111:9) In spite of our cruelty, indifference, our lack of neighborliness, God’s covenant, Jesus Christ, is there for us forever. Because he promised. Jesus, who suffers with victims of violence, neglect, poverty, dispossession, is there for us and with us. We can choose to turn our back on his promise by passing by on the opposite side of the road from our neighbor.

Action

Take some time to look again into issues of gun violence, the war, Darfur – or other areas which you feel that you need new awareness. What is your response as a neighbor?

http://www.usccb.org/sdwp/international/iraq0406.htm
http://www.pulitzercenter.org/Darfur.htm?gclid=CLSMsefF6YcCFQEHGgodAxCigQ
http://www.genocideintervention.net/index.php
http://www.s-a-l-t.org/homeless.html
http://www.arlingtondiocese.org/Spanish%20Apostolate/contacto.html
http://www.nccbuscc.org/hispanicaffairs/demo.shtml
http://www.justfacts.com/gun_control.htm
http://www.bradycampaign.org/

DeColores

Beth DeCristofaro