The Good Samaritan
Have you ever come across a homeless person and just passed them by?
Have you ever heard a plea for help on TV or through the mail and just decided to pass this time?
Have you ever gotten tired of hearing the same old sob story for assistance from a friend or relative and this time said, “I can’t help.”
I have often struggled with an adequate answer to these situations. Apparently, the lawyer in today’s gospel also had some uncertainty as to what was expected. He asked, “What does God require of his people?” That is a very good question.
Through the parable of the Good Samaritan, Jesus told him, and he tells us; have compassion and mercy for others. We express our faith in God by our love for people. Jesus used the parable of the Good Samaritan to lead the lawyer to that conclusion.
Over the past several months the Church has been leading us to a similar conclusion. Last month we heard the story of the woman who washed Christ’s feet with her tears. She did this to show her thanksgiving and love for her gift of faith and forgiveness.
On Holy Thursday, we saw how Christ, after instituting the Eucharist, immediately began washing the feet of his disciples. From Eucharist he moved directly to giving service; and he charged his disciples to do likewise.
A few months ago, we saw the linkage of love of God to service in Christ’s dialogue with Peter. After asking Peter three times whether Peter loved Jesus, he told Peter to Tend, Feed, and Watch over my sheep; all of which are actions of service.
Scripture is filled with passages that present faith, love, and worship of God as inseparable from compassion, mercy, and service to people.
We see today in the story of the Good Samaritan that we are to be a neighbor to those whose paths we cross. Our obligation is to show others the compassion we wish would be given us if we were in those same circumstances.
That is not hard to understand. Like it says in our First Reading, God’s Law is not mysterious and remote. It does not require some specially qualified person to make it all clear.
So, if it’s so clear and the example so specific, why is it so hard?
It is hard because there are obstacles to putting this compassion into practice.
We are busy people. Sometimes helping others takes up time we need for something else. We are so busy wrapped up in our own lives that we don’t have time at that particular moment to help someone else.
Other times we feel overwhelmed at the task. There are just so many needy people; so many worthy causes. We can’t help everyone!
Additionally, there may be dangers in reaching out to people. While the behavior of the priest and Levite was certainly not commendable, neither was it without reason. The body on the roadside could have been a trap for the next victim. Today with drugs, scams, and heath risks, you take a chance in reaching out to people.
And finally, there are times when we did reach out and we got burned. We tried to help just to find that we were taken in by a clever con artist or a desperate addict who misused our generosity. That is a disheartening experience. It causes us to question our ability to really know who is needy.
So, how do we fulfill our obligation in this area? Are these barriers just too great to overcome?
We need help to do what Jesus asks of us. That help is available in the social networks and institutions that have the expertise and structure to identify needs and link them to resources. They are capable of sorting out valid from invalid needs and they can better address the real problem, not the symptom. They can also provide for extension of assistance beyond the immediate crisis.
There is much of “the Good Samaritan” in Fire and Rescue services and in the organized outreach of Food Pantries, Crisis Hotlines, Elderly Care, Safe Houses, Homeless Shelters, and Addiction Services.
These organizations and professionals help to alleviate the sufferings of their neighbor and deal with those in need with skill and discipline. We should be grateful for their time and devotion.
But, let our actions not stop with gratitude. These organized efforts are in need of help: our time, talent, and treasure. Through the combination of their expertise and structure and our help Christian love of neighbor is made available to combat violence, cruelty, hardship, and indifference facing our neighbors.
In the weeks to come, look around for those who are needy and are in your path. Look for them and “cross the road” to help them. That help may best be done through your support of institutions and professions that carry on this work not just for a day, but as an on-going effort. Find one that especially touches your heart and make a commitment to it.
What will be the fruit of your efforts? There will be Help for those served! There will be Hope for those awaiting assistance! There will be Inspiration for others to do likewise!
Christianity is not about following intricate and complicated rules. It’s about living life in a changed way, with a changed heart. Don’t let the barriers to being a good neighbor deter you; find a way to help.