Before we “get into the meat” of this Sunday’s Gospel account, you might ask yourself what is the difference between a Levite and a Priest, two characters in today’s Gospel?

In short, all priests are Levites, being selected from the tribe of Levi, but not all Levites are priests (much like all apostles are disciples but not all disciples are apostles). Priests served in the Tabernacle and had official high duties of making offerings for the people. Those Levites who were not priests were assigned duties connected with the tabernacle (Numbers 3-4). They assisted the priests (Numbers 1:50; 3:6, 8; 16:9; 1 Chronicles 9:22, 26f; 23:2-4, 28; Ezra 3:8-9.), they prepared the cereal offerings (1 Chronicles 23:28-32), and they cared for the courts and the chambers of the sanctuary. Later, the Levites were involved in interpreting the law and thus functioned as teachers (Nehemiah 8:7, 9; 2 Chronicles 17:7-7; 35:3). The Levites were explicitly permitted to go near the sacred furniture, and this special privilege distinguished them from ordinary Israelites (Numbers 8:19; 16:9-10; 18:22-23). By virtue of this responsibility, they were charged with the work of the tent of meeting (tabernacle) that included its dismantling, transportation, and reassembly at a new site (Numbers 1:48-54; 4:3-15; 18:6). This was a requirement of all Levites between the ages of twenty-five and fifty (Leviticus 8:24-26). The Levites were able to approach the sacred furniture only when it was covered (Numbers 18:3). The Levites were inducted into their role through a series of ceremonies that included shaving of the body, sacrifice, the laying on of hands, and a solemn presentation to God (Numbers 8:5-13). They were supported by a tithe of the people (Leviticus 27:32-33; Numbers 18:21, 24), but a tenth of the tithe was to be given to the priests (Numbers 18:26-28). Catholic Encyclopedia

Now Back to the Gospel. Today we hear one of the most well-known Gospel accounts, the Good Samaritan. Most of us see this parable as one of “doing good” in the world. The Good Samaritan (as one who wasn’t expected to offer help yet did) saw someone in need and tended to him and yet the Priest and the Levite, who were expected to care, did not help. But this gospel message is more about humility—choosing to do the righteous thing—and less about simply “doing a good or kind act.” This gospel message is as alive and applicable today as it was when Jesus spoke to His ancient audience.

Flash ahead more than 2,000 years and enter into our world that is very divided—from divisions in our politics to divisions in our Church and from cracks in societal concerns for one another. Our nation is moving from a melting pot that sought to create a unified American culture to one that is now a factionalized group of subpopulations pitting their own self-interests against the greater good. Today’s gospel message attempts to direct us toward the antidote to this cultural schism by way of humility.

Pope Francis often talks about humility and without even mentioning the word he has applied it to the discussion of evangelization in and through our Church. When the Holy Father speaks of a Church that is “a field hospital for the sick,” he is not just talking about our Corporal Works of Mercy (feed the hungry; give drink to the thirsty; clothe the naked; shelter the homeless; visit the sick; visit the imprisoned; and bury the dead) but is very much highlighting our faith’s Spiritual Works of Mercy (instruct the ignorant; counsel the doubtful—the first two are very applicable today as many young people do not know—and have never been taught—what the Church teaches on abortion, end-of-life or marriage issues; admonish sinners; bear wrongs patiently; forgive offences willingly; comfort the afflicted; and pray for the living and the dead).

Pope Francis asks each of us—the universal Church—to become participants in the mission of our faith as handed to us by Christ: to become “the light of the world” (Matthew 5:14), leading all  peoples—rich or poor, white or of color, traditional or not—to the saving message of salvation and so eventually become members of the Communion of Saints. Pope Francis reminds us that we are “holy” because of God—not by our own power. There is a much larger purpose for our Church than just being a provider of food, shelter or medicine for those in need; rather, we are proclaiming His Good News of the Gospel and helping those in need because we are called by God—and filled with His grace—to accomplish His Will, doing the righteous thing. In humility we are to acknowledge that God is in control and our service to Him can bring about the healing and merciful love offered by Him and evidenced by the Good Samaritan—who was more than just a “good guy” but was sharing God’s light to someone in need. The French theologian Cardinal Yves Congar once wrote that church and world are not to be imagined “like two crowned sovereigns looking sideways at one another as they sit on the same dais, but much more like the Good Samaritan holding in his arms the half-dead man, whom he will not leave because he has been sent to help him.”

Popes from the beginning of our Church have considered the Church to be like the Good Samaritan—and Pope Francis has been driving the idea of the Church as a “field hospital for the sick, wounded and suffering” since His elevation as Vicar of Christ, identifying the Church as the arms of Christ reaching out to the wounded bearing God’s love and mercy. If our Church is only to become just another soup kitchen or homeless shelter or mobile emergency room without proclaiming Christ and His Good News, then we are just one more NGO/non-profit organization “doing good.” And while that is important, we have a bigger mission in which to partake: drawing others to the salvation offered by Christ, through our cooperation with Him who was, is and shall ever be. And that indeed takes humility.