Who is my neighbor?
Who is my neighbor?
On the Fifteenth Sunday, the readings answered a question "Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?" (Luke 10:25). The first reading of Deuteronomy reminds us that God gives us His Commandments in Holy Scriptures, it is not away from us, but it is “Already in your mouths and in your hearts; you have only to carry it out." (Deuteronomy 3:14).
Moses had led the Israelites from the slavery of Egypt and was with them for many years as they traveled through the Sinai desert. The book of Deuteronomy is a series of speeches by Moses to the second generation of Israel, just before they were to enter the Promised Land. It expresses three discourses largely: The first discourse (1:6-4:43) reflects on the lessons of the early part of the journey through the desert. The second discourses (4:44-28:68) remind the people of the law, the Ten Commandments, their call to fidelity, and their special relationship with God, and the details of the covenant with God and its religious, ritual, and moral regulations. The third discourse (28:68-30:20) issues another call to the people to “choose life” – to remain faithful to the covenant – rather than choosing death by turning away from God and removing themselves from His protection.
Moses knew he would die before entering the Promised Land, so he gave them his last words of wisdom. The first reading begins with these words, “If only you would heed the voice of the LORD, your God” (Deuteronomy 30:10). Moses told them that God would bless them greatly, but one condition is that they need to follow the voice of the Lord. What do we need to do to inherit eternal life? We need to heed the voice of the Lord.
In the Gospel, Jesus answers this question. Love God with all your being, mind, heart, and strength, and your neighbor as yourself. Then Jesus explains the following question: Who is my neighbor? Jesus illustrates the superiority of love over legalism through the story of the good Samaritan. When the scribe in this passage tries to test him, Jesus engages him in conversation. He praises the scribe for the summary of the law.
The parable of the Good Samaritan presents both a moral and a theological lesson. Morally, Jesus teaches that love for our neighbor must accompany our love for God. Theologically, Jesus illustrates that the holiness of the New now surpasses the holiness as defined by the Old Covenant. In this parable, the priest and Levite didn’t help the victim. They had their reason. The book of Leviticus 21 explains the purity laws. The book of Numbers 19 gives further explanation of the law of purity. The law priest and Levite were forbidden to touch the corpse of anyone other than immediate family members. If they become impure, they are supposed to purify themselves by offering the sacrifice. Additionally, they will be disqualified from participating in the Temple service. Thus, they saw the wounded man on the road, not as a person in need of help, but as a possible source of ritual impurity.
Samaritans have nothing in common with Jews. If Jews have to go from north to south or from south to north, they go around Samaria. The Samaritan in this story disregarded the long history of enmity between his people and the Jews, opening his heart and mind to help the needy. Since the robbers who had assaulted the traveler might still be nearby, the good Samaritan decided to take the risk. He gave first aid to the wounded Jew, took him to a nearby inn, and made arrangements for his food and accommodation by providing the innkeeper two denarii. Two denarii were equivalent to two days' wages, which could be sufficient for several days of lodging.
St. Augustine says the parable signifies Christ’s restoration of mankind. Adam is the man attacked by Satan and his legion; he is stripped of his immortality and left dead in sin. The priest and Levite represent the Old Covenant and its inability to restore man to new life. Jesus Christ comes as the Good Samaritan to rescue man from death and brings him to the inn of the Church for refreshment and healing through the Sacraments. Every time we gather for the celebration of the Eucharist, the good Samaritan, Jesus, shares with us His life—the Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity —then we are sent out to be good Samaritans. Who is my neighbor who needs me today?