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11 The Samaritan

The problem of hunger and poverty is such a basic question that a big portion of the peasant’s reflection is focused on its relation to Christian thought. What does the latter have to say to this problem? Does Christianity consider this problem central or peripheral?

If love of God and neighbor is the essence of religion, it is important to ask: What is the test of love?

How do we know that we love our neighbor, a peasant discussion starts. Can you say you love your neighbor when you are in ecstasy in her/his presence? Rather, says Mang Ando, the real test of love is how much we are willing to sacrifice, to get hurt for the person we love? In that case, a question comes up to Mang Ando, what is it that hurts most? This peasant remembers the traditional condescending charity which his landlord chronically lowers on him. He cannot forget, however, that when he started talking about money and land with the landlord he was not only

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verbally abused but also physically evicted from the land.

Because, you see, the peasant continues to explain to Mang Ando, a friend of yours can go up to your house one evening and say: “Friend, if you love me, can you pray for me?“ I am sure the peasant almost can’t control his laughter, I am sure you won't hesitate to answer, “Of course, how many rosaries do you want?

Or, a friend could go up to your house one evening and say, “Friend, if you love me, could you give me advice? You see, I have a big problem. My wife left me.” Again, you’ll probably not hesitate to answer: “Surely, please, sit down, let me boil some coffee and you can benefit from my wisdom the whole night through.”

But, Mang Ando is now more amused than ever as he listens, if a friend goes up to your house one evening and says, “Friend, if you love me, can you give me one hundred pesos? This is an emergency need and I know you are rich. Could you give me one hundred pesos?” The chance's are this might be the beginning of the end of lave. For your friend is asking for money, or property.

That is why, we better be clear, Mang Ando, that if you say the test of love is how much you are willing to get hurt for the person you love, let us be clear' that in ordinary day-to day life, what really hurts most is to part with money or property.

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And it seems, Mang Ando agrees, that Christ really knows to test human nature. For when someone asked him once, what is the test of love, he answered in the form of a story describing the test in terms of money.

Mang Ando then goes on to relate the story of the Good Samaritan. So there was this lawyer. Mang Ando says, who wanted to be clever and asked Christ the question: “How should I love my neighbor?” Or, in Biblical terms, “Who is my neighbor?”

My friends, Mang Ando continues, we know the story-answer. A traveller was attacked by highwaymen, and as he lay dying on the wayside, a priest passed by. You won’t disagree with me when I say that that priest must have felt pity for the victim. Whose heart though as hard as stone, would not break on seeing a man half-dead? And so, out of pity, the priest may have prayed for the victim although the Bible does not clearly state.

Or he may have even given the victim precious advice, like stooping down and saying, “Be careful next time.” But after that, he just went to the other side of the road and passed on. Next, a Levite came. Like the priest before him, this religious person also passed on - - - as if he had not seen the victim at all.

Then came the Samaritan. He was supposed to be an outcast in the society of Christ's time, very much, perhaps, like

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some of our activist friends. The Bible does not state whether the Samaritan prayed for the victim or gave him advice.

What is emphasized, however, is that he attended to the physical and material needs of his neighbor, brought him to the inn, stayed with him for one night, and the, next morning gave some money to the innkeeper and said: “Please take good care of him for I have to go; but if there should be more expenses, I shall pay.”

So now, Mang Ando’s voice rings with excitement, the lawyer had asked: What is the test of love? And Christ/s answer is dramatically clear: “If there should be more expenses, I shall pay. The answer is in financial terms – in terms of action against hunger, and sick men, and misery. He does not say anything against prayer and such aspects of religion but he certainly focuses action in terms of our material condition.