And who is my neighbor?

    "And who is my neighbor?" asks a lawyer of Jesus, in this Sunday's gospel (Luke 10:25-37).The lawyer sought not to deepen his understanding of mercy but to justify himself. Regardless of his motive, however, Jesus lets him know, in no uncertain terms, who the neighbor is. The neighbor is the one right on my path: the family member, the person in the check-out line, the co-worker. We do not need to look far to know whom we are called to love. "Love the one you're with", folk-rocker Stephen Stills wrote and sang back in 1970. St. Thomas (back in the mid-13th century!) says that, "in matters concerning relations between citizens,we should prefer our fellow-citizens". In other words, well-ordered charity begins at home. And, of course, "at home", those most vulnerable beckon our love in a special way.  
 
   Jesus gives us the love with which we can love all those whom He brings across our path-including people with whom we have little in common, people whom we find annoying, people even who have hurt us. Divine love, an unconditional, liberating gift is offered to us at every moment, and, in a special way, in the Eucharist. Do we ask? Do we receive?
 
Yours in Christ,
 
Fr. Dominique
Priest-in-Charge