Jesus uses the well-known story of the “Good Samaritan” to illustrate how our acts of mercy show the strength of our Faith. When we reach out with our whole hearts and mind and soul, we reflect God’s presence within us. It is this presence that makes us neighbors to each other. Loving God and our neighbor is the fruit of eternal life.

The Gospel reading for this Sunday begins by saying, “There was a scholar of the law who stood up to test Jesus and said, "Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?"

As Christians, there’ll be people who will test our faith in Jesus. We must show mercy. Our relationship with God and our neighbor forms our identity.
 
The scholar asked Jesus the essential question of this Gospel, “And who is my neighbor?” In sharing today’s parable, Jesus wants us to know that we are all neighbors to each other. We all are in need. We are all bigger than our circumstances. This is a story of God’s mercy that is renewed each day and gives us the strength to encounter the Lord through our acts of mercy. 

Christianity is not a private religion that is only about me and God. It is about how through mercy we live this relationship with those most in need. The reality is that sometimes we just don’t want to be bothered. However, no matter how difficult it might be we must walk by faith and not by sight.  When we think about God’s mercy to us, and what God has done for us, we can’t help but want to show mercy to those around us especially those in need.