How can I be a neighbor

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.

- FR. BEL SAN LUIS, SVD

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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