The Good Samaritan
Luke 10:30-37 (WEB)
Jesus answered, “A certain man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and he fell among robbers, who both stripped him and beat him, and departed, leaving him half dead. By chance a certain priest was going down that way. When he saw him, he passed by on the other side. In the same way a Levite also, when he came to the place, and saw him, passed by on the other side. But a certain Samaritan, as he traveled, came where he was. When he saw him, he was moved with compassion, came to him, and bound up his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. He set him on his own animal, and brought him to an inn, and took care of him. On the next day, when he departed, he took out two denarii, and gave them to the host, and said to him, ‘Take care of him. Whatever you spend beyond that, I will repay you when I return.’ Now which of these three do you think seemed to be a neighbor to him who fell among the robbers?” He said, “He who showed mercy on him.” Then Jesus said to him, “Go and do likewise.”
Reflection
Who is my neighbour? A story that answers it. This is one of the most loved passages in Scripture, and it still speaks powerfully to the theme of compassion. The story answers the question "who is my neighbour?" by refusing to answer it the way we want. The neighbour is not defined by who is near us or like us, but by whoever is in need and within our reach. Compassion crosses the road rather than passing by. Who is the person you are tempted to walk past this week — the inconvenient need, the one who is not "your problem"? Compassion is love that stops. Let someone's need interrupt your schedule today. Read Luke 10:30-37 again slowly, and let it shape how you live today — in your family, your work, and your church community. A prayer: Lord, open my eyes to the people I would rather not see, and give me a heart that stops. Make me a neighbour to whoever needs me, not only to those who are easy to love. Amen.