A Samaritan traveler who came upon him was moved with compassion at the sight

Gospel of the Day (Luke 10:25-37)

There was a scholar of the law who stood up to test him and said, "Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?

Jesus said to him, "What is written in the law? How do you read it?"

He said in reply, "You shall love the Lord, your God, with all your heart, with all your being, with all your strength, and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself."

He replied to him, "You have answered correctly; do this and you will live."

But because he wished to justify himself, he said to Jesus, "And who is my neighbor?"

Jesus replied, "A man fell victim to robbers as he went down from Jerusalem to Jericho. They stripped and beat him and went off leaving him half-dead.

A priest happened to be going down that road, but when he saw him, he passed by on the opposite side.

Likewise a Levite came to the place, and when he saw him, he passed by on the opposite side.

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.'

Which of these three, in your opinion, was neighbor to the robbers' victim?"

He answered, "The one who treated him with mercy." Jesus said to him, "Go and do likewise."

***

Reflections:

"A Samaritan traveler who came upon him was moved with compassion at the sight"

A Samaritan came down that road. «Who has come down from heaven except the one who has gone up to heaven, the Son of Man who is in heaven?» (cf. Jn 3,13). Seeing that man half-dead whom nobody before had been able to heal..., he approached him; that is to say, by accepting to suffer with us he became our friend and by taking pity on us he became our neighbour.

«He dressed his wounds, pouring oil and wine on them». This doctor possesses many remedies with which he habitually heals us. His words are a remedy: with one he binds up wounds, with another he pours ointment over them, with another astringent wine... «Then he lifted him up on his own animal». Hear how he sets you there: «It was our infirmities he bore, our sufferings that he endured» (Is 53,4). And the shepherd, too, set the worn out sheep on his shoulders (Lk 15,5)...

«He took him to an inn and cared for him»... But the Samaritan could not long remain on our earth; he must return from whence he descended. So «the next day» – what is this 'next day' if not the day of the Lord's resurrection, of which it is said «This is the day the Lord has made» (Ps 118[117],24)? – «he took out two silver coins and gave them to the innkeeper with the instruction: Take care of him». What are these two coins? Perhaps they are the two Covenants, bearing the likeness of the Eternal Father, and at whose cost our wounds are healed... Happy that innkeeper who is able to tend another's wounds! Happy the one to whom Jesus says: «If you spend more than what I have given you, I shall repay you on my way back»... Thus he promises a repayment. When will you return, Lord, if not at the day of judgement? Even though your remain always everywhere, standing in our midst without our recognising you, the day will come when all flesh shall see you coming. And you will repay what you owe. How will you repay, Lord Jesus? To the good you have promised an immense reward in heaven yet you will pay back even more when you say: «Well done, my good and faithful servant. Since you were faithful in small matters, I will give you great responsibilities. Come, share your master's joy» (Mt 25,21).