In Vietnamese culture, there is a common saying: “Bán anh em xa, mua láng giềng gần.” Translated literally, it means: “Sell your far-away siblings and buy nearby neighbors.” This saying likely stems from the wisdom found in Proverbs 27:10: “Do not forsake your friend or the friend of your parent… better is a neighbour who is nearby than kindred who are far away.”
This proverb emphasizes the importance of having neighbours who are close by and able to offer help in times of urgent need. Their assistance, support and comfort often come more quickly than that of distant relatives, despite the natural bonds of family love.
Neighbours are not only important for our benefit but also for theirs. The parable of the Good Samaritan, which Jesus told to a lawyer, helps us understand what it truly means to be a neighbour. According to the lawyer’s response, being a neighbour is not defined by geographical proximity, race, age, gender or education. Instead, it depends on one’s willingness to go out of their way to offer care, bring hope, and provide liberation.
We may not often encounter situations like the one in the Good Samaritan story, where someone is beaten and left half-dead on the side of the road, but that does not mean we don’t see people around us in desperate need of hope and help in today’s world.
As I reflected on this, the message of Pope Leo for the 5th World Day for Grandparents and the Elderly in 2025 came to mind. He highlights the significance of the presence and wisdom of elderly people in our communities, while also pointing out that many of them suffer from loneliness and abandonment. Too often, they are surrounded by “barriers of indifference,” built by younger generations who have grown “too accustomed to allowing the significant and enriching role of the elderly to be marginalized and forgotten.”
The Pope calls on us to become “protagonists” or, in gospel terms, “Good Samaritans”, by leading a “‘revolution’ of gratitude and care.” This involves regular visits, forming support networks, praying for and with the elderly, and nurturing relationships that restore dignity and bring hope.
Ultimately, Pope Leo emphasizes the mutual benefits of intergenerational relationships.
“If it is true that the weakness of the elderly needs the strength of the young, it is equally true that the inexperience of the young needs the witness of the elderly in order to build the future with wisdom.”
No matter what age we are, we all have something to offer. The example set by Pope Francis during his hospitalization speaks volumes:
“Our bodies are weak, but even so, nothing can prevent us from loving, praying, giving ourselves, being there for one another in faith, as shining signs of hope.”
The words of Jesus in the gospel reminds us that by offering care and hope in times of need, we gain not only the blessings of this life through shared wisdom and experience, but also the promise of eternal life.
Fr Sang Ho
19 Brenbeal Street, Balwyn VIC 3103
Telephone: 03 9816 9291
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Margaret Mary says:
Loved this reflection, Sang! Especially the way you used the Vietnamese saying to advantage. The Good Samaritan is such a familiar story but always has something to teach us. Keep up the good work!