Listening again to the parable of the Good Samaritan

 Photo: Canva.com

Today we hear the well known parable of the Good Samaritan. A man was robbed and left badly injured by the side of the road. Two people pass by but did not help. They were a priest and a levite, who also served in the temple . Surely they should have been the first to help so why did they cross to the other side of the road? Probably it was because they were eager to get to the temple and according to their human law if they touched an injured and bleeding man they would be considered impure and so would be prohibited from worshipping in the temple.

 

So according to their interpretation of the law the love of God prevented them from showing care for an injured man. But that is totally contrary to what Jesus is teaching through the parable. He shows how a despised Samaritan was the one who was a true neighbour. There cannot be true love of God if it does not lead to love and care of neighbour. ''Those who do not love a brother or sister whom they have seen, cannot love God whom they have not seen.'' (1 John 4:20). Yesterday was the date of the feast of St Francis but it was not celebrated as it fell on a Sunday. It was a pity because it was the last day of the international month of prayer for creation. In a wonderful way, Francis combined love of God, love of neighbour and love of all God's creation. ''Come Jesus, help us to see the goodness of your Father in the beauty of the earth he have given us and in all our sisters and brothers who live on it.''