But a Samaritan traveler who came upon him was moved with compassion at the sight. He approached the victim, poured oil and wine over his wounds and bandaged them. Then he lifted him up on his own animal, took him to an inn and cared for him. The next day he took out two silver coins and gave them to the innkeeper with the instruction, ‘Take care of him. If you spend more than what I have given you, I shall repay you on my way back.’

Luke 10:33-35

The parable of the Good Samaritan is very well known but needs to be reread constantly. Jesus has just been challenged to explain to his listeners who our “neighbor” is. In the parable, both the priest and the Levite do not stop for the man who fell victim to robbers and was left half-dead. The expected models of religious love and charity pass him by; maybe they were too busy and burdened with their everyday life. But faith without works is useless and even contradictory.

The Samaritan, the pagan, knows better, he considers the person in need his neighbor, renders first aid, and then takes the injured man to an inn where he can recover from his wounds. Like the Samaritan, we are to be open to the needs of the people God puts in our path.

Lord Jesus, thank you for your applicable and concrete messages.  Please give me the courage to step in when I am needed, even if it will disturb my routine or force me out of my comfort zone. Help me to be like you and see and treat everyone as my neighbor.