Go and do likewise

And behold, a certain lawyer stood up and tested Him, saying, "Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?" He said to him, "What is written in the law? What is your reading of it?" So he answered and said, "'You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength, and with all your mind,' and 'your neighbor as yourself.'" And He said to him, "You have answered rightly; do this and you will live." But he, wanting to justify himself, said to Jesus, "And who is my neighbor?" Then Jesus answered and said, "A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among thieves, who stripped him of his clothing, wounded him, and departed, leaving him half dead. Now by chance a certain priest came down that road. And when he saw him, he passed by on the other side. Likewise a Levite, when he arrived at the place, came and looked, and passed by on the other side. But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was. And when he saw him, he had compassion. So he went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine; and he set him on his own animal, brought him to an inn, and took care of him. On the next day, when he departed, he took out two denarii, gave them to the innkeeper, and said to him, 'Take care of him; and whatever more you spend, when I come again, I will repay you.' So which of these three do you think was neighbor to him who fell among the thieves?" And he said, "He who showed mercy on him." Then Jesus said to him, "Go and do likewise."

- Luke 10:25-37

In yesterday's reading, we read of the seventy who returned successfully from their mission. This is the second mission, as reported in the Gospel of Luke, on which Jesus' apostles have been sent (after that of the Twelve). They rejoice in the power they have even over demons, and Jesus said, "I saw Satan fall like lightning." But they are told they must rejoice not because of this power but that their names are written in heaven. Jesus declares that the wise and prudent have sought to know what they know, but gives thanks to the Father that it has instead been revealed to babes. He says that prophets and kings have desired yet did not see what they see and hear what they hear, and in this they are blessed. See Rejoice because your names are written in heaven.

And behold, a certain lawyer stood up and tested Him, saying, "Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?" He said to him, "What is written in the law? What is your reading of it?" So he answered and said, "'You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength, and with all your mind,' and 'your neighbor as yourself.'" And He said to him, "You have answered rightly; do this and you will live." My study bible says: "What shall I do to inherit eternal life? This is a momentous question for every person. The answer of Jesus is to love God above all else, and to love one's neighbor (v. 27)." The lawyer is quoting passages from Deut. 6:5 and Lev. 19:18.

But he, wanting to justify himself, said to Jesus, "And who is my neighbor?" The lawyer's question leads us to the parable of the Good Samaritan, which is found only in Luke's Gospel.

Then Jesus answered and said, "A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among thieves, who stripped him of his clothing, wounded him, and departed, leaving him half dead. Now by chance a certain priest came down that road. And when he saw him, he passed by on the other side. Likewise a Levite, when he arrived at the place, came and looked, and passed by on the other side. But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was. And when he saw him, he had compassion. So he went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine; and he set him on his own animal, brought him to an inn, and took care of him. On the next day, when he departed, he took out two denarii, gave them to the innkeeper, and said to him, 'Take care of him; and whatever more you spend, when I come again, I will repay you.' So which of these three do you think was neighbor to him who fell among the thieves?" And he said, "He who showed mercy on him." Then Jesus said to him, "Go and do likewise." My study bible points out that this parable illustrates Jesus' teaching of who our neighbor is: "anyone in immediate need, even a supposed enemy. Symbolically, the Good Samaritan is Christ Himself, the wounded man is humanity set upon by demons, and the inn is the Church. Love for neighbor proves our love for God." A Levite is an official helper in the temple, and in that sense is related to the priest who also avoids the man. Fear of defilement by contact with a possibly dead body may have been a concern - but that's more an excuse the way that this story is told, and in this case such a law didn't necessarily apply. My study bible notes that "the Samaritan, a presumed enemy of Jews, is highlighted as the good neighbor because of his loving actions toward the wounded Jew ignored by fellow Jews."

We notice that the Samaritan didn't simply help the man, but went out of his way to make certain that he was fully cared for - the way you or I would wish to be cared for in the same situation. He took whatever responsibility that he could in his situation. And there is another subtlety here: even if he could not remain with the man, he paid the innkeeper to care for him and promised further payment if necessary. I think this story is perfectly illustrative of our ability to help when need comes our way. Even if we can't do it all ourselves, we can find a way to help. I like that my study bible points out that love for neighbor proves our love for God. I do not read this parable as asking us to go beyond what we are capable of doing - the payment to the innkeeper is a wonderfully subtle touch to the story. The Samaritan continues on his way, on his business. But there is more: there is a sense that God places those "near" us (as "neighbors") and in need so that we make a choice. We're not asked to disrupt our lives unnecessarily, but the practice of mercy in some form is always possible. We simply need to take the opportunity, to make that choice. Of course, it is the Samaritan who creates "neighborhood" here, by acting as a neighbor. Have you found situations that need your touch of mercy? Do they come your way in a moment or two in your day, in your life? How does a healing touch, a kind word, an instant of prayer help you to be a neighbor? Remember that we prove our love for God by practicing such kindness, and taking the extra time to let someone know we care. It doesn't have to take us far out of our way or too much of our time. It doesn't have to throw our lives out of balance or off-track. It's the mercy that counts, the love we are willing to give, a moment - or a day - in which we are willing to treat someone else as we'd like to be treated ourselves, or we hope our loved ones would be treated by another in the same situation. But we do what counts and what's needed. It doesn't have to be wildly heroic, but a tender mercy, a kindness, compassion that makes all the difference. Many early Church Fathers read this parable as an allegory (as in the note, above). One thing is clear: that to have compassion, to practice kindness, love and mercy is to heal - to heal others, and our world through right relatedness. Like Him, we can go and do likewise.