One late afternoon while driving along Baler Street, Quezon City, my car's steering wheel wiggled and went out of control. I discovered the right front tire crumpled.

I rushed to change the tire – only to find out that the jack wasn’t working. Desperate, I decided to flag down any coming vehicle for help.

Two cars slowed down but then sped away. I moved to the middle of the road, hoping that the vehicles would stop. True enough, a jeepney came to a halt. After telling the driver about my predicament, he parked at the side, hurriedly brought out a jack and forthwith changed the tire.

When the kind driver was leaving, I rushed to slip some peso bills into his hands. But he brushed them away.

I tried to leave the money on his jeepney’s front seat but again he forced it back. As he sped away, I could only shout, “Brod, maraming salamat kung ganon!” (Thank you then).

That caring, unknown man impressed me. He might have been poor materially but, no doubt, rich at heart.

He exemplified the Good Samaritan about whom Christ extols in this 15th Sunday’s gospel (Lk 10, 25-37).

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The parable of the Good Samaritan teaches that “everyone” in need is our neighbor. It is not just the people we live with or live next door, a friend or a countryman.

Christ who was a Jew makes the hated Samaritan the hero which must have sounded outrageous to his countrymen, especially the religious leaders.

“How can I be a neighbor? We can do it by reaching out to help those in need depending on the kind of help that’s required. An act of mercy could be “non-material” like a compliment or encouragement to someone who’s weighed down with a problem, consoling the sick and grieving family. What you can share may be summed up in the three Ts — Time, Treasure, Talent.

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For those in the government, being a good Samaritan could mean crafting laws and implementing projects that would improve the living condition of the people like providing more jobs and livelihood programs.

* * *

Doing charity is not easy. One time a lady came to me in our St. Jude parish importuning and crying for help. Her young daughter was allegedly dying at the Philippine General Hospital. I was moved by her tearful persistence so I handed her an ample amount. Later I was told by neighbors that she was just making a story, that there was no dying child; that she was a con artist.

I felt so bad and consoled myself, saying, “If she was a con artist, let the money serve as a ‘talent fee!’”

Being charitable, even if you get duped, is more meritorious than being a close-fisted miser. Of course, we should not allow ourselves to be victimized by crooks and scammers.

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Charity had always been the center piece of Jesus’ teachings. In the parable of the Last Judgment, Jesus as judge will say, “When I was hungry you gave me food; thirsty, you gave me to drink…..enter into the Kingdom of heaven” (Mt. 25, 31-46). In essence, this is consistent with his parable of the Good Samaritan.

Charity is not the only requirement though. There’s also the love of God through worship in the Holy Eucharist.

“Go then and do likewise,” Jesus concludes, stressing that action is more important than words.

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A benefactor, Salvador Monroy, once wrote me, “I give because my money did not come from me alone but from God. My life in this world is limited. I have to prepare for the inevitable. I’m doing this by sharing the blessings I received from God.”

How about emulating Mr. Monroy? Donate any amount or sponsor a seminarian's schooling for a school year. Email: [email protected].