A man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, says the writer of Luke's Gospel, and fell among thieves. The person who came to his rescue was not the priest or the Levite who -- just as we would do -- passed by on the other side of the road, but a man from Samaria.

The significance of the Samaritan's origins is usually said to be that he was from a group of people that the Jews despised. In this reading, Jesus is said to be making the point that a loathed Samaritan was more responsive to the needs of a victim than the officials of the Jewish religion.

But it is likely that another point is being made here. And that is that the Samaritan does not appear to have been influenced one way or another by considerations of faith at all in his treatment of the wounded man. His actions seem to have been completely spontaneous -- an unpremeditated, compassionate response that was simply a part of his make-up.

But why was it a part of his make-up? Because he lived what he believed -- because (in Program terms) he practiced Steps 10, 11 and 12. By virtue of that practice, he was unable to pass by the wounded man because he was his neighbor ....

"Which now," said Jesus, "was neighbor unto him that fell among the thieves?"

And he said, "He that shewed mercy on him."

Then said Jesus unto him, "Go, and do thou likewise."