The Good Samaritan

BY JOHN MARTIGNONI


Q: I have always thought the Parable of the Good Samaritan was all about helping your neighbor, but someone told me you give a talk with a different take on it.  I would be interested in reading your take and in knowing where I can get a copy of your talk.

A: Well, it’s not really my “take” on the Parable of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:25-37) that I mention in my talk on that subject.  It’s the “take,” or interpretation, of the parable that was seen by St. Jerome, St. Ambrose, St. Augustine, and some other Church Fathers.  And their interpretation of the parable is not so much “different,” as it is deeper.  

It definitely is not in conflict with the standard interpretation that most folks see on the surface of the parable, which is to help those in need.  Rather, they took it to the next level.  The interpretation of the parable as seen by the aforementioned Church Fathers is that not only does Christ call us to offer physical aid to those in need, but He calls us to offer spiritual aid, as well.

The meaning that these Fathers saw in the Parable of the Good Samaritan was this: The man who was attacked, beaten, and stripped on his way from Jerusalem to Jericho represents Adam and all of Adam’s posterity - meaning all of us.  Jerusalem, whose root word - “salem” or “shalom” - means “peace” in Hebrew - represents the state of peace and innocence man was in at his creation, which the man leaves by going down to Jericho, which represents the state of sin.  The robbers represent Satan, who strips Adam and his posterity of their innocence and of their natural faculties and leaves us with a wounded nature.  The priest and the Levite who pass by and offer no assistance, represent the Old Covenant, which cannot save us, while the Good Samaritan represents Christ and the New Covenant, which can save us.  The donkey, or the beast as some translations say, represents Christ’s humanity on which He carries us.  The inn the wounded man is brought to represents the Church, and the innkeeper represents Peter and his successors.

God, knowing that fallen man - wounded man - needs His help, shows mercy on man by coming down to earth - by assuming man’s nature - to heal man’s wounds.  To make man’s wounds His own.  Jesus carries all of mankind on His back, so to speak.  He brings us to the Church, where we find aid and comfort and are able to heal our wounds by His grace, and where the innkeeper - St. Peter and all the popes, and the bishops and priests in union with them - continue to care for wounded man until Jesus’ return.

So, the spiritual meaning of the parable is that the Good Samaritan is not just some heroic figure from a story, but that it is Jesus Christ Himself.  And if Christ can stoop down to help us in our hour of need, then we are called by Him to do the same for others.  And we do this not by just providing for someone’s physical needs - feeding the hungry, clothing the naked, visiting the sick and imprisoned (see Matthew 25) - but by providing for their spiritual needs as well.  And the best way to do that is by doing what Christ did, bring them to the Church.   

The talk I give which expounds on this is entitled, “Living the Word of God to Bring Justice and Peace,” and can be found on the “Free Tapes/CDs” page of the website: www.biblechristiansociety.com.  I hope to also have it available on the “Free Downloads” page of the website in a few weeks.  

About John Martignoni
John Martignoni is the Director of the Office of Evangelization for the Diocese of Birmingham in Alabama and also the President of the Bible Christian Society. John's column, Apologetics 101, appears regularly in the diocesan newspaper, the One Voice.  If you have a question about the Catholic Faith, please send an email to: jmartignoni@bhmdiocese.org.  And check out John's free audio and written apologetics materials at: www.biblechristiansociety.com.