Jesus, the Word made flesh, dwells in our midst.  Through him, God, whom we do not see, draws close to us and makes himself known. 

There seems to be hope for the man the robbers have left on the road to die.  For, by chance, a priest goes down that road.  Yet he does not get close at all to the wounded man; he just walks by on the other side.  Then comes a Levite, and he does as the priest.  So, these men of religion do not show compassion.

But a Samaritan who comes upon the man lying half-dead on the road “has compassion.”  The phrase means he shares Jesus’ or God’s compassion (see Mt 9, 36; 14, 14; Lk 7, 13; 15, 20).  And such suggestion flies in the face of what the teacher of the law thinks of Samaritans:  they are traitors, bad guys, half-pagans, loathsome.

Yet, yes, a Samaritan draws close to the man robbers have beaten close to death.  And he pours oil and wine on his wounds and binds them up.  Then he lifts him up on his own animal, brings him to an inn and takes care of him.  He also gives money for the innkeeper to take care of the robbers’ victim.  He says, too, he will pay more for other needed care expenses when he comes back.  No doubt, no one can show he is neighbor to one close to death better than the Samaritan.

The story, of course, is Jesus’ reply to the teacher of the law’s question, “Who is my neighbor?” For he wants to show that he knows his stuff, that he reads the law right.  He also seems to hold that neighbor means just Jews.  And so, he tests Jesus more to see if he puts limit to the meaning of “neighbor.”

To follow Jesus is to go close to those in need. 

Jesus, of course, has agreed with the teacher of the law on what to do.  “To live,” though, says Jesus, not “to inherit” eternal life.  For eternal life has to do, not with merits, but with grace.

For him, besides, what counts more is not to know who our neighbor is.  It is, rather, to be a neighbor, each one of us, to those who need help. Hence, he does not do away with loving our neighbor; he wants us to fulfill it to its fullest.

And there is a risk that we run as folks who set our sights on the great cause of religion.  That is, we may lose sight of those close to us.  But not to see the hungry we pass by each day; not to smile at a dour man; not to feed the stranger who comes to our doors:  all this means to see hunger, poverty, injustice or discrimination nowhere (Madeleine L’Engle).

So, it is crucial that we leave God for God (SV.EN IX:252).  That we care for one in need who knocks on our doors.  That is where true joy is, in our being neighbors to each other in the kingdom of heaven.  Not in the wonders and signs that just points to the kingdom.

Lord Jesus, there were those who called you a Samaritan.  Teach and help us to be like you and do as the good Samaritan that draws close to one in need and is neighbor to him.  We shall thus be true to your words, “Do this in memory of me.”  No doubt, you will pay in full when you come back.

13 July 2025
15th Sunday in O.T. (C)
Dt 30, 10-14; Col 1, 15-20; Lk 10, 25-37