Who is my neighbour........

It was the 9th of December 1979. The 10.00 am Mass had ended and the Silver Jubilee celebrations of the Parish Priest was in progress, as he trudged home.

In the Gospel of Luke, the parable is introduced by a question, known as the Great Commandment: Behold a certain lawyer stood up and tested him saying,
"Teacher, What shall I do to inherit Eternal Life ?" 

No sooner had he relaxed with the Sunday Times, his Grandma, asked him to fetch a Priest. "Can you Not see your Mother breathing her Last,"she admonished him.

He said to him, "What is written in the Law? How do you read it?" 

He rushed in a frenzy, running through the by-lanes, barefoot, half clothed.

He answered, "You shall Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength, with all your mind, [ Deuteronomy 6:5]; and your neighbour as yourself. [Leviticus 19:18]

It was when he got to the church, it dawned on him, that all were at the celebrations.

He said to him, "You have answered correctly. Do this, and you will live."

The church doors were open as he stood there and wept. How helpless and lonely he felt. 

But he, desiring to justify himself, asked Jesus,"Who is my neighbour ?" - Luke 10:25-29 

That was when an old friend, a discard of society walked up to him, and wanted to know the reason he was weeping.

Jesus replies with a story:       

Jesus answered, "A certain man was going down, from Jerusalem to Jericho, and he fell among robbers, who both stripped him and beat him, and departed, leaving him half dead. 

Francis, he cried, " My mother is dying and I need a Priest for the Final Blessing." He said,

By chance a certain priest was going down that way.When he saw him he passed by on the other side. 

"I ran up the building, and met Fr X, who said the place where I lived was under the care of Fr Y." 

In the same way a Levite also, when he came to the place, and saw him, passed by on the other side.

"I then met another priest, who had to rush for a house party as a guest. That's why I am crying." 

But a certain Samaritan, as he travelled, came where he was.

Francis said, "Raj, go up to the celebrations, and you will find someone to help." Taking courage Raj climbed the Three floors, and stood at the gates of the Auditorium. It was there he made eye contact with Dr Joyce. She saw him in a dishevelled state and wanted to know why. He cried Dr. my mother is dying, and I cannot find a priest. "Doesn't matter," she said "I will come. Your mother needs me more." 

When he saw him, he was moved with compassion, came to him, and bound up his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. He set him on his own animal, and brought him to an Inn, and took care of him. 

Hardly had she stepped out of the Auditorium, others of the Hi-Fly society followed her. On the way down, Raj ran into the same priest. Hey Doc, "Party Over". "No, she shot back. Raj's mother is critical, and needs me." 

On the next day, when he departed, he took out Two Denarii, and gave them to the Host, and said to him, "Take care of him. Whatever you spend beyond that, I will repay you when I return.

No sooner had she said this, the priest ran ahead of her, and rushed to the house. When the Dr got home, his mother was declared dead. The priest tapped his shoulder and said, "Thank God I got on time. I did give her the final blessing."  

"Now which of these Three do you think seemed to be a neighbour to him who fell among the robbers?"  He said, "He who showed Mercy on him.

"Then Jesus said to him, "Go and Do likewise."