When the priority is misplaced, spirituality becomes fruitless. Good Samaritan story (Luke 10:25-37) teaches that Christian spirituality is primarily a relational religion. This article is an attempt to retell, reflect, and respond to this essential truth.

RETELL The parable of the Good Samaritan by Jesus was an answer to two related questions by a religious lawyer. Jesus made him give a Scripturally sound answer to the first question, what he should do to inherit eternal life. In accordance with his answer, Jesus instructed the lawyer to live out a two-dimensional love relationship, loving God, and loving others. Since he wanted Jesus to approve his self-justified nature, the lawyer asked who his neighbor was.

REFLECT Jesus wanted to teach the significance of a multi-dimensional love relationship on our way to eternity. Being created in the image of God, human beings are relational beings, and so we have the capacity of a two-dimensional (Godward and human-ward) love relationship. We are expected to give the utmost care to keep this relationship. We can be religious but still have an inhuman attitude and practices. With the inclusion of two pious religious leaders (priest and Levite) in the parable, Jesus wanted to say that no true religion is possible without relationship. Human beings are primarily relational beings, and so the relation is core to religion. There is no meaningful religion without relationality. As true spirituality is relational, it is costly. While it cost nothing to the priest and Levite, it cost much to the Good Samaritan in terms of time, health, and money. A spirituality that costs us nothing is not genuine spirituality. The essence of love is not gaining but giving. As our God is a personal God, His love for the world and His relational essence cost Him to die on the cross.

RESPOND Today Christians seem to be focusing on religion than relation. A cursory look into the history of our churches will reveal the crucial truth that the root cause of most church conflicts is centered on relationships, not religion. A crisis like the current pandemic gives us ample opportunity to reinforce the priority of relationship over religion.