January 26, 2004
What is being a “Good Samaritan” (or a good neighbor)?
In my study on suffering I learned something very interesting: the key to understanding the Good Samaritan. First, understand that Jesus told the story of the Good Samaritan in response to the question, “Who is my neighbor” after explaining that we must love our neighbor as ourselves (Luke 10:25-29). I think we all know the story (Luke 10:29-37), but I’ll quote a key part of it:
Luke 10:33-35. But a Samaritan, as he journeyed, came to where he [the injured man] was; and when he saw him, he had compassion, and went to him and bound up his wounds, pouring on oil and wine; then he set him on his own beast and brought him to an inn, and took care of him. And the next day, he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper saying, “Take care of him; and whatever more you spend, I will repay you when I come back.”
What does this have to do with suffering? The man the Samaritan helped was suffering greatly in a physical way. In my previous article, Why do bad things happen to good people, I noted the salvific value of suffering, but suffering remains painful and often requires the help of others (bringing about humility). Christ is teaching us here that our neighbor is anyone who is suffering – and we are required to help if we are get to heaven (see Luke 10:25-29). Pope John Paul II put it best in Salvifici Doloris (On the Christian Meaning of Human Suffering):
Everyone who stops beside the suffering of another person, whatever form it may take, is a Good Samaritan. This stopping does not mean curiosity but availability. It is like the opening of a certain interior disposition of the heart, which also has an emotional expression of its own.
Notice that the Samaritan stops in love and acts by doing whatever is necessary to help the man. He doesn’t refuse money, physical help, or emotional help, but offers all he can to ease the suffering of another. Suffering, as the Pope says, calls for human love to assist, help, and console.
It is easy to give a little; it is holy to give a lot. When we know someone who is suffering, we must stop and act. There are no excuses not to help a creation of God get through a troubling time. Our lives are always busy, always full of important appointments and duties, but there is nothing more important than helping your neighbor through pain and suffering.
May we all be the Good Samaritans God calls us to be!
God bless,
Jay
PS – If you haven’t read Salvifici Doloris (On the Christian Meaning of Human Suffering), I highly recommend it! It is an excellent look at suffering and the human condition.
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we should bear on another's burdens as a sign that Christ lives within us. Jesus took the burdens of the world with Him on the cross and died so that we would not suffer for eternity, Thank You Jesus, and we as followers should help on another because He is our helper in times of suffering. remember His yoke is easy and burden is light.
Posted by: Paul Baccus at January 29, 2004 06:18 PM
