How children really learn who their neighbor is

Readings for the 30th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year A

Recently, I was on a shuttle bus at the airport, going from terminal to terminal. As the shuttle driver drove, he announced the names of the airlines at the upcoming terminal. In the back of the shuttle, I sat across from a father who was with his wife and two adolescent daughters. I was shocked when the father began making fun of the driver’s heavy accent. One daughter turned to the father and said, “Daddy, you’re funny!”

I couldn’t believe this was happening, but I was too embarrassed and scared to say anything about it. I simply stared in anger at the father and his watchful daughter.

Around the world and close to home, our news is filled with the plight of refugees and the growing public discrimination against migrants, immigrants, and foreigners. We hear calls for their exclusion all around us, in either outright prejudice or small acts of contempt. As Christians, our path and response are clear: “You shall not molest or oppress an alien.” “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” We cannot say that we love God with all our heart if we wrong our neighbor with our words and deeds. Let us love God truly, for our children are watching, learning, and imitating us.

This post was first published on the planner page for the 30th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year A, in “GIA Quarterly: A Liturgical Music Journal,” Vol 28, No 3.

Image credit: Cristina Gottardi, unsplash, CC0.