The priest and the Levite in today’s Gospel appeal to the law and common sense to excuse them from attending to the victim of robbers on his way to Jericho. The Samaritan, by his actions contradicts them: there is no excuse for extending charity to those who need it.
Who was the Samaritan? Obviously, a man of religious and civic differences from the civic and religious authorities. But could he also have been a figure of Jesus himself? Read Lk.18, 38 – 19, 10, the account of Jesus entering Jericho and his encounter there with Zacchesus, the tax collector everyone considered a sinner, and the blind man, who begged Jesus to restore his sight.
Lesson: Charity is fraternal, universal. Every social distinction disappears before Jesus’ teaching and actions. Conclusion: if I am a follower of Jesus am I willing to associate with all persons, relying on the Holy Spirit that makes him present in my words and actions, the same Spirit that animated the Samaritan with goodness? I’ll ask Mary, our mother, to help me answer.
Resolve: I am aware I live in a society today that is less Christian than before; therefore, deputed to be less charitable than those in ages past. I shall pray to Jesus that he give me the grace of sight he gave the beggar at Jericho so that I can see the sufferings of others as Jesus himself sees them and the grace to do all I can to alleviate them.