So much of our lives revolve around planning for the future: saving for retirement, or college educations, or even that special vacation. We plan for upcoming birthdays and anniversaries, weddings and even holidays. We look forward to the change of seasons and the traditions each season brings with it. We look forward to paying off the mortgage, the car loan and even the credit cards. It seems we always have something that propels us into the future.
    While it can be good to look forward to the future with hope, our first reading today gives us a different perspective. The reading from Deuteronomy reminds us not to lose sight of today in favor of tomorrow. The author tells us that following God and His ways is not just something in the future; it’s not something that is remote and far away, across the sea or up in the sky. But rather it is right here, right now in the present day in which we live. It is where we find ourselves and the opportunities that are presented to us in the normal course of our lives.
    Today’s gospel parable about the Good Samaritan is a great example of that. That man who is the victim of robbers is right there before those who walk by him. It is an opportunity to live out God’s message of loving one’s neighbor in a very concrete way. The example is rather dramatic and obvious for the sake of Jesus’ audience. But the message is clear.
    So today we are encouraged by our scriptures to be observant in our everyday lives. To view our world with eyes of compassion and to observe the many opportunities we have each day to bring God’s loving kindness to those we meet.
    Every one of us can use a smile or a kind word or an encouraging gesture. Let’s do unto others as we would want them to do unto us!