In today's Gospel, we hear the parable of the Good Samaritan, one of the most well-known and impactful teachings of Jesus. The story is simple yet profound: A man is robbed, beaten and left for dead on the side of the road. A priest and Levite pass by, each ignoring the man's plight. But a Samaritan, a figure despised by the jewish people of the time, stops to help the injured man, tending to his wounds and ensuring he receives care. Jesus concludes by asking, '' Which of these three, do you think, was neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?'' The answer, of course, is the one who showed mercy.