The late Pope Francis reflected on the Parable of the Good Samaritan as a “ray of light” for our contemporary world where people too often fail to respond to the needs of the poor and vulnerable. Francis presented the Samaritan – whom he called “a stranger on the road” – as a symbol of fraternity and social friendship creating “a culture of encounter” that builds bridges of love among all people [“Fratelli Tutti”, No. 2].

We need to recall that Jesus tells this story of the “stranger on the road” in answer to some questions put to him by a Jewish lawyer. Wanting to know what the greatest commandment is, Jesus tells him “to love God and your neighbour”. Then he wants to know who his neighbour is? Jesus notes that neither the priest nor the Levite respond with love and care for the victim, most likely a fellow Jew.

We might miss a major point of this story if we fail to note how much Jews and Samaritans hated each other. Yet here we have the much-despised Samaritan being put to the Jewish lawyer as the pinnacle of human behaviour. So, when Jesus asks him which of the three – priest, Levite or Samaritan – was most neighbourly to the victim, he could but only reply “the one who shows him mercy”. Jesus then is quick to tell him: “Go and do likewise”!

In other words, Jesus tells his fellow Jew that he needs to become more like the non-Jewish Samaritan! In further reflection on this parable, Pope Francis challenged us all to become true neighbours to one another by actively engaging in the forming of positive relationships with people across age, race, nationality, ethnicity or religion. We are all called to build community at local and concrete levels especially with the poor, the suffering and those on the margins of society.

In other words, for Francis the parable of the Good Samaritan – or story of “the stranger on the road” – was much more than an example of someone who is kind and caring of a wounded victim. Rather, it is the parable and story that calls upon all human beings to overcome their selfish interests, myopic views and personal prejudices that pit us against others. In particular, as human beings and especially as Christians, we are called to lift up the lowly, care for those who suffer and even place our own lives on the line to protect innocent victims of corruption, selfishness and greed.

For Pope Francis, part of our love of neighbour was also reflected in our love and respect for our natural environment on planet earth. While nations that pollute the world are becoming increasingly wealthy, poorer countries are the major victims of climate change.

This is clearly evident in our own part of the world in the Southern Pacific. Let us stop, reflect and change our behaviour in order that all the world’s peoples become more neighbourly in respect of one another and the natural environment.

Gerard Hall SM

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