THE GOOD SAMARITAN

Deuteronomy 30:9–14; Colossians 1:1–14; Luke 10:25–37

Introduction

Beloved in Christ, I firmly believe that our weekly reflections on the themes of the Almanac are helping you and those you share them with to live the Christ-like life. Your feedback and the prayers of blessings are working, so keep it up.

Let us open our hearts to the Word of God through the leading of the Holy Spirit as we reflect deeply on a story many of us have heard since childhood: "The Good Samaritan." It is not just a moral and ethical tale. It is an essential call to a lifestyle that mirrors the heart of God.

This parable challenges not only our compassion but also the boundaries we place on love, kindness, and responsibility. Today, with the help of the Holy Spirit, may our reflection lead us into a deeper understanding of what it means to truly love your neighbour as yourself, even in a world full of divisions, disappointment, selfishness, indifference, and hurt.

“Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?”

(Luke 10:25)

This was not an innocent question. The lawyer was actually testing Jesus (cf. Matt. 22:35).

Reading from Deuteronomy, “The word is very near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart so you may obey it.” (Deut 30:14)

This ties directly to the lawyer’s question in Luke, "What must I do?" Moses says you don't need to climb up to heaven or cross the sea to find God's will. It is already written in your heart, "love God" and "love your neighbour."

With increasing tribalism, you don't belong syndrome, unemployment, migration, and social inequality, precious one, we do not need any new commandment. We need to abide by Christ's example. Help that Kayayo girl, sponsor that needy in education, visit that hospital, and speak for the voiceless. Do this, "knowing that your labour in the Lord shall not be in vain." (1 Cor. 15:58)

Meanwhile, Jesus, the Master Teacher, responded with another question,

“What is written in the law?”

(Lk 10:26)

The lawyer answers rightly:

“‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart... and love your neighbour as yourself.’” (Lk 10:27)

After Jesus had confirmed the correctness of his answer, the Bible says, "But he wants to justify himself." In his quest to draw lines to who should be loved and otherwise, he posed the question, “And who is my neighbor?” This is where many of us find ourselves. We are willing to love and lend a helping hand, but only to those we deem worthy, familiar, or convenient. To those who have shown us love or have once helped us.

In our context, we often see this behavior of discrimination in how we treat people from different ethnic groups, political parties, the poor, or even those living on the streets. We ask: "Is this one also my neighbour?"

Continue with me, as Jesus takes us on a journey to unfold to us who our neigbour is?

Jesus doesn’t define “neighbour” theoretically as we normally do in school; He tells a story.

“A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho...” (v. 30)

This road was notorious, full of danger, like many neglected areas in our cities today, where armed robbery or abuse is common. This road is the lonely path people hide to steal from the nation, give and receive bribes, abort babies, and even kill for gain. The man is attacked, stripped, beaten, and left to die.

Let's consider the three people who pass by.

A. The Priest

The man of God. God's own ordained to take care of His flock. Perhaps he thought to himself, “I have a service to lead. If I touch blood, I’ll be unclean,” or maybe, "I'll be late for the meeting and can't keep them waiting."

Beloved, there are core mandates given unto us which we must not compromise. Often, the peripherals of our work take center stage at the expense of our calling. In our churches today, we have often become so ritualistic that we walk past real pain. So the priest passed by on the other side.

B. The Levite

A temple assistant, a member of the royal priesthood, he, too, avoids the man. He might have also thought, “This could be a trap.”

Today, we pass by people who call for our help on the street, mainly due to fear. Your car breaks down on the road, and no one wants to assist you. It is now even taboo to offer a stranger a lift. We also walk on the other side.

We pass by street children, mentally ill persons, or injured hawkers on the road, saying, “I don’t want trouble.”

C. The Samaritan

This is the shocking twist! The Samaritans were a people despised by the Jews. Remember Jesus' encounter with the Samaritan woman at the well, yes, even giving each other water was an abomination. He now becomes the hero. He stops, touches, lifts, and pays.

“But a Samaritan... took pity on him.” (Lk 10:33)

Pity here is not a passive emotion. The Greek word means a deep, gut-wrenching compassion that moves one to action. It is genuine empathy of love in action.

This is how Rev. Dr. Kwame Bediako puts it, “To be Christian in Africa is to feel with the suffering of your people and to act out of that feeling in love.”

Who is your neighbour? Jesus once said, “If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners love those who love them." (Lk 6:32)

Think of this, "What experience in life has taken away from you the desire to love your neighbour? Consciously deal with such hurts to be free in heart to live the life Christ is calling you into.

Paul gives thanks for the Colossians’ faith in Christ, love for all God’s people, and hope stored in heaven.

“...bearing fruit in every good work...” (Col 1:10)

Truly, truly, I say unto you, good works do not earn salvation in Christ, but they are the evidence of one's salvation.

You may be wondering, “How can I be a Good Samaritan or love my neighbour with the little I have?” Listen to Paul's prayer, be "strengthened with all power... so that you may have endurance and patience." (Col 1:11)

This is not about occasional expression of love, but a lifestyle of mercy and generosity. "We continually ask God..." for such continuous prayer, we must make it a lifestyle, but not when it is convenient for us.

Today in History

The man lying wounded could be a Muslim or a fetish Priest hit by a car, or an immigrant who is in need.

The Priest might be a reverend minister/pastor/prophet in a Prado, speeding to a crusade.

The Levite might be a politician focused on elections.

The Samaritan is you, child of God.

Being a neighbour is not about who the other person is, but it is about who you are. Your identity in Christ Jesus.

Let us not forget the ultimate message of the Good Samaritan. Jesus Himself is the Good Samaritan.

He saw us beaten at the point of death in sin.
Others passed by: the law, religion, tradition, worth, and friends.
But He came to us.
He touched us.
He carried our burden.
He paid the price with His blood on the cross.

St. Augustine puts it, “The man going down is Adam. The robbers are the devil and his demons. The Samaritan is Christ.”

Conclusion

Beloved, the parable ends with a command, not a suggestion,

“Go and do likewise.” (Luke 10:37)

Let us be known not by our church attire or titles, but by our willingness to stop, help, and heal. May our lives reflect the mercy of Christ in this broken world.

Shalom aleikhem...