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Identifying the Needs of Others

How many times have you listened to or read the story of the Good Samaritan? It is so easy to listen to it or read it and find  the people who did not help the person in need. Yet, if we are true to ourselves, we could say without any shadow of a doubt, that we have behaved similarly many times. Not because somebody else’s need did not move us but because we were busy doing something that seemed far more important or urgent, and stopping was out of the question at that moment.

Jesus tells a parable in response to an expert in the law’s tongue-in-cheek question, “Who are my neighbors?” (Luke 10:29). In the story a traveler is ambushed by thieves, beaten mercilessly, and left half dead. The first two men to happen upon the scene—a priest and a temple helper—are aware of their fellow Jew’s predicament, but are not moved to compassion and so do not become involved. It seems Jesus is pointing out the hypocrisy of the religious, who talk at length about displaying charity but are too preoccupied to give it, even to their own kind. 

In contrast, a Samaritan stops by and acts immediately to help the badly wounded man. He applies a salve, bandages the victim’s wounds, then he places the man on his own donkey and takes him to an inn to recuperate. Not only does the Samaritan pay the necessary fees for the man’s stay, but he also guarantees the innkeeper more money in the event that the wounded man needs additional care. 

Why does the Samaritan stop? Why would he administer aid to someone who belongs to an ethnic group that hated Samaritans and who Samaritans, in turn, despised? What makes him different? 

In his telling of the parable Jesus reorders the expert’s question “Who are my neighbors?” to “Which one... was a real neighbor...” (10:36) where the onus is on each of us to be a neighbor and act out the gospel by showing love. 

Reflect

Have you ever allowed a busy schedule and the pace of life to justify your lack of love and care of those in need? Would you willingly help someone even if it were inconvenient for you? 

Pray

Lord, remove prejudice from my heart and give me eyes to see the needs of those around me. 

Respond 

Volunteer in a homeless shelter or a facility that serves poor immigrants. Ask God to show you ways to meet their needs. 

Father, let me not shy away from helping others who are different from me. Remind me that they, too, are your children.