They asked Jesus what makes a good neighbor. Jesus responded by telling a parable that is all too real for a week that our nation has been ripped apart by a pandemic and now torn apart by racism, again.
The story unfolds with a man traveling from Jerusalem to Jericho. This man was brutally attacked by robbers: physically, emotionally, and spiritually. He was left for dead on the side of a road, covered in blood and naked.
Jesus gives us three different people that walked by the broken man. I believe we all fall into one of these categories.
One was a priest. He represented the religious who didn’t worry about others. The priest reminds me of the people that believe good things happen to good people and bad things are a judgment from God. He probably thought the stranger deserved it for whatever reason. He looked up at heaven, overly righteous thinking, and thought God had a plan for the hurt man and to move on. It wasn’t his problem and he had more “important” things to do and focus on.
The second was a Levite whose culture was priestly, a high society man. He didn’t stop either. In fact, he avoided the man altogether. So many are doing that now. Choosing to ignore the pain others are having. Even putting a spin or justification on it to help avoid the underlining issue. It’s easier to just pretend that it’s no big deal than to deal with it, and especially if you aren’t the one hurting.
All hope was lost for the beaten and abandoned man. A priest and religious person both ignored and even refused to help. But then, a Samaritan comes down the street. He heard the cries, saw the stained street with blood on it, and he stopped. He stopped what he was doing and rendered aid immediately. It didn’t matter that he was a Samaritan and the hurt was a Jew. It didn’t matter the background or cultural differences. He stopped and helped, immediately. The Bible says he not only cleaned but disinfected the wounds. He took the time to really survey the damage and did the most he could do to get all the dirt/disease/stain off the man. He then bandaged him up to help heal the wounds and laid him on his donkey…his only mode of travel. He then took him to a hotel, made sure the man had everything he needed, and he made him comfortable. The next day he paid for the room which tells me he stayed there all night continuing to counsel and clean the hurts both physically and emotionally. Add to the fact, he told the hotel manager to put it all on his tab for whatever the man needed moving forward. We don’t know how rich the Samaritan was or how long the hurt man was going to need help. It didn’t matter, the Samaritan valued his neighbor.
(Luke 10:29-37 MSG)
Jesus follows up by asking the question: which man became a neighbor to the person that gotten beaten and bloodied up? The scholar said it was the one that helped him. Jesus smiled, looked him in the eyes, and said, “Go, and do the same”.
Watching the video of George Floyd was devastating. Seeing the act, hearing him cry, seeing how nobody responded, and then hearing about his death. I sat at my living room table feeling so much anger, pain, and injustice for him. Then the reactions across the county began. The story of the Good Samaritan began to echo in my spirit. In fact, I was finishing our website for HACER210, and I couldn’t get our info live quick enough. I want to help. Our country needs the Samaritans to render aid. Racism, brutality, and hate have left America blooded and naked on the side of the road. I will not be like the priest that thought, ”God is okay with this, and it’s a part of a twisted plan.” I will not be like the Levite who wouldn’t see past his own cultural, religious, and political ideals to help. God, I want to be the Samaritan. I want to be the one that not only says a prayer and moves on, but I want to be on the streets disinfecting the deep wounds, giving new clothes, and creating a true place of rest both physically and emotionally. I want to be able to tell the hotel manager, whatever they need we will cover it for them. This is how legacies are changed and hearts are healed in people. I know I am not alone.
What will it take for you and for me to be the Good Samaritan in America’s story?
I may not understand everything, but the one thing I do understand is that God has called me to be the Samaritan. He has called me to be the neighbor. He has also called you as well. Let’s do our part to heal our country, better yet…the world. It starts by knowing that He created everyone and He doesn’t make mistakes. Will you render aid to your community today? Will you be a neighbor?
