The Good Samaritan

Read Luke 10:25-37

“The one who treated him with mercy.”

That’s who Jesus said was the good neighbor. This parable invites us to examine our
own actions toward others, especially those in need. In the story of the Good Samaritan,
a man is robbed, beaten, and left for dead. A priest walks by and does nothing. A
Levite passes by and does nothing. Both are respected religious figures—yet neither
stops to help. Then comes a Samaritan – an outsider – someone marginalized by
Jewish society. He becomes the hero of the story. He is the good neighbor.

As I read this Gospel I could not help but think of the immigration challenges we face
today in the United States. In Jesus’ time the Jews viewed Samaritans much the way
some Americans view undocumented immigrants.

What if Jesus told this story now, in our context? What if this scene were 21st century
America. And the Samaritan was an undocumented migrant? What if the one moved
with compassion, the one who cared for the injured man, was someone without legal
status in our country?
Would we hear this parable differently?

Far too many today see nothing good in the immigrant—just as the Jews saw nothing
good in the Samaritan. But those who follow Jesus are asked to see this issue
differently. We are called to see suffering in our world, not with fear, but with mercy.

Another way to interpret this story is to see the immigrant not as the Samaritan, but as
the injured man. The road from Jerusalem to Jericho was dangerous. So too is the
journey many immigrants make today to get to our boarders. They walk
hundreds—even thousands—of miles, crossing deserts, rivers, and borders, sometimes
encountering walls. They so often do this not out of desire but out of
desperation—fleeing violence, poverty, persecution and the fear of death. They are
often robbed by traffickers, some are beaten, many suffer.

This story from Jesus stings, because it reveals a hard truth: We are called to seek fair
conditions for all involved the migrant and the citizen. Mercy is the goal for everyone
involved. And mercy comes from good laws that are fair to all.
The final words of Jesus in the parable are these: “Go and do likewise.”
This is not a suggestion, it’s a call to action. We are called to embody mercy in real and
practical ways:

• By advocating for just immigration policies – that are fair to immigrant and citizen alike.
• By remembering that our people, too, were immigrants to this country.
• By recognizing that our spiritual ancestors— Abraham, Moses, Mary, and Joseph—were also migrants and refugee. Mary and Joseph were immigrants to Egypt fleeing a brutal leader who wanted to kill their child.

Yes, we are called to respect the law. But we are also called to follow – a higher law –
God’s law. The law of love—the law of mercy—calls us to care for our neighbors; and
our neighbor includes everyone. The Catholic Church teaches both the right of people
to migrate and the right of nations to regulate immigration.

This is an incredibly complex issue, but one thing is an overriding truth, that we are
called to view every person—documented or not—through the lens of human dignity
and compassion.

Many, if not most, of the people immigrating here are poor and vulnerable, who are
seeking safety and a chance to live a better life. Just like our own ancestors once did.
My family came to this country fleeing famine and unrest in Ireland. This nation received
them and gave them a fresh start.

We must not forget that our Declaration of Independence proclaims that all people “are
created equal” and “endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights: Life,
Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness.

Catholic social teaching, the parable of the Good Samaritan and our country’s own
founding documents all call us to compassion and mercy.

If Jesus were here with us today and someone asked, “What does it mean to be a good
neighbor – in this moment?”

He would answer, 
“The good neighbor is the one who treats others with mercy.”

Let us go—and do likewise.

          

Luke 6:27-28 says: 

"But to you who are listening I say: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you."

What Jesus is saying today might be best understood by recalling the Law of the Echo. The law of the echo says we get back from life exactly what we give to it. This law says that if you shout into an echo chamber a shout will return to you.  If you curse into an echo chamber a curse will return to you. And if you sing into an echo chamber a song will come back to you.  The “law of the echo’’ tells us you get back from life exactly what you give to life. Give abuse and you will get abuse back.  Give love and you will get love back. If you want more love in a relationship be more loving.

There is a story about Jesus that is not in the bible.  It’s a story that is attributed to a Muslim actually, and it goes:  

As Jesus and his disciples entered a village some of the villagers began to harass Jesus shouting unkind words and harsh accusations. But Jesus answered them by bowing down and offering words of blessing. A disciple said to him,  "aren’t you angry with them? How can you bless them?" Jesus answered, 'I can only give what I have in my purse.'” Here the purse is a metaphor for one’s heart.

Jesus is asking us today to take a good honest look at ourselves because we too can only give what we carry in our hearts, our purse.

Some of you may remember when President Ronald Reagan was shot. He had just finished speaking at a luncheon as he left the hotel a gunman fired six shots.  The president and three aides where hit. He was rushed to the hospital where they saved his life. 

In his biography Regan told what was going through his mind as the doctors worked on him.  The president said “I prayed and as I prayed I realized that I could not ask for God’s help while at the same time I felt hatred for the mixed-up young man who shot me.”  He went on “We are all God’s children and therefore equally loved by God. So, I began praying for the young man.” Regan said “then I could calmly ask God to help me which God did.” 

This brings us to today’s Gospel where Jesus says: “Love your enemies and pray for those who mistreat you.” The question we are all being asked today is, when we are hurt, attacked, or insulted how do we react?  Certainly, one way to react is with hatred. Jesus says today that is the wrong way to respond. Why? Why is that the wrong way to respond? There is an old saying that speaks to this, it says:

“Holding onto anger is like drinking poison and expecting the other person to die.”

Jesus is saying the same thing to us today. He is telling us that the way to become the kind of person who lives with love is by becoming a person who always responds with love?                                          

Jesus said: 

“Be merciful just as your Father is merciful.                                                                                                  Stop judging and you will not be judged.                                                                                                      Stop condemning and you will not be condemned.                                                                                      Forgive and you will be forgiven.”

We must never forget, we get back from life exactly what we give to life.