The Good Samaritan
On one occasion an expert in the the law stood up to test Jesus. "Teacher," he asked, "what must I do to inherit eternal life?" "What is written in the Law?" he replied. "How do you read it?" He answered, "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind, and, Love your neighbor as yourself." "You have answered correctly," Jesus replied. "Do this and you will live." But he wanted to justify himself, so he asked Jesus, "And who is my neighbor?"
In reply Jesus said: "A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he was attacked by robbers. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went away, leaving him half dead. A priest happened to be going down the same road, and when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side. So too, a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was, and when he saw him, he took pity on him. He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, brought him to an inn and took care of him."
Reference: Luke 10:25-37
The Roadside Helper
A man drove home along a dark rural road when his car broke down, leaving him stranded with no signal and little hope that anyone would stop. Several drivers passed him and each one found a reason to continue on their way, convincing themselves that someone else would handle the problem or that their schedules were far too important to interrupt. As the minutes stretched on, frustration and discouragement grew because he could already imagine the long wait ahead. When a traveler from out of town saw the stranded man, she slowed her car, pulled over, and offered genuine help without hesitation because she could see how vulnerable he felt in that moment.
She helped him move the car to a safer spot, provided water, and stayed with him until a tow truck arrived, carrying on conversation so he would not feel abandoned. Her willingness to treat a stranger with warmth and compassion changed the tone of the entire night for him. He knew he could not repay the kindness she offered, yet she acted as if helping him was an ordinary part of life. Her choice revealed how love for others becomes real only when it is expressed through action, and it demonstrated that our neighbor is anyone who crosses our path in a moment of need.