Thursday September 16, 2021

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 your neighbor as yourself. Luke 10. 27

There is no greater love than to lay down your life for your friends. John 15. 13

The Good Samaritan - Proposed reading : Luke 10. 30-37

In this magnificent parable, the unfortunate traveler stripped and left half-dead represents the man who fell into the hands of Satan. In the priest and the Levite who go their way, we see the futile help of the formal religion. But in the charitable Samaritan, we recognize the Savior who bent over man's misery to rescue him from his desperate fate. Jesus tells this story to lead his interlocutor to find the answer to his question himself : "Who is my neighbor ?" And the answer comes naturally : my neighbor is the one who has shown mercy to me.

Our neighbor is first of all Jesus Christ himself : he has come near to us ! Men of good will strive to love their fellow human beings. They think they are obeying the commandment given by God. But that's taking things the wrong way. Indeed, because of our sinful nature, we are often unable to love selflessly and faithfully. Only one could do this, Jesus ! He came from heaven to show us his love, and gave his life to save us. What greater proof could he have given us ?

He is no longer on earth but he continues to reach out to everyone to heal their moral wounds. He gives eternal life to those who accept his offer, and enables them to emulate his dedication and compassion. Jesus concluded the dialogue by saying : "Go and do the same too". It all depends on what Jesus did.

Source (The Good Seed)