Education in Faith
Sunday’s gospel gives us a very simple guideline to find true happiness: to live by the law of love. In this gospel, Jesus showed how that law was lived out by the Samaritan who helped the injured man. The story of the Good Samaritan is challenging in that it suggests that there are times when God’s law (love your neighbour) overrides man-made customs and laws. The Samaritans and the Jews had been enemies since Old Testament times but it was the Samaritan who stopped to help the injured Jew after the other men had walked by. The Samaritan did not worry about the injured man’s religion or race; instead he saw that someone needed his help and he was filled with a sense of love.
Today, too many people are in a hurry and are unwilling to stop and offer help to someone who needs it. Our neighbour is whoever we meet, regardless of their race or religion. When a fellow human being is suffering or needs our help, then we should show the same loving concern and compassion as the good Samaritan. How can we be just like the good Samaritan in our lives? By treating everyone with kindness and love, whether it is at school, at home or during our daily life.