July 13, 2025.
“So which of these three do you think was neighbor to him who fell among the thieves?” And he said, “He who showed mercy on him.” Then Jesus said to him, “Go and do likewise.” (Luke 10, 29-37)
The parable of the Good Samaritan puts in front of us a classic example of what Jesus considered a good behavior model. This parable also had another lesson, as the protagonist was “Samaritan”, a man from a race that was despicable to those who considered themselves ·the chosen people”. The lesson is simple: it is the “chosen people” only by loving. Love cannot be substituted not even by prayer or the sacraments, when God asks us at a specific time to help our fellowman. Pray, receive communion or go to confession are a manifestation of this love, but cannot be considered the only expressions of this love, especially at the price of forgetting the needs of our fellowman.
There is yet another lesson in this parable, and it is directed to those who analyze their conscience from the point of not committing sins, of not doing wrong. They generally forget that there is a very subtle but frequent sin; that of omission. Neither the priest nor the Pharisee had done anything wrong to the beaten man. However, the Lord gives them as models of behavior for his disciples. He who can do a good deed and doesn’t do it, commits a sin, all the larger as the greater the need for help of the fellow man. Christ doesn’t ask us to solve the problems of the world, but to put our grain of sand, including with effort, so that the problems can be solved. To love, we must not forget, is a commandment, a Christian duty.
Intention: When we see someone who needs help, help them with all our might, without overwhelming ourselves, but realizing that Christ is in our fellowman and waiting for us.