The parable of the Good Samaritan stands tall as this Sunday’s Gospel reading. Earlier this year I gave some talks on this story–one of my favorites–to some parishes around Central Florida. Below are some reflections I wrote for my parish bulletin this week about this tale Jesus presented:
In this week’s Gospel reading, a lawyer questions whether he’s done enough to gain eternal life. To “justify himself” he approaches Jesus, asking him to draw the line designating the minimum love required. Who am I required to help? And how much help is enough?
Our Lord answers him through a story. Jesus introduces a traveler who is mugged on a dangerous road. Two characters then enter the scene, one a Priest and the other a Levite. They each take one look at the bloodied man, pondering whether to help. We can imagine the excuses bubbling up within their minds: “I have places to be, and can’t afford to be interrupted!”, “Whoever attacked him could attack me! It could be dangerous!” and “Helping him could make me unclean, separating me from society. What will others think of me?” The Priest and Levite, undoubtedly moved with pity, choose to keep walking.
Noting the failure of these first two characters, Jesus’ listeners expected a third character—a hero—to provide a grand rescue. Surprisingly, Jesus introduces a Samaritan. Now, “Samaritan” was not a compliment in first-century Jerusalem—it was often used as a vulgar insult. The Jews hated the Samaritans, considering them heretics and outcasts; a “good Samaritan” was an oxymoron. So when Jesus introduces the Samaritan, the listeners assumed he was the villain.
But the Samaritan acts unexpectedly. He sees the traveler and is “moved with compassion”. His compassion is more than mere pity; it is deep, and it leads to action.
After bandaging the traveler’s wounds and lifting him to his feet, the Samaritan escorts him to a hotel. The Samaritan hands the manager fistfuls of money, telling him to spend whatever necessary for the traveler’s recovery.
The story reveals Jesus’ answers to the original questions. Who am I required to help? Anyone who needs your help—with no qualifications. And how much help is enough? Enough help to not only relieve the current pains, but to also treat long-term problems.
Jesus concludes with one of the most challenging commands ever issued to humanity: “Go and do likewise.” Go and help those in need, despite your busyness, despite your fear, despite your social anxiety. Go and have compassion, the deep kind that leads to action. Go and love your neighbor, any neighbor that needs you.
May we each be “moved with compassion”, becoming the unlikely hero of our own tale.