There is a path that is thousands of years old near the city of Jerusalem, that takes you down to the city of Jericho. It is 17 miles of a rugged, dry, long, steep, and winding road that around the time of Jesus was often called, “the Way of Blood” because of the blood that was often shed there. The rough and rocky terrain down the steep gorge made the people walking on it an easy target for thieves. This treacherous road is the backdrop for Jesus’ parable of the Good Samaritan. Some theologians have suggested that this parable is a metaphor for our lives, and the treacherous and steep road, known for its’ dangers, is the path we all must walk on. I love how many times Jesus hints to the fact that our lives will be difficult and that we need each other to survive.

It is also funny that we have coined the title of the parable as, “the good Samaritan,” because Samaritan’s were so despised and hated in the time of Jesus that no one would have thought of them as good. As the story in the parable moves along, Jesus makes it clear that what matters most is not who you are, and what you believe, but what your actions towards others says about you. Once again, he teaches us that how we treat others is key. One of the many things we can learn from the parable is that when we see a need, we should stop to help. The first thing that the Savior tells us about the Good Samaritan is that he saw. He saw and then he acted. We can look for ways to add service into our lives. We can pray each morning to see those who need our help at work, at home, at church, in our neighborhoods. You will be amazed at what happens when you become an instrument in God’s hands, always looking for ways to help, lift, and serve. You will be filled with love, and the desire to serve more. You will feel the Savior as a participant in your life as you follow in his steps and do the things he needs you to do, so that others feel his love through you. There is a quote by William Thomas that I think applies here, “you are the only Bible some people will ever read.” You are as close to Jesus as some people might ever come.

It is through small and simple acts of service that a lot of good can be done in our communities. The Samaritan doesn’t quit his job or leave his family to volunteer all of his time to make the road to Jericho better. He saw someone in need, felt compassion for the man, regardless of who he was or which tribe he belonged to, eased the man’s pain, and then went on his way. This story isn’t about a bigger than life superhero who swooped in to miraculously save the day, but of a simple act of kindness performed by someone who was often looked down upon himself.

When Christ tells us to do the same, I noticed that he doesn’t quantify just how often that is. It is our hearts that Christ is concerned with, which is why he asks us to follow the Samaritan’s example of kindness and generosity in our everyday lives, to everyone we come in contact with, and to do this without measure. The underlying message to us is clear: there is no non-neighbor. There is no one we can write off as an outcast or an outsider. The Savior beautifully tells the people then and now that there is no “us” and there never was a “them.” The truth is, we belong to each other and we will be held accountable for how we have treated each other.

Sometimes, it is hard to know what to do to help those around us. Other times, we do small things and wonder if our service has made a difference at all. We can use the example of the Good Samaritan as a guide to help us. First, he saw and had compassion. Compassion alludes to a certain kindness and even sympathy, but there is something wonderful in the meaning of the word. The origin of the word compassion comes from the Latin word, ‘compati’ meaning, “to suffer with.” Compassion means that someone else’s pain and heartbreak become your pain and your heartbreak. Another person’s suffering becomes your own. Real compassion can change the way that we live. It is a call to action. Perhaps, the Samaritan had himself been robbed on that road before.

The Samaritan goes to the man, takes care of his injuries, and brings him to an inn where he continues caring for him until the morning. Then he asks the Innkeeper for help and pays him for his time and supplies, assuring him that he will pay for anything else that needs to be done. In this, he shows not only generosity, but also a call for unity as he enlists the Innkeeper to also help the man in a time of considerable division and mistrust. I love that Jesus takes away any identifiers of the man who was robbed on the street. You see, Jewish law said that you didn’t need to help a Samaritan. A Samaritan could die right in front of you, and you wouldn’t be held accountable. But there was no way to identify what sect this person belonged to. His clothes were taken, he couldn’t speak, and his face had been beaten. Jesus is asking us in the parable to look beyond any way to judge each other, and reach out in love instead. This is the kind of loving action our world desperately needs right now.