Am I a neighbor to myself? Dt 30:10-14; Col 1:15-20; Lk10:25-37 (15 / C)

 

Am I a neighbor to myself?

Dt 30:10-14; Col 1:15-20; Lk10:25-37 (15 / C)

“All of us lived according to our natural desires, and we were naturally bound to suffer God’s wrath” (Divine Office)

 

The Samaritans of the hilly region north of Judea were an outcast group in first-century Palestine. For intermarrying with the occupying Assyrians centuries before, the Jews considered them a mongrel breed. Further, for building their own temple on Mount Gerizim (Jn 4:20-22), they were considered a heretical form of Judaism. The Parable of the Good Samaritan (Lk 10:25-37) is rich in symbolic language that has inspired both theological reflection and spiritual interpretation throughout Christian tradition. Before drawing a lesson from this parable, let us understand the spiritual and theological meanings.  

St. Augustine emphasized that the story of the man attacked by robbers on the road from Jerusalem to Jericho illustrates humanity’s fall from grace, descending from spiritual Jerusalem to Jericho. Jerusalem is a Holy city/Heaven/, and the presence of God. Jericho city, in a valley, is worldly life/spiritual decline. Robbers are sin, Satan, and evil powers that strip humanity of grace. Wounded and left half-dead, injured is Original Sin. Humanity is spiritually alive but wounded and near death. Priest and Levite symbolize the Law and Old Covenant, unable to save humanity completely. Samaritan is an outcast, a rejected one who shows true mercy and compassion. Oil and wine are the healing substances in Sacramental healing and grace. A beast or donkey carrying the man symbolizes the Church carrying the sinner to healing or restoration by Jesus. The innkeeper entrusted with the wounded man is a pastor through the Holy Spirit until Christ returns. St Ambrose interpreted the point of the two denarii payment to the innkeeper as Christ’s gracious Word. And the return of the Samaritan is the second coming of Christ.

The parable reminds us not just of the call to love our neighbor but of Christ’s mercy toward the fallen human race. It calls the Church to continue the work of the Good Samaritan, healing and nurturing the wounded with spiritual care. The Good Samaritan did not base his actions on written law.  He based his actions on the law within his heart, the law of love.  As a young priest, Saint John Paul II developed a style as a confessor and counselor that challenged people to look within themselves.  They had the truth.  They had to recognize it and live it. We know what is right.  We must act on our conscience. In the parable of Good Samaritan, we are presented with a young man who is looking to serve God.  He knows that we need to love the Lord our God with our whole minds, hearts and souls, and love our neighbor as ourselves, but he wants to cover all bases and asks, “Who is my neighbor?”

Saint JP II wrote: “Love is not fulfilling oneself using another, even in a marital bond.  Love is giving oneself to another, for the good of the other, and receiving the other as a gift.” We must (i) help people even when they have brought their trouble to themselves, as the traveler has done. (ii) Any person who is in need is our neighbor. Our help must be as wide as the love of God. (iii) The help must be practical and not consist merely in feeling sorry. Although the Priest and the Levite felt a pang of pity for the wounded did nothing. True compassion must result in deeds. Now, who is my neighbor traveling from Jerusalem to Jericho, sunrise to sunset; heaven to hell?

 

“The Lord is faithful in all his words and loving in all his deeds. Alleluia” (Divine Office)