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Scripture for Sunday, February 5:
The Good Samaritan (Lk 10:29b-37)
Whenever I read the story of the Good Samaritan, I can't help but feel sympathetic toward the expert in the law whose question prompts Jesus' story.
Luke's account tells us that the expert in the law wants to "justify himself," so he asks Jesus, "And who is my neighbor?" Who am I really responsible to love the way I love myself?
It's a good question. Other Jews of Jesus time may have been thinking to themselves of the book of Sirach, a collection of Jewish wisdom that advised "Do good to the devout, but do not help the sinner." (Sir. 12:4).
Who will Jesus say his followers are really responsible to love sacrificially?
Jesus' story explodes all the preconceived categories.
The man who falls into the hands of robbers is unidentifiable other than the fact that he is human. We don't know if he is a Jew or a Roman or a Samaritan. All we know is he is human, and he needs help.
The priest and the Levite are the characters most likely to help in the minds of Jesus' hearers. But they don't stop, not that we blame them: That Jericho road is dangerous, obviously. Who knows if the thieves are still lurking?
And the injured man may even be dead. If the priest and the Levite became unclean by touching a dead body, they would become unclean. They'd have to take some time off work for a while. It would be inconvenient--maybe even a tad irresponsible--for them to stop and help.
So the characters most most likely to help don't.
But the Samaritan--ah. Now Jesus' hearers are on the edge of their seats. Jesus' word order highlights the unusual role the hated Samaritan will play. The Samaritan! stops when he sees the man. He carries out six specific acts of compassion:
1) He gets close enough to touch the man
2) He bandages his wounds, cleans him up; gives him the Neosporin of his time
3) He puts him on his own donkey, risking travel delay and his own safety. (When was the last time you put an unknown, injured person in the backseat of your car to get them help?!)
4) He takes him to an inn
5) He takes care of him
6) He gives the innkeeper plenty of money to take care of the man until he returns
The hated Samaritan helps. Extravagantly.
The hated Samaritan is the model neighbor.
"Who is the neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?" Jesus asks.
The expert in the law can't even bring himself to identify the character by name: "The one who had mercy on him."
And Jesus tells him, "Go and do likewise."
Reflect:
1) What character in Jesus' story do you identify with most? Why?
2) Either from your own life or from a story you have heard, identify someone who has shown the kind of tangible compassion of the Samaritan to others. What impact does that compassion have on you?
3) In what ways is it easy or hard for you to offer tangible compassion to others? Are there people you find it easier or harder to serve? Pray about what you discover through reflection.
