“But because he wished to justify himself, he said to Jesus, ‘And who is my neighbor?’” Luke 10:29
“‘There was a rich man who dressed in purple garments and fine linen and dined sumptuously each day. And lying at his door was a poor man named Lazarus, covered with sores, who would gladly have eaten his fill of the scraps that fell from the rich man’s table. Dogs even used to come and lick his sores.’” Luke 16:19-21
“Who is my neighbor?” Jesus answers that question in two parables: the Good Samaritan and the Last Judgment. In both of these timeless stories Jesus teaches us that there is a direct connection between our love of God and love of neighbor. There are times, however, when we do not see the neighbor in our midst who is in need, the neighbor who lives in poverty. Or if we do encounter someone in need, we may not know how best to respond.
The Good News of Jesus Christ, Son of God and Word Made Flesh, invites Christians to see the world in a new way. That challenge has been relevant down through the ages, but today it is urgent. Many of our neighbors, near and far, are crying for help. Poverty remains a reality in our region and in many parts of the world. Those in poverty are our brothers and sisters, our neighbors, trying to get our attention. The Church is especially called upon to recognize our neighbors in need, provide care, and engage the entire community to find solutions that can help them break the cycle of poverty.
Click here to read the Pastoral Letter of the Most Rev. George V. Murry, S.J. on the occasion of national poverty awareness month.