Loving Our Neighbor

07-13-2025Weekly ReflectionFr. Bing Colasito

The Gospel this Sunday is famously known as the Parable of the Good Samaritan. The Samaritan saw the wounded stranger and treated him with mercy and compassion. The action of the Samaritan should be a way of life for every disciple, where everyone, especially those in need, is treated with kindness. “If we want others to be happy, practice compassion. If you want to be happy, practice compassion.” Once we overcome our indifference to our neighbor, we come up against another challenge: doing something to help those in need.

Christian activism is doing something for someone, not just empathizing, but doing good work that supports our words. Christianity is praying, but also asking ourselves: Does our faith produce good deeds? Going back to the parable: Do we act as a neighbor who treats a stranger with mercy and compassion, or are we just a passerby? The parable’s message is clear: The true essence of the Law is to love God and neighbor. For Jesus, there is a natural connection between the two – if we love God, then we must love our neighbor. The way to concretize the Love of God is through the love of neighbor - the full expression of our love for God. If we say we love God and do not love our neighbor, then we are lying.

The basis for this kind of love is God's love for us, as shown through His mercy and compassion, even before He created us. In the Parable of the Forgiving Master (Mt. 18:21-35), the king pardoned all the debts of his servant, who could not pay. On the contrary, the forgiven servant showed no mercy for another servant who owed him a much lesser debt. Despite man’s failures, He still reaches out and cares for us. God saves us when we are afflicted and in pain. He causes the hearts of the lowly ones who seek His forgiveness to be joyful. The Lord hears the cry of the poor; blessed be the Lord.

Jesus is the Good Samaritan in the many unknown people who go out of their way to help others in their time of need. He acts with compassion for every soul in need, and He also saves. It is not enough that we know the commandment of love; we need to translate it into mercy and compassion for the poor and the needy. One day, when we face God, He will tell us the people we met who needed help: That was me. Pray to see Jesus in every person that we meet. Pray for the grace to move us into action to help a neighbor in need.

A scholar of the Law asks Jesus how to attain eternal life. Jesus answers not through words but through concrete service. Our prayers, profession of faith, and sacraments are all necessary, but equally important is our love of neighbor through genuine service. There is a saying: They say little who loves much. Those who love their neighbor need not say much, but do it. Let us praise God for the many “hidden figures” who do acts of love without fanfare, without any personal agenda, and without expecting recognition or reward. Lord, remind us that words matter, but love in action matters more.

*Fr. Joy has officially started his ministry at Our Lady of Joy. And now, we welcome Fr. Ricky (Anton) Masdo, who is known and prefers to be called Fr. Anton, who will be a resident priest at St. Rose. Fr. Anton is a full-time chaplain at Americare Hospice and Palliative Care, a Catholic Hospice based in Mesa, AZ, serving the entire Phoenix Valley. He would assist us at weekend Masses and serve as a support priest, especially when I or Fr. Charles would be away for vacations, retreats, or other ongoing priestly formations. —God Bless