The Parable of the Good Samaritan

Today's Reflections

 

                               

 

     

The Parable of the Good Samaritan

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Lk 10:25-37

²⁵There was a scholar of the law who stood up to test [Jesus] and said, “Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” ²⁶Jesus said to him, “What is written in the law? How do you read it?” ²⁷He said in reply, “You shall love the Lord, your God, with all your heart, with all your being, with all your strength, and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself.” ²⁸He replied to him, “You have answered correctly; do this and you will live.”

²⁹But because he wished to justify himself, he said to Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?” ³⁰Jesus replied, “A man fell victim to robbers as he went down from Jerusalem to Jericho. They stripped and beat him and went off leaving him half-dead. ³¹A priest happened to be going down that road, but when he saw him, he passed by on the opposite side. ³²Likewise a Levite came to the place, and when he saw him, he passed by on the opposite side. ³³But a Samaritan traveler who came upon him was moved with compassion at the sight. ³⁴He approached the victim, poured oil and wine over his wounds and bandaged them. Then he lifted him up on his own animal, took him to an inn and cared for him. ³⁵The next day he took out two silver coins and gave them to the innkeeper with the instruction, ‘Take care of him. If you spend more than what I have given you, I shall repay you on my way back.’ ³⁶Which of these three, in your opinion, was neighbor to the robbers’ victim?” ³⁷He answered, “The one who treated him with mercy.” Jesus said to him, “Go and do likewise.”

Reflection:

Go and do likewise. The way to life is not primarily through knowing; it is through doing. The scholar of the law knows what he must do to inherit eternal life. He cites the law correctly. But that is not enough. Thus Jesus tells him, “Do this and you will live.” Again, after Jesus gets the scholar of the law to answer which of the three who saw the wounded man was neighbor to the robbers’ victim (“The one who treated him with mercy”), Jesus tells him, “Go and do likewise.”

The deeds that we are asked to do to have life are deeds of compassion and love. Belonging to a chosen people, or having a religious position, does not qualify us for eternal life. What qualifies us is love. It is when we love that we show we know God, for God is love.

The priest and the Levite sidestepped life when they avoided the robbers’ victim. The Samaritan (who did not even belong to the chosen people) found life when he picked up the victim and helped him. When we help those in need, we find eternal life. More important than being religious is having a heart for those in need.

We have a heart for God

if we have a heart for the needy.