How do we overcome hatred, dislike and prejudice? How do we manage to love the unlovable? How can we reach the point of seeing all human beings, even our enemies, as neighbors we can love? How do we become like Jesus who prayed for His enemies, forgave those who crucified Him, and tells us to love our enemies, and pray for those who persecute us? St. Augustine sees this parable as a parable of redemption. For him, the lawyer listening to the story, and the priest and Levite in it, as well as the victim beaten up and robbed, are all equally in need of help. They are all victims; we are all victims of our sinfulness. Jesus comes from heaven to bind up our wounds. Our part is to recognize our need of Him, and let Him be our Good Samaritan, to heal us, so that we can love everyone, through Him and in Him. He carries us to the inn, which is the Church. He gives the innkeeper two coins, the sacraments of baptism and the Eucharist, to care for us. He is, as today’s first reading tells us, “The Word is very near to you…in your mouth and in your heart.â€