THE GOOD SAMARITAN (LUKE 10:25-37)

 The Congregation of Mercedarian Sisters of Charity (1878-2023)

Readings: Exodus 3:7-12; Luke 10: 25-37

1. THE VOCATION TO MERCEDARIAN LIFE IS YOUR SPECIFIC IDENTITY OF THE CHARISM

a) Value of your Identity: Vocation to Mercedarian life is your specific identity. The root of the Congregation tree is the charismatic identity. There is the beauty of your identity in your charism for which God has been faithful through His presence. 

b) Vocation precedes mission: Before God sent Moses on Mission, God called Moses through a remarkable event. God appeared to Moses in the flame of fire at the burning bush. And there he reveals his identity. The vocation precedes and the mission succeeds. God says, “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born, I consecrated you” (Jer 1:5). This experience is a must for all the members of this religious family. Moses was nobody before God chose him, but he became a leader and prophet because of God. God is your project, he is your dream, and he is everything to you. Do not start any work without his intervention. “All that we do is for the good of humanity, of God, by God, and for God.” (Blessed Father Zegrí).

c) The burning bush refers to Holy Spirit’s action, who always worked for 145 years and still works for the living charism. Charism is not obsolete, or antique, but transforming and changing. 

2. THE MERCIFUL GAZE OF THE SAMARITAN

a) Merciful gaze from the Father: God says to Moses in the first readings, “I have observed, I have heard, I know their sufferings. I came down to liberate them from their slavery”. It is not your task/job/ministry. You are participating in the work of God’s redemption. Your charism is a redemptive charity service in order to the full liberation of the human being. We need to look at our poor in the way how Jesus looked at Matthew (Mt 9:9), Zacchaeus (Lk 19:2) & the paralytic man (Jn 5) 

b) No to the culture of Indifference: Priests and Levite passed by on the other side because they had proper roles and functions to exercise in society. “Touching a dead body rendered priests and Levites ceremonially unclean and so unable to fulfill temple commitments (Lev. 21-22). Sometimes, we need to take risks showing our love to the poor which may demand our time, energy and space. It may take away your time. 

c) Look at the poor creatively: Do not condemn, judge and underestimate. Read the different methods to evangelize them through our charity. Look at them as they have body, mind and soul. Our charity includes integral development. 

3. FIDELITY IN THIS RELIGIOUS FAMILY UNTIL THE END 

Fidelity: Faithfulness of your charism and mission in the church. “Then the Samaritan put the wounded man on his own donkey, brought him to an inn and took care of him. The next day he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper, and said, ‘Take care of him, and when I come back, I will repay you whatever more you spend”. Charity should be done in its fullness. Do not give yourselves half, but give your full commitment on the day of the 140th anniversary. Face the daily challenges – Think of the presence of Providential God –‘Faithfulness’ is our response to God's fidelity.

Helping a person wounded in a road accident is a compassionate and morally responsible act — but it's important to take precautions to protect both the victim and yourself. Here’s a practical and safe approach to follow:

Is the Good samaritan parable applicable today? 

First thing, the Good Samaritan applies wine and oil for the wounds, we are not authorized to give medicines, we should not do unnecessary movement or touching of the wounded person. Moving a person with a spinal or neck injury can cause serious harm. we need to call Emergency Services immediately. 

If available, wear gloves or use a clean cloth to avoid contact with blood or bodily fluids. If no gloves, use plastic bags or cloth to avoid direct contact. Do not expose wounds unnecessarily or try to treat them if untrained.

Don’t give them food or drink (can cause complications if surgery is needed), Don’t remove a helmet (for motorcycle accident victims), Don’t leave the scene without giving your statement if you witnessed the accident.

The Parable of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:25–37) remains powerfully relevant today, even though our social structures and regulations may prevent us from helping in exactly the same way as the Samaritan did. 

1. The Heart of the Parable: Mercy Beyond Boundaries

At its core, the parable is not just about what the Samaritan did, but why he did it. He acted with compassion toward someone others ignored — even though the man was from a group that hated Samaritans.

Today’s Application:

You don’t need to physically carry a wounded person to the hospital to be a Good Samaritan. You can Stop and call emergency services Offer comfort or stay with someone in distress until help arrives.

. Support people who are marginalized, ignored, or hurting in your community (refugees, the poor, the sick, victims of abuse, etc.).

2. Laws and Limits Don’t Excuse Indifference

It’s true that today, laws might restrict how much direct physical assistance you can offer (e.g. for medical, liability, or safety reasons). But these laws do not excuse us from compassion.

Taking appropriate action within your limits (calling help, reporting abuse, offering emotional support).

Not letting religion, race, politics, or social status stop you from seeing the other as your neighbor.

3. Who Is My Neighbor?

Jesus' point was that everyone is our neighbor — especially the one who is wounded, left out, or suffering, even if they are culturally or socially distant from us. In today's polarized world, being a Good Samaritan means breaking barriers: Listening and caring for people of different beliefs.