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Deuteronomy 22 (ESV)

 

22 “You shall not see your brother’s ox or his sheep going astray and ignore them. You shall take them back to your brother. 2 And if he does not live near you and you do not know who he is, you shall bring it home to your house, and it shall stay with you until your brother seeks it. Then you shall restore it to him. 3 And you shall do the same with his donkey or with his garment, or with any lost thing of your brother’s, which he loses and you find; you may not ignore it. 4 You shall not see your brother’s donkey or his ox fallen down by the way and ignore them. You shall help him to lift them up again.

8 “When you build a new house, you shall make a parapet for your roof, that you may not bring the guilt of blood upon your house, if anyone should fall from it.

 

 

REFLECTION:

A person who finds another’s lost property is obliged to return it or care for it until the owner can be found.  In Ex 23:4-5, the obligation to help is extended to enemies.

Jesus applied this principle to answer an “expert in the Law” who challenged him to define the “neighbor” that Old Testament Law requires a person to love as himself.  In his story of the Good Samaritan, Jesus showed that our “neighbor” is anyone in need whom we have the ability to help.

 

PRAYER:

Who is my neighbour?  When and what have I showed my obligation to help to him/her?

What is one thing I can do this week to actively promote the welfare of this person?

Tell it to God and ask him to help me actually carry it out this week.  Be prepared to share with someone or in the cell.