This very famous Gospel opens with this scene; A scholar of the law stood up to test Jesus and said, "Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life? Jesus said to him, "What is written in the law? How do you read it? And the lawyer answered:

Jesus answered him, "You have answered correctly; do this and you will live."

But the lawyer, wishing to justify himself, says to Jesus,

Jesus replied with the parable of the Good Samaritan, the beautiful story about a stranger who helps another stranger, asking for nothing in return. … Jesus then asks the lawyer, "In your opinion, which one of the three that saw him was neighbor to the robbers' victim?" The lawyer answered, "The one who treated him with mercy." Jesus says to him, "Go and do likewise."

Moses, in the first reading from Deuteronomy, "If only you would heed the voice of God, with all your heart and all your soul; it is already in your mouths and in your hearts; you have only to carry it out!"

Let us pray:
Dear Jesus, never let us hide behind the question, Who is my neighbor? Give us the grace to see beyond our fears and prejudices and to be free to respond to the needs of others. We need your love and grace in our hearts, to love You, our neighbor, and ourselves. Amen.

Julia O'Brien, OP