The Good Samaritan
JESUS MAFA, 1973

My dear friends,

Today, we gather to consider the wisdom of the parable of the Good Samaritan, as told in Luke 10:25-37. Just as a river flows tirelessly, so too does the river of knowledge flow through different cultures and traditions, nourishing the hearts of humanity.

In this parable, we encounter a lawyer, a learned individual, who approaches Jesus with a question that resonates with the fundamental quest of all human beings: "What must I do to inherit eternal life?" This question reflects the universal longing for meaning, purpose, and transcendence.

Jesus, in his characteristic wisdom, responds by turning the question back to the lawyer, inviting him to reflect upon the teachings already inscribed in the law. The lawyer replies with the essence of love – the commandment to love God with all one's being and to love one's neighbor as oneself. In these words, we find a profound interconnectedness between our relationship with the divine and our relationship with fellow beings.

As the story unfolds, we meet a traveler who becomes a victim of cruelty and violence. He lies battered and helpless, left by the wayside. In the face of suffering, we are reminded of the stark reality that life can be marked by challenges and hardships. The priest and the Levite, symbolizing the pious and the knowledgeable, cross the wounded traveler's path but choose to pass by on the other side. Their actions, or rather inactions, ask us to contemplate the moments when we turn away from the suffering of others, perhaps due to our own preoccupations or prejudices.

And then, enter the Samaritan – an unexpected hero who defies the boundaries of division and prejudice. The Samaritan, a member of a marginalized and despised community, chooses compassion over judgment. This act of compassion serves as a mirror for us, revealing the potential for kindness and empathy within every human heart, regardless of background or identity.

The Samaritan binds the traveler's wounds, offering oil and wine – symbols of healing and renewal. He carries the wounded on his own beast, demonstrating a willingness to share the burden of pain. He provides for the traveler's needs and promises to return for further care. This tale teaches us that compassion is not only an immediate response but a sustained commitment to the well-being of others.

Upon completion of the parable, Jesus poses a question that reverberates through the ages: "Which of these three, do you think, was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of the robbers?" The lawyer responds with humility, acknowledging the one who showed mercy as the true neighbor. And so, Jesus bestows upon us the timeless directive: "Go and do likewise."

Dear friends, the heart of this parable speaks to our innate ability to choose love over fear, compassion over indifference, and unity over division. Just as a flower blossoms in response to sunlight, so too can our hearts bloom through acts of loving-kindness. The parable of the Good Samaritan transcends time and culture, resonating with the essence of compassion that unites all of humanity.

May we, in our journey through life, draw wisdom from these teachings. Let us embrace the call to be Good Samaritans in our own lives – extending our hands in support, our hearts in empathy, and our actions in loving-kindness. In doing so, we uphold the interconnectedness that binds us all, and in this interconnectedness, we find the path to the eternal life of compassion and wisdom.

May compassion guide us, and may our actions echo the words of Jesus: "Go and do likewise."