It is no secret that Jews and Samaritans had a terrible relationship during the time of Jesus—and well before that. There were many reasons for this, including the fact that the Jews saw Samaritans as "half-breeds" and Samaritans saw Jews as racists who prohibited them from using the temple at Jerusalem. Though the issues went much deeper than this, the point is that these two groups simply avoided each other like the plague. And that fact is paramount in understanding Christ's parable of the "Good Samaritan"—from which our verse for today is taken.

In the oft-quoted parable, a Jew "falls among thieves," and is robbed, badly beaten, and left for dead. Other practicing Jews pass by, see one of their own dying, but do nothing to help him. However, a Samaritan—someone who would have been hated by Jews and who would have traditionally hated Jews himself—sees the dying Jewish man, binds his wounds, takes him to an inn, and pays for his convalescence. Someone who would have reason to hate "was moved with compassion" against his nation's enemy. That's something we simply seldom see today, and yet, in the words of Jesus, we are commanded: "let us do likewise" (Luke 3:11).

Our verse for today simply reminds us that there are times when we have to set aside our deeply held grudges and feelings of disdain. There are times when we have to say, "Enough! I will be the one to heal this rift." Yes, we must be like the hated Samaritan—particularly toward those who loathe us. We must follow Jesus' counsel to "do likewise," and forget that the person in need hate us, or that we hate him! Our verse for today calls us to a higher, holier way—the way of love and forgiveness; the way of Christ.