Pope Francis: imitate Good Samaritan, doing good works to those in need

July 11, 2016

The parable of the Good Samaritan teaches us “indicates a way of life in which the center of gravity is not ourselves, but others, with their difficulties,” Pope Francis said during his July 10 Sunday Angelus address.

Reflecting on the day’s Gospel reading (Lk. 10:25-37), the Pope told the crowds gathered in St. Peter’s Square that “Jesus has reversed our way of looking at things. It is not up to us to try to categorize people, to see if they count as our neighbors. Rather, the decision to be, or not be a neighbor, depends on us.”

Pondering Christ’s words, “Go and do likewise,” the Pope continued:

Do good works, do not just say words that go to the wind …. Please, do. Act. And by the good works that we do with love and joy for others, our faith grows and bears fruit … Am I ‘the neighbor,’ or do I simply just pass along? Or am I among those who select people according to their own pleasure?

It’s good to ask ourselves these questions and often because, in the end, we will be judged on the works of mercy. The Lord will say to us: But you, you remember that time on the road from Jerusalem to Jericho? That man was me half dead. Do you remember? That hungry child was me. Do you remember? The migrant whom many want to drive out, it was me. Those grandparents alone, abandoned in nursing homes, it was me. That sick person alone in the hospital, that no one goes to see, was me.

Following the recitation of the Angelus, Pope Francis recalled that the day was Sea Sunday.

“I encourage seafarers and fishermen in their work, often hard and risky, as well as chaplains and volunteers in their valuable service,” he said. “May Mary, Star of the Sea, watch over you!”

 

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Further information:

• Angelus Domini 2016.07.10 (YouTube Vatican)
• Le parole del Papa alla recita dell’Angelus (Holy See Press Office)
• ANGELUS ADDRESS: On the Good Samaritan (Zenit)