Gospel in Art: The Parable of the Good Samaritan

The Good Samaritan, by Maximilien Luce, 1896 © Christie's New York, 2 November 2011, lot 310

Source: Christian Art

Gospel of 13 July 2025
Luke 10:25-37

At that time: Behold, a lawyer stood up to put Jesus to the test, saying, 'Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?' He said to him, 'What is written in the Law? How do you read it?' And he answered, 'You shall 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 your neighbour as yourself.' And he said to him, 'You have answered correctly; do this, and you will live.'

But he, desiring to justify himself, said to Jesus, 'And who is my neighbour?' Jesus replied, 'A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and he fell among robbers, who stripped him and beat him and departed, leaving him half dead. Now by chance a priest was going down that road, and when he saw him he passed by on the other side. So likewise a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. But a Samaritan, as he journeyed, came to where he was, and when he saw him, he had compassion. He went to him and bound up his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he set him on his own animal and brought him to an inn and took care of him. And the next day he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper, saying, "Take care of him, and whatever more you spend, I will repay you when I come back." Which of these three, do you think, proved to be a neighbour to the man who fell among the robbers?' He said, 'The one who showed him mercy.' And Jesus said to him, 'You go, and do likewise.'

Reflection on the painting

Parables speak to us in many different ways. How we hear them often depends on which character we find ourselves identifying with. If we see ourselves in one figure, the message strikes us in a particular way; if we stand in the shoes of another, it may speak quite differently. The parable in today's Gospel is no exception. We often hear it as a call to imitate the so-called Good Samaritan: to show compassion, to cross boundaries, to love our neighbour. Yet the story also invites us to consider the perspective of the wounded traveller left half-dead by the roadside.

We have all known some form of brokenness. We may have been physically broken through illness, emotionally broken by grief or disappointment, mentally exhausted or weighed down by life's struggles. The wounded traveller in the parable, himself a Jew, would have been astonished to discover that it was a Samaritan, someone from a people traditionally regarded as enemies, who stopped to show mercy. The help did not come from where he might have expected, but through an unlikely stranger. In this, the parable teaches us something profound: in our brokenness, God often reaches us through unexpected means and unlikely people.

Our artist, Maximilien Luce (1858-1941) was a French painter part of the Neo-Impressionist movement, particularly Pointillism, though he later adopted a freer, more expressive style. A committed anarchist and social activist, Luce often depicted working-class life, scenes of labour, and human solidarity, using art to convey both social concern and compassion. His works balance technical brilliance with a deep sense of humanity, making him one of the more politically engaged figures of the French avant-garde. That is why the parable of the Good Samaritan fits so well within Maximilien Luce's social engagement. An act of mercy transcends barriers of class, race, and prejudice. The Samaritan's selfless care for the wounded man perfectly echoes Luce's artistic and moral vision: that true humanity is found in how we treat those in need, regardless of who they are.

LINKS

Gospel in Art: https://christian.art/
Today's Reflection: https://christian.art/daily-gospel-reading/luke-10-25-37-2025/ (with audio)