Lord, help me to reach out to outsiders and strangers
15th Week in Ordinary Time : Sunday 13th July 2025
Deut 30:10-14; Ps 68 (69):14, 17, 30-31,
33-34, 36-37 (or 18:8-11);
Col 1:15-20; Lk 10:25-37 (Ps Wk III)
The law of the Lord is not beyond our strength or beyond our reach. In other words, obeying the commands of the Lord is doable. What are the commands of the Lord? It is to be kind, compassionate, generous, and open to the needs of others, especially those in trouble, like the man who fell into the hands of the brigands. As Jesus mentions in the parable of the Good Samaritan, these are the neighbours whom we must help.
When we help them, we are actually helping Jesus. For Jesus is the image of the unseen God according to St Paul (Col 1:15). Even the Hebrew scriptures talk about hospitality to God – when we welcome strangers, we are unwittingly welcoming God and His angels. “Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for thereby some have entertained angels unawares” (Heb 13:2 referring to Gen 18). The concept of neighbour is broadened to include strangers. Hospitality requires humility in reaching out to those whom we do not know or associate with. Our general perception of ‘welcoming the stranger’ is very challenging for most of us. We prefer to help those who are close to us, or those who can reciprocate our assistance.
Therefore, it is good to reflect on this command of Jesus to reach out to outsiders and strangers. Is this law of the Lord doable? Is it beyond our strength or our reach?
O Lord, foster in me that helping the poor is doable and my consumption of goods be modest.
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