But because he wished to justify
himself, he said to Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?” Jesus 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. A priest happened to be going down
that road, but when he saw him, he passed by on the opposite side. Likewise a
Levite came to the place, and when he saw him, he passed by on the opposite
side.
But a Samaritan traveler who came
upon him was moved with compassion at the sight. He 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.
The 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.’ Which of these three, in your opinion, was neighbor to the robbers’
victim?” He answered, “The one who treated him with mercy.” Jesus said to him,
“Go and do likewise.”
+ + + + + + +
Reflection:
A scholar of the law asked Jesus:
“Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” Jesus told him read what is
written in the law. The scholar said this: “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.” Jesus replied to him, “You have
answered correctly; do this and you will live.”
Then the scholar of the law asked
Jesus who is my neighbor? To drive home His teaching on how to become a good
neighbor Jesus told the man a story pertaining to a man who lays dying by the
roadside.
The first who passed by the dying man
was a priest; being a priest he was expected to embody the teaching of love for
God and neighbor. But he only loved God not his neighbor for he did nothing to
help the dying man. The next one who passed by the dying man was a Levite, a
servant in the temple of God. Unfortunately, he also failed the test of love of
God and neighbor for he also did not mind the dying man.
Then came the Samaritan who
doesn’t serve in the temple of God, yet he showed deep compassion to the dying
man. The Samaritan cleaned the wound of the dying man brought him to a house;
took care of him and ensured that he would fully recover.
Among the three, the Good Samaritan
even if he doesn’t serve God gained favor in the eyes of Jesus for he was
merciful to the dying man. It is very ironic that the priest and levite who
both served God in the temple were lacking in the exercise of their faith. Are
we not also sometimes lacking in the exercise of our faith? Don’t we also
ignore from time to time those who are in need of our help?
Every now and then our faith and love
for God would also be challenged by Jesus through those who are in need of our
help. Let us never turn a blind eye on them or pretend not to see them. Let us
not make an excuse for us not to help, let us help them. Just like
the Good Samaritan who gained favor in the eyes of Jesus.
What do you do when you see someone in need of your help? - Marino J. Dasmarinas
No comments:
Post a Comment