Pakistan is suffering its worst floods for many decades.

Perhaps 20 million people affected – homes, crops, businesses and belongings damaged or destroyed.

Water contamination spreading disease.

The least we can do is to donate to agencies providing relief.

We should give all we can afford – then a bit more.

* * *

Today’s gospel reading in traditional Catholic churches is from St Luke’s gospel, chapter 10:

A lawyer stood up to test Jesus, saying, “Master, what must I do to possess eternal life?”

Jesus said to him: “What is written in the law? What do you read there?” He answered: “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with thy whole heart, soul, strength, and  mind — and thy neighbour as thyself.” Jesus said: “You have answered right: do this and you will live.”  But the lawyer, willing to justify himself, said to Jesus: “And who is my neighbour?”  

Jesus answered: “A man going down from Jerusalem to Jericho fell among robbers, who stripped him, wounded him, and went away, leaving him half dead.

“It chanced that a priest went down the same way, and seeing him, passed by. Also a Levite who saw him passed by.

“But a Samaritan traveller coming near, saw him, and was moved with compassion. He bound up his wounds, pouring in oil and wine, and setting him upon his own animal, brought him to an inn and cared for him. Next day he gave two coins to the host, saying: ‘Take care of him — any more you spend, I will repay you on my return.’

“Which of these three, in your opinion, was neighbour to the man who fell among the robbers?”

 The lawyer said: “He that showed mercy.”

Jesus said to him: “Then you go and do the same.”

* * *

So Christians must be among the first to dig deep.
Catholic relief agency, Caritas Australia, is working with local partners in Pakistan, transporting medical and food supplies, hygiene and shelter kits, plus water-purification tablets. Transport will include rope-pulley systems over swollen rivers, boats, helicopters, donkeys — whatever it takes.

Caritas will continue helping Pakistani communities both during and after the headlines.

Enquiries:  phone 1800 024 413.

To donate online:  www.caritas.org.au/source/Donation/