“And who is my neighbor?”

Today, on the Memorial of Saint Faustina Kowalska, the Gospel asks us a fundamental question: “And who is my neighbor?” Jesus answers not by giving us a list of people we must love, but by showing us what it means to become a neighbor through the parable of the Good Samaritan. The Samaritan saw a wounded man whom others had ignored. He did not ask who the man was, whether he belonged to his community, or whether he deserved his help. He was moved with compassion, drew near, cared for his wounds, and took responsibility for him. Jesus therefore turns the question around: the issue is not simply “Who is my neighbor?” but “Whose neighbor am I willing to be?” This is at the heart of Saint Faustina's message of Divine Mercy. She reminds us that God's mercy is not merely something we receive; it is something we must extend to others. We cannot truly encounter the merciful Christ and remain indifferent to those who are suffering. Saint Paul reminds us today that the Gospel is not something we change to please people. The Gospel calls us beyond comfort and self-interest into the demanding love of Christ. There are wounded people all around us—people carrying grief, loneliness, poverty, rejection, fear, and spiritual pain. Sometimes their wounds are visible; often they are hidden. We may not be able to solve every problem, but we can offer what we have: a listening ear, a kind word, forgiveness, a prayer, our time, or practical assistance. Like the Samaritan, we are called to allow another person's suffering to interrupt our plans and awaken our compassion. Jesus concludes: “Go and do likewise.” May Saint Faustina teach us to see others with the eyes of Divine Mercy and to make God's love visible through our lives.