Have you ever witnessed an act of deep compassion and love by someone who is not Catholic, or even Christian, or doesn’t even attend church? I have – on many occasions. It is both an inspiring and challenging experience. And sometimes, even embarrassing. I attend church regularly, pray daily, read the Scriptures, etc. And yet, sometimes, my acts of love pale in comparison.

Today we read about Ruth, arguably one of the sweetest and most loving stories in the Bible – an act by a Moabite, not a Hebrew woman. She tells her mother-in-law, Naomi, “Do not ask me to abandon or forsake you. For wherever you go, I will go, wherever you lodge, I will lodge, your people will be my people, and your God my God.”

In today’s Gospel, Jesus is “tested” by one of the religious leaders of his community. He asks Jesus, “Which commandment in the law is the greatest?” Jesus tells him to love your God with all your being; and “love your neighbor as yourself.” Jesus ends the exchange with this: “The whole law and the prophets depend on these two commandments.”

In the juxtaposition of these two readings today, I am reminded of the parable of what it means to live this law of love: the story of the despised Samaritan who takes care of the man attacked by thieves and left for dead.

In a world plagued with so much violence, cruelty, and disrespect, there are many acts of generosity and compassion each day – sometimes by those of us who profess to be Catholic. Let us be touched today by our prayer and/or participation in the Eucharist to join our companions of all stripes and colors in making this a better world.

Let Us Pray:

Lord, teach me to be generous, to serve you as you deserve, to give and not to count the cost, to fight and not to heed the wounds, to toil and not to seek for rest, to labor and not to look for any reward, save that of knowing that I do your holy will. (A prayer attributed to Saint Ignatius of Loyola)