THE GOOD SAMARITAN
Luke 10:25-37
An expert in the law stood up to test Jesus. “Teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?”
“What is written in the Law?” He replied. “How do you read it?”
He answered, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind’; and, ‘Love your neighbour as yourself.’”
“You have answered correctly,” Jesus replied. “Do this and you will live.”
But he wanted to justify himself, so he asked Jesus, “And who is my neighbour?”
You probably know the story. Jesus relates that a man on the way to Jericho was attacked by thieves and left injured and dying. A priest and a Levite saw him and ignored him. But a Samaritan took pity on him, helped him as best he could and took him to an inn to be looked after.
So, how does this relate to modern times? Let’s roll the years forwards to the 21st Century.
Here is something that happened to me some years ago.
I used to work in London and travelled there by train every day. One evening I was returning home at about 6.00pm and went to Victoria Underground Tube station to travel on to my railway station and home.
There on the ground, sitting by the wall, was a man in a dark suit holding a briefcase and with his head hunched down forward on his chest. He was motionless. People were passing him by and ignoring him.
I approached him to see if I could help. He raised his head revealing a white clerical collar round his neck. You can imagine my surprise to find our elderly priest from back home. What are the chances of that happening in busy London?
He mumbled that he had been to a meeting nearby and on his way home he felt faint and fell to the ground.
My first instincts were to phone an ambulance. He refused point blank. He said he had to go home because he was officiating at a funeral the next day.
I got him to stand up. We slowly made our way out of the tube station and we took a taxi to the railway station; and from there we took a train home.
A couple of hours or so later I delivered him to his church where the other priest and the housekeeper were very worried because they had not heard from him for hours. They were about to report him missing to the police.
Whenever I think back to that event I feel upset that no one bothered to stop and help him. He wasn't dressed in poor dirty clothing and likely to be mistaken for a beggar or a homeless drunk. He was in a business suit and yet no one cared enough to stop. What chances have beggars of any help from the rest of society?
EXCERPT FROM 21st CENTURY PARABLES ($3.83)
...Love your neighbour as yourself seem to be difficult for many of us.
ReplyDeleteIndeed Tom.
DeleteGod bless.
Beautiful story, Victor! I did order your book, but haven't gotten around to reading it yet. I will, though!
ReplyDeleteBlessings!
Thank you so much, Martha, once again, for your support.
DeleteGod bless you and your family always.
Thanks for the thought-provoking story today.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Kathy.
DeleteGod bless.
People don't have time to help others, it's a worldwide problem. Great thought provoking story.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Bill. Yes, it's everyone for himself these days.
DeleteGod bless you.
Sad but many people just care about themselves.
ReplyDeleteSad and tragic example for the next generation.
DeleteGod bless, Happyone.
Four times I have fallen for a scam while commuting. Twice "I only need money for fare, I will send it to you if you give me your address." "I need $5 for an auto part, I will...." The last time I gave a young lady $10 for gas so she could get home for Christmas. As I was leaving in my car I saw the YL and her boy friend pointing at me and laughing. I did not mind the scams, never expected to have the money mailed back to me, but the laughing now has me just walking by with my head down.
ReplyDeleteAt the time, you did the right thing, JoeH. It is understandable if now perhaps you donate to registered charities instead.
DeleteGod bless you.
I recall reading this and feeling so sad -- both for your priest and other deserving victims. I, too, have been conned -- most recently by a coworker. Awkward! To be honest, I'm disappointed by my own reluctance to help strangers. Thanks to modern technology, I'm happy to make a call on their behalf but draw the line at parting with my own money.
ReplyDeleteIt is so sad that people who con those like you end up hurting those in real need. The world is really in a sad place right now.
DeleteGod bless you, Mevely.
Several years ago some friends and i were walking home late at night and saw someone unconscious in the bushes. Two of us stayed with him while the other two went to find a phone (this was before mobile phones) and call the police.
ReplyDeleteThe man was drunk and passed out, but what if he'd been a diabetic and fallen into a coma? What if he'd been attacked and beaten? We couldn't just pass by.
If i see someone passed out, i will call for help.
In our area, some people are homeless and some are quite well off but prefer to panhandle because they don't have to report the income. Signs are going up all over town asking people not to give money to beggars but to donate to our charities for the homeless where they know how to truly help people get back on their feet.
Every once in so often, someone will approach me at a gas station and ask me to buy gas for them, saying they are down on their luck and giving a story that might or might not be true.
When that happens, i tell them that i will help them with gas, and i tell them flat out that i am a Christian, and i believe if they need help, then this will help them, but if they are lying, G-d is going to hold it to their account that they lied to and tricked one of His children. None of them have ever refused my help, i am not sure if it's because they need the help, or they just don't believe that G-d keeps accounts.
Thank you for sharing your experiences Mimi. It is so sad how many people really need help; but because of others who con people we all become a little suspicious.
DeleteGod bless.
I cannot bear to see someone begging for money, food or anything. I may be fooled by them, but I feel that I’m doing what I should, and what they do with the gift I give them is their responsibility. I don’t have to judge them, God will do that for me. Blessings.
ReplyDeleteIndeed Nells. God will judge them in good time.
DeleteGod bless always.
Perhaps one of the saddest things is when others become invisible to us.
ReplyDeleteWell Said, Victor!
That is so true, Lulu, and sad.
DeleteGod bless.
Opportunities abound these days to show mercy and do good. There's no shortage of people who need our tender loving care, in Jesus' name.
ReplyDeleteAmen Linda.
DeleteGod bless you.
It seems to be a sad reflection on current times, but many people don't seem to want to help others these days. Is it selfishness or perhaps they are fearful and do not want to get involved.
ReplyDeletePerhaps it is wrong to generalise there are good Samaritans out there, especially those that help the homeless or at Food banks etc.
All the best Jan
You're right, Jan. It is a mixture of the two: partly selfishness and partly people are too fearful of getting involved. And indeed, there's plenty of organised charities out there.
DeleteGod bless you.
Dearest Victor,
ReplyDeleteYes, it is a sad truth that most people just pass by and ignore a person in need.
Pieter and I were once again flying hom on KLM Royal Dutch Airlines from work in India. Boarding a plane in Delhi we had to wait of course. There was an elderly Punjabi man, who had carried his little granddaughter, who was paralyzed from Polio. He too needed some relief and he set her down, on the carpeted floor, next to his seat. People almost stepped on her hands, she had to support herself as she was lame... When we saw that, we stepped in and talked with a KLM person and we arranged that he got seated more conveniently inside the plane and also that he got access to some upgraded area for showering and such once in Amsterdam. We both handed him our business class bags with toiletries that came with our upgrade. We also requested his name and address, with the help of some other Indians, as he was not fluent in English. He traveled on to Canada, to deliver his granddaughter to his daughter who lived and worked there. They had kept the child in Punjab with her aunt, trying to cure her with all sorts of treatment... Very sad. We had contact with them but lost touch over the years. It is forever etched on our retinas; such a beautiful young girl and yet people almost stepping on her...
What a world and what would Jesus think if he would happen to be among us now?!
Hugs,
Mariette
Thank you for sharing your story Mariette. It is sad that people just ignore those in need around them. Jesus must be crying at the sight.
DeleteGod bless.
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