SUNDAY, FIFTEENTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME
Dt 30: 10-14 Ps 69 Col 1: 15-20 Lk 10: 25-37
THE GOLDEN RULE
In his first letter, John says: “If someone says, ‘I love God,’ but hates his brother, he is a liar; for whoever does not love his brother whom he has seen cannot love God whom he has not seen” (1 John 4:20). This highlights a central tenet of Christian faith: love for God is inseparable from love for others. On the eve of His crucifixion, Jesus reinforced this truth with a new commandment to His disciples: “Love one another as I have loved you” (John 15:12). This call to love is a divine mandate, rooted in the sacrificial love Christ modelled on the cross.
The Golden Rule, articulated in today’s Gospel as “Love your neighbour as yourself,” is a principle that resonates far beyond Christianity. It is a universal ethic, found in some form in every major religion and culture, reflecting a shared human aspiration for compassion and mutual respect. Consider the following expressions of this principle across traditions:
- Judaism: “What is hateful to you, do not do to your fellow man. That is the law; all the rest is commentary” (Hillel, Talmud, Shabbat 31a).
- Islam: “No one of you is a believer until he desires for his brother what he desires for himself” (Hadith, Sahih al Bukhari).
- Hinduism: “This is the sum of duty: do nothing to others that would cause you pain if done to you” (Mahabharata 5:1517).
- Buddhism: “Hurt not others in ways that you yourself would find hurtful” (Udana-Varga 5:18).
- Confucianism: “Do not do to others what you would not have them do to you” (Analects 15:24).
While the wording varies, the essence of the Golden Rule remains consistent: treat others with the same dignity, care, and respect you seek for yourself. Yet, its application depends on how one understands the word “neighbour.” Jesus responds to the lawyer’s question with the parable of the Good Samaritan. Jesus’ choice of a Samaritan as the hero is deliberate, shattering the cultural and religious boundaries that defined “neighbour” in His time. Definitions of “neighbour” varied widely then, as they do now:
- Essenes of Qumran: Neighbours were only those who shared their strict religious beliefs, excluding outsiders.
- Zealots: Neighbours were limited to those of the same nationality and ethnicity, bound by tribal loyalty.
- Average Jew: Neighbours included fellow Jews in good standing; Samaritans and other outcasts were excluded.
For Jesus, the definition is radically inclusive: a neighbour is anyone in need, regardless of race, religion, or status—or anyone who steps forward to help those in distress. The Samaritan’s actions embody mercy, transcending prejudice and fear to meet the immediate need before him.
Jesus is the ultimate Good Samaritan, with humanity as the wounded victim lying by the roadside of sin and suffering. Through His life, death, and resurrection, Christ binds our wounds, restores our dignity, and offers us salvation. Yet, He also calls each of us to emulate the Good Samaritan. At any moment, God may place us in a “Good Samaritan situation” – a beggar at our gate, a stranger at our car window, a colleague in distress, or a family member in need. Living as a Good Samaritan is not always convenient or comfortable. It may require us to step out of our routines, confront our biases, or sacrifice our resources. Yet, it is in these acts of self-giving love that we most closely resemble Christ. The parable invites us to see every person as an opportunity to reflect God’s love. In a world wounded by division and indifference, the call to be a Good Samaritan is more urgent than ever. Let us heed the Lord’s command to “go and do likewise,” trusting that through our love for our neighbours, we draw closer to the heart of God.
Response: You who are poor, seek God, and your hearts will revive.
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