This weekend, we hear the very famous Parable of the Good Samaritan. A man, who fell victim from robbers, lies on the ground. A priest and a Levite, who happen to be on the road, see him but decide to pass by on the opposite side. Then a Samaritan traveler also sees him, gives him first aid, and brings him to the nearest inn. Jesus asks, “Which of these three, in your opinion, was neighbor to the robbers’ victim?” The answer comes, “The one who treated him with mercy.” Jesus gives the command: “Go and do likewise.”

During the time of Jesus, bandits sometimes would use a “wounded” member to decoy a prospective victim into stopping. Then hiding bandits, seeing the set-up working, would seize the opportunity and finish off their plans. The priest and the Levite did not help the man lying on the road possibly because they thought it was a trap set up for them by bandits. This, of course, has some validity.

But since it is a parable, we can see that the intention of Jesus is to connect Temple worship with acts of mercy. Thus, the use of a priest and a Levite is intentional. The priests were powerful upper-class authorities governing Temple worship. The Levites assisted the priests by providing music, incense, and other adornments. Aware of the provision in the Book of Numbers 19, 11, “Those who touch the corpse of any human being will be unclean for seven days,” they had doubts whether the man was already dead or not. They did not want to be disqualified for temple service. They saw the wounded man on the road, not as a person needing help, but as a possible source of ritual impurity.

As we heed the US Bishops’ call for Eucharistic Revival, we are also appropriately reminded of our commitment to the poor and needy. Our deep faith in the Eucharist and our reception of Holy Communion should motivate us to lovingly care for the poor. Whenever we behold the face of Christ in the Eucharist, we are also called to see the poor whose faces cry out for help. Whenever we hold the body of Christ in our hands, we are also impelled to hold the hands of the poor in the spirit of solidarity. What our Catechism teaches us becomes even more timely and relevant: “The Eucharist commits us to the poor. To receive in truth the Body and Blood of Christ given up for us, we must recognize Christ in the poorest, his brethren” (CCC No. 1397).

St. John Chrysostom says it so powerfully and lovingly, “Do you wish to honor the body of Christ? Do not ignore him when he is naked. Do not pay him homage in the temple clad in silk only then to neglect him outside where he suffers cold and nakedness. He who said: ‘This is my body’ is the One who said: ‘You saw me hungry and you gave me no food’” (Homilies on the Gospel of Matthew, 50, 3-4: PG 58, 508-509).