The parable in today's gospel, commonly referred to as "The Good Samaritan," is well known to most practising Christians. It is curious, however, that in the media when someone is saved by a stranger or a passerby that the rescuer is called a good samaritan. This misses the point of the story because the passerby usually has no animus or prejudice against the person rescued. This, precisely, is the factor that gives the parable its force. Why did Jesus not refer to a good Gentile (non-Jew)? Rather, he uses the example of a Samaritan who would have been a particular object of prejudice and suspicion. The Samaritans, geographically neighbours to the Jews, were in fact related to them. Nevertheless, due to accidents of history, whereby the Samaritans had intermarried with non-Jews as well as the practise of Samaritan worship on Mt Gerezim, distrust and racial prejudice had arisen. The hypothetical Jew would expect help more from a Gentile than from a Samaritan! When we apply the parable to ourselves we are encouraged to realise and appropriate for ourselves the attitude of mercy which originates not from human categories but from the heart of God. It is an attitude that overcomes prejudice and animosity and is evident in the teaching and personal example of Pope Francis. Sometimes I need to realise that the neighbour I am called to love is not someone I do not know rather it is someone I have a grudge or prejudice against. This malady needs to be cured throught the application of the salve of mercy.
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