The story of the Good Samaritan in this Sunday’s Gospel is probably quite familiar to most of us. Furthermore, we often read news headlines of modern-day Good Samaritans rescuing strangers from car crashes, house fires, and floodwaters. These feel-good stories give us hope in humanity and perhaps even move us to do our own good deeds. But these aren’t stories about people who wake up with plans to do good. These are people who notice a need in front of them and are willing to sacrifice their time, comfort, and even risk their own safety to help. These are people who practice radical availability.
In our busy lives, and in an increasingly divided and distracted world, it can be easy to act like the priest or the Levite in the Gospel, avoiding the suffering happening around us and considering it someone else’s problem. Instead, the Good Samaritan parable challenges us to hold our routines lightly, step out of our comfort zones, and help others however we can. When Jesus talks about love of neighbor, He isn’t just talking about a feeling or belief. Gospel love is a decision to show mercy to the people in front of us, particularly when it’s inconvenient and uncomfortable. And it doesn’t matter who the person in front of us is. Rather than answer the question “Who is my neighbor?” — in other words, “Who is worthy of my love?” — Jesus puts the burden on the scholar to be a neighbor, treating others with mercy, regardless of nationality, race, or religion.
“Go and do likewise,” Jesus instructs. This story is more than just a cautionary tale — it’s a call to action. Every day we are presented with opportunities to be Good Samaritans. Sometimes it may be in heroic ways, while other times it may simply require us to stop and be present to someone who is struggling. Either way, we must remain radically available to answer God’s unexpected invitations to be loving neighbors.
