Editorial

Who is my neighbour?
THE STORY OF THE GOOD SAMARITAN

By Kathy VanLoon
Summer 2006

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We all need a founding story to lead us through the chaos of life, to give us renewed passion and direction. We need to reconnect with our founding story – that part of our history that formed us. These were the words of Fr. Gerald Arbuckle, Marist priest, anthropologist and author, speaking at the Coady Institute in the town of Antigonish, Nova Scotia. Fr. Arbuckle was invited to Antigonish on the occasion of the 100th anniversary of the opening of St. Martha's Regional Hospital. He said that the Sisters of St. Martha, founders of the hospital, share a common story with Fr. Moses Coady who introduced cooperatives and credit unions to the struggling miners, farmers and fishermen of the area, giving them a chance to help themselves and find hope again.

The ultimate founding story, said Fr. Arbuckle, is the story of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:29-37). The story begins with the question to Jesus: "Who is my neighbour?"

Every word in the story bristles with meaning. The victim "fell into the hands of bandits," who rob and beat him, leaving him half dead. Bloodied, he is now ritually impure in the Jewish tradition. The priest and the Levite, passing by on their way to religious duties, are not allowed to touch the man if they are to partake in these duties. They abandon a compassionate response in favour of their religious duty.

The victim was also stripped of his clothes – like Jesus at the crucifixion – the ultimate social degradation in the culture of the day.

We read that a Samaritan traveller came upon him and "was moved with compassion when he saw him." At that time, the Jews considered the Samaritans lesser people and non-Jews by virtue of their mixed heritage and religious affiliation.

Yet, the first thing the Samaritan does is to bandage the victim's wounds, pouring his oil and wine on them. In other words, he touches him.

He responds not just to the man's physical pain, but to his heart's pain – the fear, sadness and alienation that he must have felt. It is only by addressing both types of pain that true healing can begin.

After tending to the man's wounds, the Samaritan carries him to an inn. In those days, the road to Jericho was a narrow dirt path, ripe for ambush and theft-a dangerous route for the Samaritan carrying his wares. Yet, he places the victim on the horse and walks alongside so as not to exacerbate the man's injuries or his pain.

At the inn, the Samaritan not only stays a day caring for the man, but when he leaves he gives the innkeeper money to take care of the man and promises more money on his return. In Jesus' day, an inn was a den of thieves and the innkeeper the arch thief of them all. But, says Fr. Arbuckle, "community begins where people are at" and the Samaritan connects with the innkeeper by relating to him on his level – with money.

This story provides an example of the ultimate test of our humanity: "to love the victim and break through cultural taboos, even at the risk of self," says Fr. Arbuckle. He says that out of the founding truths of the Good Samaritan story – a story of justice, love and respect for all life – come the principles of Catholic Social Teaching.

These founding truths include recognizing that all creation is a gift from God and that we are called to be stewards of God's gifts. This requires a commitment to community, developing a sense of our common humanity; and a commitment to a preferential option for the poor – to people alienated and on the margins.

The story speaks to us of human compassion, of prophets like the Good Samaritan – people who bridge the gap between our mission and the reality. The priest and the Levite could not bridge this gap. They could not relate their faith to the reality of the man's suffering and need.

In this edition of Scarboro Missions, you will read about the prophets of today: young people who challenge us to be a loving, welcoming Church; women and men who build bridges of reconciliation among the world's cultures and faith traditions; people who respond with compassion, touching (and treating) the hearts of people, easing their fears, giving them a reason to hope and the confidence to move forward.

Fr. Arbuckle inspired me with his unravelling of the wonderful parable of the Good Samaritan. I hope the people you read about in this edition will inspire you too.

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