Today’s Reflection
Gospel: Lk 10: 25-37
October 9, 2023 | Monday

Today’s Gospel

Then a teacher of the law came and began putting Jesus to the test. And he said, “Master, what shall I do to receive eternal life?” Jesus replied, “What is written in the law? How do you understand it?” The man answered, “It is written: You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength, and with all your mind. And you shall love your neighbor as yourself.” Jesus replied, “What a good answer! Do this and you shall live.” The man wanted to justify his question, so he asked, “Who is my neighbor?”

Jesus then said, “There was a man going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and he fell into the hands of robbers. They stripped him, beat him, and went off, leaving him half-dead.

It happened that a priest was going along that road and saw the man, but passed by on the other side. Likewise, a Levite saw the man and passed by on the other side. But a Samaritan also was going that way; and when he came upon the man, he was moved with compassion. He went over to him and cleaned his wounds with oil and wine, and wrapped them in bandages. Then he put him on his own mount and brought him to an inn, where he took care of him.

The next day, he had to set off; but he gave two silver coins to the innkeeper, and said, ‘Take care of him, and whatever you spend on him, I will repay when I return.’”

Jesus then asked, “Which of these three, do you think, made himself neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?” The teacher of the law answered, “The one who had mercy on him.” And Jesus said, Then go and do the same.”

Today’s Reflection:

Jesus presented three interesting characters: the priest, the Levite, the and Samaritan. The Priest and the Levite passed by the half-dead man. They have done the most logical action because, under Jewish practice, one becomes unclean when one touches the dead. For all they know, the man is already gone. Helping the man would force them to return to Jerusalem and perform the purification rite. Jesus, then, presented an unusual Samaritan. He helped the man and secured him from further danger. The Jews and Samaritans were hostile to one another, yet in the parable, it was the Samaritan who truly expressed love. We can only imagine how difficult it was for the teacher of the Law to answer Jesus’ question. Through this story of the good samaritan, the Lord reminds us that everyone is our neighbor, even those we hate or those that society declares our enemies. The Law of love surpasses all laws. Jesus called us to love.  /Vulnerasti, 2023.