GOOD SAMARITAN

July 13, 2025 15th Sunday in Ordinary Time Year C Luke 10:25-37 In the parable of the Good Samaritan, Jesus doesn’t just answer a legal question—He opens a wounded world before us. A man left half-dead on the roadside becomes the symbol of all who are broken, abandoned, and unseen. And the question is no longer, “Who is my neighbor?” but rather, “Will I stop for him?” This Gospel pierces the heart because we’ve all been that wounded one at some point—bruised by life, betrayed by people we trusted, left alone in our pain. But we’ve also passed by others, too busy or too afraid to get involved. Jesus is calling us to break that cycle—not with pity, but with compassion that moves us into action. The Samaritan did not see ethnicity, religion, or status—he saw a fellow human being in need. He allowed his plans to be interrupted, his resources to be spent, his heart to be moved. This is the very image of divine mercy. The Samaritan reflects the face of Christ Himself—who comes to us not when we are clean and put together, but when we are broken, bleeding, and helpless. His love binds our wounds, carries us when we cannot walk, and pays a price we could never afford. The Church, then, must not only preach mercy—it must embody it. Each of us is called to be Christ on the road, noticing the wounded and becoming a vessel of healing. This Gospel is not a gentle suggestion; it’s a radical invitation. Jesus doesn’t want admirers—He wants followers who will get their hands dirty with love. To love like the Samaritan is costly. It takes time, vulnerability, and a willingness to be inconvenienced. But in loving others, especially the ones we’re tempted to ignore, we draw near to the very heart of God. Compassion is not just an emotion—it’s a decision to cross the road, kneel beside the wounded, and say: “I will not walk past you.” And when we live this way, we do more than obey a command—we fulfill it with our lives. Blessings Fr. Jhack