Passersby

Reflecting upon the parable of the Good Samaritan, Debra Black puts herself in the place of the man beaten by robbers.

Earlier this month, the Mass readings included the parable of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:29-37). Contemplating this, my attention was not called to the Good Samaritan whose actions we are to emulate. Nor was it called to the Priest and Levite who passed by the half-dead man on the road, although they can certainly provide points for examination too. Our thoughts automatically question what stifled their compassion. After all, our souls are all made for union with God and compassion would be the soul’s first reaction. But we suppress it so quickly we aren’t even aware of its presence; that is, the presence of the Holy Spirit in us calling us to love. These usual points of examination in this Scripture passage gives us plenty to talk about with God, looking for His presence in our day and how we’ve reacted to it.   

However, my attention was called to the man who had just been beaten almost to death by robbers. In addition to the pain of the beating, it would be a frightening experience. And perhaps most painful is the pain of the heart betrayed by another human being who could be so vicious and cruel.  

Beatings of the Heart  

And that’s where it connects to our daily life. We thankfully have lives that are physically safe and secure. But we endure beatings of the heart every day, and some can be so intense or so prolonged that they leave us interiorly half-dead. As the man laid half-dead on the road, I wonder how he felt about hearing the priest, and then the Levite, walk by him. Did they walk around him without touching him to check on his condition and then walk away? Or did they scurry past, perhaps changing from his side of the road to the other to get away from him? He was placed at the mercy of others, as we often are too, and that mercy was not given.   

What were his thoughts about these two who rejected the opportunity to help him? What were his thoughts about God, who permitted this to happen? We all have had these experiences of the heart. Ironically, I know in these times that, in my own pain and bitterness toward someone who doesn’t show the compassion I need, I am returning that same lack of compassion to them. And if by God’s providence the opportunity didn’t arise for hurtful things to come out of my mouth, were these still in my thoughts? Unfortunately, yes. Our nature is to lash out and hurt the ones hurting us, and very often in passive, subtle ways that on the surface do not appear harmful at all. We want the other person to know our pain by knowing they caused it. Yet Jesus tells us, “Whatever you did for one of these least brothers of mine, you did for me” (Matthew 25:40).   

As I look at Him on the crucifix, He seems to ask me, “Do you really want to hurt one of my children?”  

Providence  

How abandoned the half-dead man must have felt. After all, he didn’t know the Good Samaritan was coming next. And how easily the enemy could entice us to feel abandoned by God. Yet we know God never abandons us. Perhaps the man had to lie in wait so that the Samaritan could have the opportunity to choose to help him. How well do I lie in wait of God’s providence?   

“My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” (Mark 15:34)   

Jesus cries out to the Father not for Himself but for us, for all of mankind. Jesus is lifting us all, and our cries, to the Heavens with His plea. Only He can bridge that divide between creation and its Creator. 

Ad Majorem Dei Gloriam.

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Copyright 2025 Debra Black
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