Excuse me, are you okay?

A few weeks ago, our bible study class discussed the story of the Good Samaritan. It was a wonderful discussion. But after I got home that night, I started reading all the footnotes in my Bible and the more I researched and learned, the more uncomfortable I got. Maybe this parable was meant for me? Maybe Jesus was speaking to my heart and maybe it was time to start listening...

I remember when my kids were younger and we would have those long talks about doing the right thing. You know, the ones about having to live with yourself and you know who you are when you look in the mirror every morning. Doing the right thing is hard no matter how old you are! Sometimes I hear myself say I'm going to do something... the right thing, but then it never happens. I think those are the hardest to accomplish. I feel guilty that I didn't do them when I should have or maybe it's something I've never done or never said that should have been done a long time ago.

The story of the Good Samaritan was told by Jesus as a parable. A man from Jerusalem (a Jew) traveling to Jericho was robbed and laying by the side of the road when a priest passed him and just left him there, and then later a Levite did the same, and then a Samaritan came along and took pity on him and rescued him. First of all, you need to know the road they were traveling on was very steep, so it was not an easy walk. The priest would not have helped him because he wouldn’t have risked his ceremonial cleanliness to help. The Levite would not have helped him because of the same reason, especially if he thought he were dead. Now, the Samaritan is truly the hero because Samaritans and Jews were bitter enemies. The Samaritan was risking being judged by his friends and neighbors, maybe even worse. Jesus’ whole point was to “ Love your neighbor as yourself.”

I guess I just keep thinking - what part am I playing in that Good Samaritan parable? Am I willing to risk being scorned by all my friends and neighbors if I help the dying enemy on the road or do I just walk around him and pretend he isn’t there? What am I willing to do for my faith, for my walk with Christ? I think at some point in life, we all have to ask ourselves that question. Is it worth the risk? What kind of person am I... really? Not just once or twice, but every day?.

Luke 10:30-34

In reply Jesus said: “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he was attacked by robbers. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went away, leaving him half dead. A priest happened to be going down the same road, and when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side. So too, a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him. He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, brought him to an inn and took care of him.