Grace and Space

Lk 10:25-37
Imitate the Samaritan: The hero of the parable is obvious: the Samaritan, who is not considered a neighbor by the Jews. The priest and Levite end up as villains. They, who follow the law, do not love their neighbor—one of their own.
To answer Jesus’ question, the scholar of the law must forget everything that he knows about the law and about who belongs to God’s people and who does not. He has to reverse his presuppositions of good and bad people. His stereotypes are challenged; he is called to conversion.
His response, “The one who treated him with mercy” (v 37), indicates that he cannot even pronounce the name “Samaritan.” Instead, he must now declare the Samaritan his neighbor. And he is told to go and imitate the Samaritan! Why? Because the Samaritan was neighbor to the half-dead man. Loving one’s neighbor means meeting human needs wherever they are found.