The Jews and the Samaritans had a history of enmity lasting hundreds of years. There was complete separation and mutual disparagement. This attitude was reinforced by the fact that each had their own holy city or holy place: for the Jews it was Jerusalem, for the Samaritans it was Mount Gerizim. It is not difficult for us to imagine the situation today. Our world is full of feuding, enmity, and belittling. Each person believes he or she is better than the other. Each person believes that he or she knows the "truth."
In the eyes of Jesus' disciples, reflecting the perspective of society at that time, the Samaritans were not worthy of mercy because of sins they committed. The disciples considered themselves better than the Samaritans, and they viewed them with disdain and arrogance. They wanted-and even asked for- the total destruction of the Samaritans.
Christ, on the other hand, viewed the Samaritans from God's perspective: God created man and he loves sinners. He did not desire their destruction but rather their salvation. He did not care about the Samaritans' past, but rather looked to their future. Jesus was going to die for them, and he knew that he would have Samaritans among his future disciples.
How many times have we acted like the disciples? How many times have we wished that our enemies or a specific group in our society be wiped out, deeming them unworthy of mercy (as if we deserved it ourselves!)? We judge them instead of remembering our responsibility to love them as Jesus does.
Imagine what the world would be like if things were done the way the disciples wanted to. Now imagine what the world would be like if we lived the way Jesus taught us to live.
Lord, help us to grow into the image of Jesus so that we can see others through God's eyes. Help us to love them instead of judging them and considering ourselves to be far better than they are! And use us as your witnesses even to the point of death, so that they might know you.
- 28 MARCH -