How many times have we been just like the priest and the Levite in the Good Samaritan story, passing by someone who is under distress, and/or ignore a brother or sister in dire need? How often are we ourselves put into the position of having some urgent need of support? Now and then, we are assisted by a kind stranger and feel so grateful and wanting to do the same for others. Most likely, we are too busy, too much in a hurry, too scared, too blind or too selfish to do anything for the poor, outcast or marginalized.

Jesus used a "foreigner", a non-Jew, non-believer, to portray kindness and compassion illustrating "love your neighbour"; and praising his action. In the story, priest and Levite missed the target - they say one thing, practise another - stick to the words, but do nothing. Here, we can't help but feel challenged to see ourselves, who pass by or continue on our own way with our own business, ignoring the needy that lie helplessly right next to ourselves.

Kindness and compassion are free gifts from the Lord. Jesus gave us the golden rule to love God above all, and love our neighbour as ourselves. Putting down our business or letting go of our self-centeredness, and asking "What pleases the Lord?" or, "What would Jesus do" may help us to put love in action. "Do unto others as one would others do unto oneself" is always the best policy.