Not everyone who hears the call of God is happy about it or eager to obey. Jonah ran the other way – he got out of town, boarding a ship headed far away. But God is not mocked, and Jonah was soon tracked down by the Lord and treated to a raging storm. The ship was in danger of sinking, so at Jonah's urging, the sailors tossed him over the side in order to calm the storm. It worked; but Jonah was swallowed by a huge fish and spent three days and nights in its belly. God is patient but relentless – He never gives up on us, and we can only run for so long. But there is really nothing to fear – God is always with us and for us.

In answer to the question, "And who is my neighbor?" Jesus replied with a parable. Everyone passed by the man beaten and left for dead by the side of the road, including a priest and a Levite, who were religious figures. The one stopping to aid the man was a Samaritan – a hated outsider. The Samaritan spent time, energy, and money on the man in distress. Jesus asked the crowd who was a neighbor to the man in need, and they answered, ‘The one who showed him mercy.' Jesus replied: Go and do likewise! Our neighbor is any other human being in need. Compassion and mercy are not optional – they define who we are before God.