By Sister Marcella Nachreiner
In Jesus’ parable of the Good Samaritan, a traveler encounters a man beaten by robbers and left for dead by the roadside. Moved with pity, the traveler stops to help, unlike others who had passed by the wounded man.
This is very much a first-century story: The traveler rode a donkey, poured oil and wine on the injured man’s wounds, and paid an innkeeper to care for the man with a handful of coins.
Today’s version would be very different. The traveler might have been whizzing by on a motorcycle and called 911 on his cellphone when he saw the beaten man. The traveler would use his GPS to pinpoint their location and social media to warn others about the dangers along that stretch of road. He might have used a credit card to pay the innkeeper and set up a GoFundMe account to help with the victim’s long-term needs.
Regardless of whether his listeners live in the first century or the 21st, Jesus calls all who follow him to imitate the Good Samaritan and respond with compassion and mercy to the human suffering they encounter along life’s journey.
The parable of the Good Samaritan is a call to action, urging believers to express Christ-like love without self-interest – love extended with compassion and practical help to all, regardless of their background or circumstances.
“Christ has no body but yours,” St. Teresa of Avila writes. “Yours are the eyes with which He looks compassionately on this world… Yours are the hands, yours the feet.”
In this world troubled by violence, hatred, social injustice, economic instability, and environmental risks, it is easy for us to be wrapped up in self-interest. We are always tired, distracted, busy, bored, and caught up in so many things. It is hard to find time and energy to center ourselves on God and others. We need to remind ourselves that we all have the capacity to be transformed as we grow in an unfolding relationship with God into which we are drawn. We have the capacity and can be a collaborator in God’s love.
To be a good Samaritan, Teresa seems to say, is to continue the ministry of Jesus himself. That was true in her day; it is true in ours. It can continue to be true tomorrow – if we trust in God’s transforming grace.
