Jose Mario O. Mandia
There are four main characters in today’s Gospel parable: the victim of robbers, the priest, the Levite and the Samaritan. The priest (Hebrew Kohanim) is a direct male-line descendant of Aaron, brother of Moses, who was appointed as the first high priest. The Kohanim were the only ones who could perform sacrificial rituals in the Temple, offer incense and maintain the Menorah (the seven-branched golden lampstand inside the Tabernacle and later, in the Temple). Because of their special functions, they wore distinctive garments and avoided contact with dead bodies which would render them impure. Levites were male descendants of Levi, one of the twelve sons of Jacob (whom God renamed Israel). The Levites were not Kohanim but were given tasks to assist in the Temple in various supporting roles. For example, they served as musicians, gatekeepers, and temple officials. Even if they were not Kohanim, the Levites were also considered “holy” and set apart for God’s service.
And the Samaritans? It’s a long story that goes back to the death of King Solomon in 930 BC. After Solomon died, the kingdom split into two: (1) the Northern Kingdom (“Kingdom of Israel”). With its capital in Samaria, it comprised ten tribes and was led by Jeroboam; (2) Southern Kingdom (“Kingdom of Judah”). With its capital in Jerusalem, it was primarily composed of the tribes of Judah and Benjamin, and was ruled by Rehoboam, Solomon’s son. The Northern Kingdom was conquered by the Assyrians in 722 BC. The Assyrians deported many Israelites, but some remained and intermarried with the new populations brought in by the Assyrians, forming the Samaritan community. This led to a distinct Samaritan identity, with their own religious practices and a claim to Israelite ancestry. Nonetheless, the Jews considered them impure. This is why St John explains that “Jews have no dealings with Samaritans” (John 4:9)
Now we understand a bit more the scene that we witness in today’s Gospel. The victim of robbers was a Jew. The Kohanim came by. Rules dictated that he keep away from impurity. And he stuck by the rules. The same with the Levite. His job in the temple required legal purity as well. So he just went on his way. Then … surprise. A Samaritan, of an “impure” breed, passes by and sees the man. He “was moved with compassion at the sight. He approached the victim, poured oil and wine over his wounds and bandaged them. Then he lifted him up on his own animal, took him to an inn, and cared for him. “The next day he took out two silver coins and gave them to the innkeeper with the instruction, ‘Take care of him. If you spend more than what I have given you, I shall repay you on my way back.’”
Jesus praises the compassion of the Samaritan, a compassion that was both affective and effective. It was affective because the Samaritan “was moved” and it was effective because he did not just stare at the poor victim and shrug his shoulders, but approached him, tried to alleviate his suffering, took him to the inn and had someone care for him.
Such is also the love that our Lord Jesus Christ wants us to have: an affective and effective love. This is the moral virtue of mercy, which inclines the will to feel due compassion for our neighbor’s distress and to alleviate it. Our Catholic faith gives us a non-exhaustive listing that names seven spiritual and seven corporal works of mercy (cf Matthew 25:31-46). The spiritual works of mercy are: to admonish the sinner; to instruct the ignorant; to counsel the doubtful; to comfort the sorrowful; to bear wrongs patiently; to forgive all injuries; and to pray for the living and the dead. The corporal works of mercy are: to feed the hungry; to give drink to the thirsty; to clothe the naked; to visit the imprisoned; to shelter the homeless; to visit the sick; and to bury the dead. May we, too, be moved with compassion when we see the physical, emotional, moral or spiritual suffering of the persons that the Lord has placed by our side – at home, at work, in society. That needy person is Christ himself, who assured His apostles that “as you did it to one of the least of these my brethren, you did it to me” (Matthew 25:4
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