We are all familiar with the term, “Good Samaritan”, if not the story told by Jesus in Luke 10. This story begins with a man severely beaten and robbed. The robbers leave the man by the side of the road, thinking that he is dead. A priests comes by and sees the man, but passes on the other side of the road. A religious man comes by and does the same, passing on the other side of the road. Then, a man who is despised in the culture, comes by and takes care of the man. Jesus told this story to a lawyer who had asked who is to be considered his neighbor in response to the command to love your neighbor as yourself.
Luke 10:36-37 says, “‘Which of these three, do you think, proved to be a neighbor to the man who fell among the robbers?’ He said, ‘The on e who showed him mercy.’ and Jesus said to him, ‘You go, and do likewise.'” This story of the Good Samaritan speaks of two religious leaders who simply pass by a man injured and in need of help. But the culturally despised man stops and takes care of the injured man. Jesus said that this despised person has fulfilled God’s law to love our neighbor as we love ourselves. We have compassion and mercy when the hurt that other people are suffering touches our hearts in a way that moves us to help them.
Reluctant Retiree 