Tony Worner, the Leader of Formation for St Agnes’ Catholic Parish, reads today from the Gospel of Luke (10: 25-37) in which Jesus answers the question, ‘Who is my neighbour?’ by sharing the well-known story of the Good Samarian.

Tony notes in the First Reading that would be read at Mass today (from Jonah, Chapters 1 and 2) that Jonah, the Hebrew, was sent by God to Nineveh, the enemy city of the Gentiles. He was so opposed to helping them that he ran away – actually, sailed away – from his mission. So also, in the Gospel story we’ve just heard.

The priest and Levite fail to assist a Samaritan in his obvious need. How often can we be like these characters? Are there people we feel don’t deserve our kindness? Yet everyone is remembered by God, especially the most lost, sinful, hurt or marginalised. Our living out of the great commandment, to ‘love the Lord your God with all your heart … and your neighbour as yourself’ is not fulfilled in the treatment of our own family, our loved ones or the ‘deserving’. Rather, it becomes true when we reach out to the ‘enemy’ and to the least expected. After all, God’s mission is our mission.

I also want to acknowledge that this story, the story of the Good Samaritan, is at the heart of Catholic Aged and Health Care world-wide. If we had more time to delve into the story, each part of it, in order, relates to:

1. Awareness

2. Compassion

3. Nearness

4. Involvement

5. Commitment and follow up

6. Delegation and Teamwork

Tony invites us to pray that we may be like the Samaritan who sees the plight of his neighbour and responds with kindness and compassion.