Gospel Lk 10:25-37
There was a scholar of the law who stood up to test Jesus and said,
"Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?"
Jesus said to him, "What is written in the law?
How do you read it?"
He said in reply,
"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."
He replied to him, "You have answered correctly;
do this and you will live."
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
This is a very familiar passage for me, because I remember seeing this quote hanging on a sign in our house for majority of my childhood “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your mind, all your soul and all your strength”. I think this quote really lets us reflect on our relationship with God. These words help us to contemplate on the sincerity of our love for Him. Yes we may say we love Him, but what does that mean, what does that look like? Are we taking time to be with Him? Do we truly give our all to God, seeking to deepen our relationship with Him, or do we sometimes offer only a fraction of our hearts and minds?
Furthermore, I think this passage challenges us to reflect on our attitudes toward others. How do we treat our “neighbor”? Are we like the Good Samaritan or maybe the priest or Levite? In a world of self-interest and hate do we have compassion for those around us and if yes is it authentic? It makes us redefine our understanding of neighborliness and goes beyond the golden rule of treat others the way you want to be treated. Personally, I have always had a love/hate relationship with the story of the Good Samaritan. On one hand I think we would all say that we’d be the Good Samaritan. It is easy to imagine ourselves as the hero of the story…of course we would help someone in dire need. However, how many of us would only help under certain circumstances or conditions? Maybe if we weren’t running late or maybe if it was someone we knew, or maybe we think someone else will step in so we don’t need to. Would we extend the same care if it meant sacrificing our time, convenience, or comfort? Or would we find excuses or rationalize to ourselves that it’s not our responsibility? When I think of the priest and Levite walking past on the opposite side of the road that’s what I imagine them to be thinking. I believe this passage makes us confront the truth of our own limitations and boundaries, and asks us to be better. It really calls us to be selfless, and show others God’s compassion. To offer help unconditionally, and to recognize that our neighbor is everywhere. By doing so, we mirror the boundless compassion of God and contribute to making the world a place where mercy knows no bounds. In essence, the parable invites us to continually strive to "Go and do likewise," ensuring that our actions align with Jesus’s professed values of love, mercy and compassion.
In this way, we mirror the limitless compassion of God, actively working to foster a world where mercy knows no boundaries.
In a world often marked by division and self-interest, these words compel us to reflect on the sincerity of our love for God and the authenticity of our compassion for those around us. Do we truly give our all to God, seeking to deepen our relationship with Him, or do we sometimes offer only a fraction of our hearts and minds? Moreover, in a society where it's easy to overlook the needs of others, this passage calls us to examine how we extend the same love, care, and understanding to our neighbors as we do to ourselves. It makes us redefine our understanding of neighborliness, and commit to acts of mercy and compassion in our daily lives as we seek to fulfill the commandments to love God and neighbor, ultimately aiming for eternal life.
Komentáře