One day, a lawyer asked Jesus: “Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?”
Jesus replied: “What is written in the Law? How do you read it?”
The man answered, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind and Love your neighbor as yourself.’”
Jesus said, “You have answered correctly. Do this and you will live.”
But wanting to justify himself, the lawyer asked: “But who is my neighbor?”
Jesus answered with this story.
A man was traveling from Jerusalem to Jericho when robbers attacked him. They stripped him, beat him severely, and left him half-dead on the roadside. A priest came down the same road. When he saw the injured man, he passed by on the other side. Then a Levite came along, saw him, and also passed by on the other side.
But a Samaritan – a man from a group that Jews usually despised and avoided – came upon the scene. When he saw the man, his heart was filled with compassion. He went to him, poured oil and wine on the wounds to clean and soothe them, bandaged them, then placed the man on his own donkey. He brought him to an inn and took care of him through the night.
The next day, the Samaritan gave the innkeeper two silver coins and said, “Look after him. Whatever extra you spend, I will repay you when I return.”
Jesus then asked the lawyer: “Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?”
The lawyer replied: “The one who had mercy on him.”
Jesus said: “Go and do likewise.”
This parable teaches us that our “neighbor” is anyone in need – regardless of background, race, or differences. True love shows kindness and helps without hesitation.
