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In the parable, the priest and the Levite are joined because they share high status in the community. Born into the priestly family, they are part of the world of the Temple. In a world with strict boundaries between clean and unclean, their association with the Temple commends them as “clean” and holy, and they are often seen as persons of exemplary piety. Their status, however, is being evaluated on the basis of their ancestry and office, not on the basis of their performance. Here they fail to go to the aid of the man waylaid by robbers. They are afraid of being rendered impure, in case the man is already dead. Their religious belief permits them to go around the half-dead man along the road. But the parable teaches that one may not evade being a “neighbor” to anyone who is in need. To pass the neighbor by is like passing by the God who is on the side of the victims of injustice and violence.

Gospel • Lk 10:25-37 
There was a scholar of the law who stood up to test Jesus and said, “Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” Jesus said to him, “What is written in the law? How do you read it?” He said in reply, “You shall love the Lord, your God, with all your heart, with all your being, with all your strength, and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself.” He replied to him, “You have answered correctly; do this and you will live.” 

But because he wished to justify himself, he said to Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?” Jesus replied, “A man fell victim to robbers as he went down from Jerusalem to Jericho. They stripped and beat him and went off leaving him half-dead. A priest happened to be going down that road, but when he saw him, he passed by on the opposite side. Likewise a Levite came to the place, and when he saw him, he passed by on the opposite side. But a Samaritan traveler who came upon him was moved with compassion at the sight. He approached the victim, poured oil and wine over his wounds and bandaged them. Then he lifted him up on his own animal, took him to an inn and cared for him. The next day he took out two silver coins and gave them to the innkeeper with the instruction, ‘Take care of him. If you spend more than what I have given you, I shall repay you on my way back.’ Which of these three, in your opinion, was neighbor to the robbers’ victim?” He answered, “The one who treated him with mercy.” Jesus said to him, “Go and do likewise.”

Source: “365 Days with the Lord 2023,” St. Paul’s, 7708 St. Paul Rd., SAV, Makati City (Phils.); Tel.: 632-895-9701; Fax 632-895-7328; E-mail: [email protected]; Website: http://www.stpauls.ph.